Re: [Mpls] juneteenth/segregation/leadership

[Jhpalmerjp]

I was surprised at the lack of presence of many of the candidates for Mpls
office at what is one of the largest celebrations with regard to the African
American community.  As a point of information, RT did have a booth directly
across from mine, which was two booths down from the Green Party booth where
Annie was sitting at which I saw a number of the Green Party candidates
including Lilligren, Zimmerman and Price.  Natalie Johnson Lee and SSB had
booths a little further down, and I saw both Herron and Cherryhomes out
talking with people (and as Annie mentioned McDonald in the parade, and I did
see Stenglein*s car).  But I didn't see anyone else especially not the DFL
endorsed candidates besides those I mentioned, which I found disappointing,
especially since I know they will be at PRIDE next week.  Which begs the
question of how much of a priority the African American community and its
issues are to some candidates.

Beth raises a good point in that race relations are in serious trouble in the
Twin Cities, MN, and the US as a whole.  We spend much time dancing around
the issue, instead of getting to the heart of the problem which is about
equality, justice, and just plain decency.

We need to be less about segregating ourselves out, as separate groups and
more about unifying as one people, celebrating the myriad aspects of our
cultures that make for a unique and wondrous whole.  Juneteenth isn't just
for or about African Americans, it is a celebration of the history of ALL of
us and the struggles that we (especially African Americans) overcame to come
to this point, "out of the gloomy past, *till now we stand at last...".  
PRIDE isn't just for or about the GLBT community, it is celebrating the
vibrant and important part of all our cultures that the GLBT community
composes.  The list goes on, but the bottom line is that we celebrate
different cultures and aspects to create understanding, promote unity, and
sometimes simply to say that there d*mn well is something to celebrate and
recognize in each of these communities that have been historically neglected
or oppressed.

This is a new day in more ways than one, and the oppression and prejudice of
the Communities of Color, GLBT community, women, etc., are outmoded and out
done.  It's time to stop thinking in terms of *other* and work on how we can
bring people together.  To recognize the transgressions and injustices of the
past and work towards building a better future for everyone.

To bring this back to the Minneapolis focus of this list, the problems that
Beth mentioned of segregation of the neighborhoods and racial profiling do
exist here, what is appalling to me is that with as many incidents and
examples that have been cited, that anyone would even think of flat out
saying that it doesn't or would be opposed to collecting data and
investigating the matter.  If the problem doesn't exist, there should be no
fear examination, because the truth will reveal itself.  It is time to
seriously put the issues out in the open and call them what they are, and
then work together on finding real solutions or at least strategies for
dealing with them.  

Jonathan Palmer
Stevens Square-Loring Heights
Candidate for City Council, Ward 6

Leadership Does Matter!
www.jonathanpalmer.org