Kenny Hardin, Salisbury City Councilman with Chris Sifford, Community Advocate
♦ Chris Sifford Asks: Kenny Hardin since your election you have opened the eyes of many residents here in Salisbury to the local political negligence. I have one question for you; why is that folks want to censor your openness, but in the same breath the same folk call, inbox, and email you their agendas in an attempt to be pushed by the same intensity that you use to reveal the truth?
Kenny Hardin Responds: Siff, there are so many different ways I can respond to answer your questions, but I’ll try to be focused. It’s funny how people have tried to temper me down, censor me and get visibly upset by me exposing ignorance, idiocy, injustice, hate, racism and political bullshit. I’ve heard complaints about my passion, my anger, my straightforwardness, and how I make people uncomfortable with my tone and approach. What’s funny is that not one person has been able to refute, show untruthfulness or call into question anything I’ve said since I’ve been in office or over the last 26 years I’ve been speaking up and out. So, the way I see it is if you have trouble with me fighting for equality, trying to give a voice to those in the margins, and fighting to ensure everyone is included in the process, then there’s something wrong with your character not mine. If my raising my voice, exposing cowardice in your actions, pointing out the lack of equity and calling out the hypocrisy that exists and you can’t refute or defend it; then why try to impugn my character or direct your insecurities and frustrations at me.
What is most disappointing to me has been the Black folk who have called me telling me to stop scaring and offending White people because I’m messing things up for other Black folk. I’ve never said anything hate filled or engaged in similar divisive vitriolic rhetoric so I finally had to tell these misguided fools to stop calling me with that nonsense. I find it curious that we have those Blacks who will fight harder to ensure that the sensibilities and feelings of White people are not hurt rather than speak out and fight to end the hateful and divisive actions and attitudes. We’ve got Black people who won’t even Like a Facebook post for fear they will lose favor with the people who care nothing about them anyway.
But to your point Siff, yes I’ve had those same people who criticize me for having the courage to speak out, call me in private asking me to assist when they get their wake up moments. I had a Church on the West End call me several weeks ago and ask me to assist them with an issue with the City. Let me put my refusal to assist in perspective. In the last election, there were over 2600 people registered to vote on the West End, but only 213 total voted. I didn’t even get all 213 of those votes. After me, Karen Alexander and Maggie Blackwell received the highest number of votes on the West End, not William Peoples. But when there is a problem, I can assure you they call me and William first and only. During the election, I had Black people on the West End who refused to allow me to put my signs in their yard because they said they had promised it to the Karen or Maggie.
A month after the election I was asked real funky like by one of those two why I supported the Black community so much when it was White people who put me in Office. She then said even funkier, that I don’t even live in the Black community, that I live in a nice neighborhood. She closed out her disrespectful rant by asking me why I don’t try to work harder to get along with White people and that I should not use such a big hammer when I do. Again nor refuting anything I’m saying , but God forbid I speak loudly and honestly. I responded that I care more about being able to walk through the Black community with my head held high than what she had to say. I told her that when she has been Black for more than 30 minutes I would give a damn about her opinions. I then asked her why must I do all the compromising when people are coming at me sideways. I wonder if they’re ever questioned about where they opt to live or about their loyalty to the White Community? I had another Council member call me and say that every time I drop the F-word his people email him and complain. I told him I hoped that would be just as concerned every time I was called a Nigger too.
Siff, it’s been eye opening for me the last 4 four months in office. I told the City Manager that he doesn’t truly care about the Black community and that all he does is patronize and tolerate those in it. These Community conversations are nothing more than time wasting halfhearted efforts to appease Black people and give the impression that things are being done to improve relations. What I’ve discovered is that unless you’re pushing for economic inclusion and equity and trying to get a piece of the financial pie they really don’t care about you screaming and shouting about social issues. That’s a distraction to keep you from asking questions about real things that matter, so they’ll play the game with these forums.
When I tried to get Black people to get on more than feel good Boards that have no decision making power, people lashed out at me. Just as we flock to the Human Relations and MLK committees, let’s get on the Planning, Zoning and other Boards that give us a voice and a seat at the table. Do you know we don’t even have enough Black owned businesses in Salisbury to get a statistic from the State? But, I hurt someone’s feelings by being honest, yet when decisions have been made that don’t work in the favor of them or the Black community, I get calls for angry Kenny to fight on their behalf. I get people that make secret side deals with the City about things without keeping me in the loop. Then, when it goes sour or they find out it wasn’t what they thought, then I get calls to fix the mess. I get calls from people who are angry about the condition they’re in and want me to fight, but ask me to keep their name out of it. I get calls from Black people who vent about the inequity and disparage those responsible in private, but in public keep grinning and skinning. But they don’t have to worry about me exposing them, they have to live with that two-faced cowardice.
Siff, I’ve said this many times, I don’t hate anyone, any culture or any demographic. I just want to help end the suffering of those undervalued and underrepresented. I want everyone to feel like they are truly a part of the progress of this City. My fighting spirit for those in the margins does not have a color requirement attached to it. I will fight for everyone. But, I’ve been Black all my life and I’m constantly reminded of it so that’s where my fight happens more often. During the campaign, two well know leaders in the White community showed what I’m constantly up against. One said they were only going to allow one Black on the Council and the other said if he had his way, he wouldn’t let any Black on. Is anybody upset about those statements, probably not. But they get really upset at me for fighting to ensure I don’t allow that mentality to take root and prevail.
I’ve got some people like you, William Peoples, Chris Sharpe, Yolanda Meade Byrd, Steve Mensing, Craig Pierce (Melissa Pierce), Alex Clark and a few others who have been extremely supportive and loyal and I appreciate that. But I’ve got some who have shown their cowardice too.
I’m tired of taking bullets, slings and arrows and getting criticized by those I’m doing it for
