Address Race Relations in 2014

Mustapha Muhammad, who ran for mayor last year , spoke at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting about the decline in African-Americans in Plainfield and expressed concern about them being "disenfranchised and gentrified."

I have some rapport with him and respect his opinions, but while the numbers of African-Americans have declined 16 percent from 2000 to 2010, I must point out some facts about who is leading the city. (Click on the highlighted words for images.)

All the PMUA commissioners are African-American.

All the Board of Education members in 2013 were African-American and so are the new members as of Jan. 1.

All but one member of the City Council is African-American.

In addition, six past mayors - Everett Lattimore, Rick Taylor, Harold Mitchell, Mark Fury, Albert T. McWilliams, Sharon Robinson-Briggs - were African-American and so is the new one, Adrian O. Mapp.

If this demographic is being "pushed out," it is not from the seats of power.

But racial tension has come up more and more often recently in public meetings. I do believe some individuals lean on issues of race and class for the sake of dramatic rhetoric, but others are genuinely concerned about relations among the city's diverse populations. My suggestion is that perhaps the Human Relations Commission can be reactivated and take the lead in holding some forums or town meetings on increasing understanding among Plainfielders of all races and backgrounds.

From his perspective, Mustapha Muhammad sees, without some change, "a community that is going to erupt."

And nobody wants that.

--Bernice

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