In February 2012, I wrote a cover story, “Black & White,” on the wide disparities in business, education, health and juvenile justice between blacks and whites and how they had gotten worse since Hurricane Ivan.
Using the available statistics, we hoped to make the disparities part of the 2012 election cycle. There have been some improves over the past six years, but some slippage, too. Health, education and household incomes still lag behind.
Moreover, the black community is in danger of losing its representation on city and county boards. The African-American community no longer has a representative on the Escambia County School Board. Jewel Cannada-Wynn’s seat on the Pensacola City Council is in jeopardy in 2020 as more whites move into District 7.
Read “Black & White.”
I grew up in the 60’s playing basketball in Brownsville. I have four Brownsville brothers (who I am still friends with) and they have become very successful in their lives. Maybe it would be a good idea to do profiles on these gentlemen asking them how they overcame the roadblocks in their lives and let the younger generation know that it can be done; if you have the right attitude and work ethic. Lo and John Evans own Living Water Fire Protection, “Wimp” Lewis coached and taught school and is still coaching youth basketball and Paul Blackman worked for the state attorney and I believe he is preaching now. These black men have been more successful than most of my white friends. Maybe the IN can find out why and how these gentlemen succeeded and give some inspiration to the younger generation about how to overcome adversity.
Education should affect the other two factors: health and household income. Coincidentally, the single most powerful tool any of us, including the African-American community have, is education. It’s a rhetorical question but, what, if education and our library system is free, do we suppose the reason is for illiteracy and poor education outcomes? How is it that some are able to break free from the cycle of illiteracy and poor education in a family?
Jewel’s seat is in jeopardy because of hear governance and track record of supporting the Mayor’s policies that have hurt her constituents.