Talking about Race

For the third time in as many weeks I was in a meeting and the subject of how we communicate with one another came up. To add context, we were talking about community projects and flood relief for Low to moderate income areas devastated during the 2016 flood. The Governor has directed $100 Million in HUD dollars to help the people in these areas including Ouachita Parish. All voices will be needed. All-hands on deck.

Many of us have spent our careers speaking publicly in a way not to offend anyone. We are all Americans, all God's children, so we are all the same. But we're not. There are cultural differences, life experience differences and economic differences. Serving as an elected official is hard work.

The community is changing. We need to adjust how we are communicating to speed progress on these issues. This was said to me yesterday. All my Caucasian, Black, Asian, Hispanic and Native American friends, if you are engaged in a discussion on race, speak plainly and dont hunt and peck for words to make a sentence with no substance. Same is true with public speaking. It's time to go there. We are all still learning. Us Baby Boomers are running out of time to make sure we dont leave a mess for our kids and grandkids. We need to speed progress along.

Finally, I was in a public meeting on black violence at Richwood High School a year ago this October. Leaders from across the community attended. State Representative Pat Moore called the meeting and spoke. I had heard her speak on these issues before. What she had to say that day and how she communicated her message made an impression. These are difficult subjects. Thank you, State Representative Pat Moore.

Source: Local Knowledge

Photograph provided by Tom Malmay

Meeting called by State Representative Pat Moore on violence in the Black Community. Mayor Ellis is providing a readout from his breakout group.

Tom M.