In The News
'State of Black South Carolina' deserves a hearing
ALTHOUGH THE Columbia Urban League's "State of Black South Carolina" has offered solutions to problems facing this state's African-Americans for years, its recommendations have largely fallen on deaf ears among decision-makers.
Part of the problem could be the very name of the publication. Some might believe this only affects and is of interest to black people. So they overlook it. Unfortunately, race still matters far more than it ought to in our state.
It's also quite possible that those in leadership on the state level - white Republicans who're focused on the needs of their direct constituents - simply haven't been paying attention, or have never heard of the publication.
But it's time they took note. "The State of Black South Carolina" raises important issues and offers solutions that will help not only black people, but the entire state. While it offers some sound recommendations, the idea isn't for leaders to blindly adopt them. The idea is to get an understanding of the problems, conduct additional research and then come up with solutions. If the solutions are the same as those in "The State of Black South Carolina," fine. If not, fine.
JUST FIX THE PROBLEMS.
While elected officials and other leaders must play a large role, it's not all their responsibility, a point the writers of the Urban League document support. We all must work more diligently to resolve the many problems - including disparities in the economic, health, criminal justice and educational arenas - that are holding our entire state back.
Considering the fact that so much of what we've done and are doing hasn't significantly improved the lives of many African-Americans, poor whites and Hispanics, there's plenty of room for more ideas.
For some reason, the ideas that have been put forth repeatedly by the Urban League have not gotten much play.
"There is no evidence that this document has been seriously considered as a public policy document for the state of South Carolina," said J.T. McLawhorn, president and CEO of the Columbia Urban League.
"We're saying they have to get past the name of the publication," said Dr. Kenneth Campbell, a USC professor and editor of the publication since 1990. The publication addresses issues that affect all of South Carolina, he said. The publication offers new solutions, he said. "We've seen the old solutions don't work."
Mr. McLawhorn said the document "brings other voices to the public policy discussion."
-Ed Sellers, CEO of BlueCross BlueShield, writes in the foreword that it's critical to "bridge the ethnic and socioeconomic gaps that challenge our state's competitiveness against the nation and the Southeastern region."
-Dr. Todd C. Shaw and Willie Black write a chapter on what it's going to take for black elected officials, particularly in the State House, to get substantive, and not just symbolic, measures passed.
-Dr. Campbell writes a couple of chapters on the prevalence of youth and gang violence in an effort to educate as well as motivate people to get involved in trying to rein them in.
-Drs. Patricia Stone Motes, Andrew Billingsley and Chaundrissa Oyeshiku Smith and Janice P. Rivers write on racial disparities in the juvenile justice system.
-Attorney Stephen Morrison, who represented rural schools in the funding lawsuit against the state, writes about how South Carolina has failed to properly educate all its children.
-Drs. George C. Bradley and Tina Marshall-Bradley write a chapter exploring whether our education system and programs aimed at improving student achievement actually work.
-Dr. Gloria Swindler Boutte writes about a center for excellence and the potential for high achievement among black students.
-Dr. Bambi Sumpter-Gaddist, executive director of the S.C. HIV/AIDS Council, challenges black people as well as decision-makers to confront the growing HIV/AIDS problem among African-Americans.
-Drs. John A. Cole and Lucy J. Reuben explore the status of black-owned businesses. A strategy for developing black businesses is "one of the critical components for economic advancement for the state," they write.
This is a powerful document. I'll write columns on specific chapters and their recommendations in coming weeks.
But what good is it to have such an action agenda if no one gives it a fair hearing?
Dr. Campbell said he can't believe lawmakers, business leaders and others had no knowledge of the publication in the past. "Every time the publication comes out, the media cover it well and give the readers and the viewers a sense of the quality of the publication," he said.
That's true. But it's still going to take more than that to get the message out. This publication has to be put in the hands of lawmakers and leaders. To that end, letters were sent to the governor, speaker of the House and others, Mr. McLawhorn said. Other efforts, such as the Internet and public forums, will be pursued to share the findings with others.
Despite the publication not having gotten attention it deserves over the years, the Urban League will continue to produce it, Mr. McLawhorn said. "We're committed. ... Suppose our ancestors had given up their fight for equality."
"If we stop producing the document, there's no way anyone is going to hear us," he said. "We have the audacity to hope."
By WARREN BOLTON
Associate Editor
The State.com
Reach Mr. Bolton at (803) 771-8631 or wbolton@thestate.com.
