A Delicate Subject

Today's Journal......

Local NAACP leader: City shows growth in hiring of black leaders

MIDDLETOWN —
While Dora Bronston, who recently was re-elected as president of the Middletown NAACP, has seen advancements for blacks in leadership positions, she said there’s still a need for the organization

Of Middletown’s 48,962 residents, 83.3 percent are white, 11.7 percent are black and 3.8 percent are Hispanic, according to the latest U.S. census

THIS PERCENTAGE BREAKOUT IS PROBABLY ABOUT THE SAME NATIONWIDE I WOULD IMAGINE. IF SO, THEN HOW DID WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE CATERING TO THE 11.7% OF BLACKS AND THE 3.8% OF HISPANICS AND IGNORING THE 83.3% OF WHITES IN THIS CITY (COUNTRY)? HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN THAT LESS THAN 15% OF THIS COUNTRY (AND CITY) GET TOP BILLING WHILE THE REST ARE THIRD IN LINE? APPARENTLY THIS "MAJORITY RULES" IDEA HAS GONE BY THE WAYSIDE AND THE TOP BILLING SPONSORSHIP OF MINORITIES IS ALIVE AND WELL IN TODAY'S SOCIETY.

Bronston said the city has shown growth in the hiring of black leaders. She pointed to the hiring of Terry Sherrer as executive director of the Middletown Area United Way, Angela Howard as executive director of the Middletown Area YMCA, and the hiring of black leaders at Cincinnati State Middletown as signs that blacks are moving into leadership positions.

“We see a lot happening in town,” she said.

NOW, MS. BRONSTON, ARE WE HIRING BLACK LEADERS BECAUSE THEY ARE BLACK AND THERE IS AN OUTCRY OR ARE WE HIRING THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST QUALIFIED? BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO. ATTEMPTING TO MEET QUOTAS BASED ON THE OPINIONS OF MINORITIES AS TO HOW MANY WE OUGHT TO HAVE, WON'T NECESSARILY GET US THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB WILL IT? IT WILL, TEMPORARILY, TEMPER THE PRESSURE TO HIRE MINORITIES HOWEVER. IS THAT WHAT WE ALL REALLY WANT?

To assure that this continues, Bronston said she routinely meets with leaders in the City of Middletown, the Middletown City Schools District, Atrium Medical Center and AK Steel to assure employees of those businesses reflect the complexion of the city

SO THEN, IF THE HIRING "REFLECTS THE COMPLEXION OF THE CITY" (IN YOUR OWN WORDS), WE SHOULD BE SEEING ABOUT 11% OF ALL CITY LEADERS IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THIS TOWN, RIGHT? DO WE CURRENTLY HAVE THAT GOAL MET?

“We need to stand together and work together,” she said. “We have to work toward unity. We are one people regardless of our races.”

BUT, AT TIMES, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY VOICE THIS INCLUSION OF ALL RACES FACTOR INTO YOUR MESSAGE, DO YOU. DOES THE NAACP EVER CAMPAIGN FOR A PERSON OUTSIDE THE BLACK COMMUNITY? DUNNO.

When asked what that means, Bronston said: “It’s like you have what I need, and I have what you need. Strengths come through unity. Team work makes dream work.”

OK, DOES THE BLACK COMMUNITY REACH OUT TO THE OTHERS IN TOWN TO GAIN UNITY, OR DO THEY USUALLY STAY WITHIN THEIR "RACIAL COMFORT ZONE" AND EXCLUDE THE OTHERS? IT IS A TWO WAY STREET TO ACHIEVE THAT TEAM WORK YOU SPEAK OF.

Bronston said the NAACP scholarship banquet, when the winners are announced, will be May 4. The time and location will be announced later, she said

ARE THE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO ALL INDIVIDUALS REGARDLESS OF RACE OR IS THIS KEPT WITHIN THE BLACK COMMUNITY?

DELICATE SUBJECT, NO DOUBT, BUT ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AT TIMES BASED ON ARTICLES SUCH AS THIS. ALL JMO.