THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 29, 1995 TAG: 9510270174
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
The racism that raged through City Hall Tuesday night was not something I would have expected to see and hear in 1995.
Accusations without any factual basis along with boos and hisses when somebody's comments weren't to the liking of the audience were irresponsible and rude. I was very disappointed that citizens of Portsmouth could not discuss differences of opinion in a more civilized manner.
In the early 1950s, when most people my age were more worried about debutante parties than political parties, I was already into civil rights and ready to stick my neck out for blacks and, of course, for women.
For me civil rights was more than personal gain. It was a matter of principle. I truly believed then, and still believe, that all people should be given the opportunity to rise to their highest levels of competency.
Over the past 45 years, this country has made great strides toward providing equal opportunities for all minorities to go as far as they want to go. We have seen many blacks and women of all colors achieve what was considered improbable - if not downright impossible - when I got out of school and went to work back in the 1950s.
But despite all that's happened, we are more bogged down in racism now than at almost anytime in my adult life.
In Portsmouth, the racism is particularly disturbing.
We have long passed the time and circumstances when anybody should be screaming racism except in very specific incidents.
Yet at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, an upsetting and discouraging experience, speaker after speaker got up and tried to turn the proposed Vision 2005 plan into racial division.
Racism is perceived as lurking behind every move this city makes. I say ``perceived'' deliberately.
For instance, on Tuesday night one speaker claimed that the Vision 2005 plan would take property owned by blacks because the city wants to get rid of blacks. He implied that only blacks would be jeopardized.
Sorry. That comment was way off base.
I've seen the same conceptual drawings done by someone elsewhere to give the city some idea of proper uses of land. The drawings show my home and yard covered with several newly constructed commercial buildings. I'm white.
The plan does not bother me because I don't think the city is going to tear down any homes that are not for sale except in very rare situations.
But even if the consultants were recommending that the buildings be torn down, they have no way of knowing the color of the property owners. The drawings certainly are not discriminatory.
Another speaker complained that government money was not available to help black businesses. Well, it's not available to help white-owned businesses either.
A young man trying to keep open an ice-cream store at Rodmans Corner desperately needs financial help. But he's been turned down at every turn for about two years. He's probably going to have to close the business this month. He's white.
These are but two examples of public oratory about race that is way off base.
I believe there are legitimate examples of racism in public activities and even more in private business. I do not think there is racism in Vision 2005 and I am concerned that we could ruin this plan that has everything to do with the future of Portsmouth - and ALL its citizens.
Why does everything potentially good for everybody in Portsmouth deteriorate into racial politics?
Portsmouth has many, many fine people of all races who want to live in harmony. But, somehow, they are forgotten in all the political manipulation that goes on.
As I have said before in this space, I really expected us to get far beyond this point by 1995. Instead, we're going backwards with some people seemingly trying to create a schism.
Portsmouth is too small - and too poor - for two separate communities. At the rate we're going, there won't be enough residents in another 10 years to pay the bills.
We've got to get our act together and we've got to start with facts, not fiction. by CNB