Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman
RANDOM MORNING THOUGHTS ON RACISM:
For the past 20 years being in the public eye writing for the paper, being vocal about issues and recently taking public office, I receive a number of messages, calls and frequently approached by folk while out.
Some of the messages are supportive, but many are hate filled, racist and threatening in tone.
The ones I enjoy most are from people who try to tell me how to act and feel about racism. One of my colleagues on the Council told me last week they were “disappointed in me” as we discussed race and recent issues. I responded that when you’ve been Black for more than 30 minutes and endure the things I do, then I’ll be concerned about your level of disappointment with me.
I was then told I didn’t always need to use a hammer in my responses, find other tools to use in communicating and I should seek to change my approach to get along better with Whites.
Although I don’t feel as if I have issues working with anyone who treats me respectfully, I responded that when it comes to racism and disrespect directed towards me, I have zero tolerance and will use an even bigger hammer to respond, so the Council just needs to be prepared. I then asked why do I and Black people have to always be the ones to do all the compromising? Why can’t those who create the racial animosity be held accountable and expected to change their behavior?
This is a message I received this morning from a guy who lives in China Grove: “Do your job as a city council member. The city needs a police officer who can handle this wave of crime. Y’all were voted in not to discuss the crap about race relations and all that mess. Although the crimes that are being committed are majority African Americans and gang activity. The goal of the city council should be to get a police chief who can do the job and second to pay our police officers more as they are so underpaid.”
I’ve met with a number of City and County leaders, business leaders and individual residents, and each one has said to me how poor race relations are in this City. My response to one leader recently was that everyone sees the problem, but no one wants to really do anything about solving it.
People want to engage in useless, feel good initiatives that yield no measurable benefits. Many others would rather you just ignore it so as not to make them feel uncomfortable. I told a business leader last week that if we don’t get comfortable with being uncomfortable and address this divisive issue, our City will not prosper.
I refuse to be fake or silent on this issue. I will not laugh when nothing is funny, scratch when I don’t itch or dance when there is no music. So people can stop trying to dictate my thoughts and how I feel on something they don’t experience firsthand.
