Here's one white woman's interpretation of what Cohee means: Black Boston is too easily placated by white Boston and does not help itself. Black Boston willingly lets white politicians like Kerry use its churches for convenient photo opportunities. A few African-American professionals deemed acceptable are invited into the white power loop; the price is complicity in maintaining the status quo.
White Boston also takes care of black Boston by putting the best and brightest in charge of the city's nonprofit community. Running the Red Cross or the United Way provides a nice paycheck and pleasant evenings on the town for a good cause, but no real power. People who run nonprofits are basically begging people with money to share the wealth. Politicians have little incentive to respond to African-American constituent demands, because African-Americans in Boston do not turn out in large numbers to vote. Not enough African-Americans hold office to make a difference.
None of this will change in any substantive way between now and July. Symbolic gestures are nice and even well-intentioned, but real change first requires a willingness to face reality and a refusal to be complacent about it.
Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi ain't said nothing but a word in "'Handling' black Boston"
Also: "Ask not what party you can contribute to, but what you can contribute to your party" and "'The public sector doesn't really have a mechanism to regenerate itself'"
posted in articles on April 7, 2004 2:33 AM | t (0)
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