Dr. Dwight Mullen: “Protecting your own freedom by protecting the freedom of your community.”
A dialogue was continued on Saturday at the State of Black Asheville forum. I left with new ideas and perspectives slowly weaving themselves into a more holistic understanding of some of the problems that we face as a community in Asheville. These are not new problems. These problems will not disappear overnight. The greatest tool we possess in solving these problems is a simple awareness of how deep the roots run.
There has been a tendency to separate certain issues, such as economics from racism from education, in order to focus more explicitly on the “root” of the problem. While the forums were divided into four sections focusing on education, health care, law enforcement and housing, much of the discussion focused on the interrelated nature of these problems. One panelist clearly stated his belief that education and crime were intricately related. Another panelist argued that zoning is segregation, eliminating or encouraging certain living styles that are targeted towards a specific income level [and] that correlate strongly with certain racial groups.
The majority of dialogue that this event nourished was educational, healthy and beneficial. Tempers flared at times—an expected reaction when dealing with issues that are so pertinent to certain people’s lives, yet often so foreign to others who are striving to reach a common solution.
The dialogue presented new perspectives. With these perspectives comes a deeper understanding, and this more complete vision of the State of Black Asheville will help all involved see each aspect—positive and negative—of the solutions proposed.
The diversity at this event was unprecedented. We do not often experience such a diverse crowd in our daily lives—not at work, at church, at restaurants or bars, not even on the street. This experience of being in a room with people of all ages, classes and races allowed me to further develop my understanding and weave myself into a new web of perspectives, connections and understandings.
Special congratulations to all involved for a successful invent!
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