Cobb commissioners will be asked Tuesday to consider a resolution to condemn racism.
Commissioner Lisa Cupid, of South Cobb, and the only black member of the five-member board, admitted on Thursday when she posted the proposed resolution on her Facebook page (see below) that “I have been informed that some think this language is too strong, indicates something of the past, and is not reflective of how people feel today or in all districts of the county.”
“It is imperative that we have our citizens weigh in on this else I fear it could not pass or be worded in such a way that loses its intent and purpose.”
She urged citizens to contact their commissioner and let them know their thoughts.
Cupid said an online meeting she organized on Tuesday, entitled “Cobb Forum: Recent Deaths, Race and Response,” attracted more than 600 people, and she invited a number of elected and law enforcement officials and community leaders to participate.
(You can watch here and listen here.)
The Smyrna and Acworth city councils this week approved similar anti-racism resolutions.
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Cupid, a Democrat who’s running for Cobb Commission Chairman, issued a follow-up message via her campaign e-mail Wednesday night highlighting the discussion, and suggested the following actions:
- Be compassionate and mindful of others
- Recognize the challenges some African Americans may have in just showing up, at work and in your organizations
- Don’t back down from conversations about race and do not ostracize African Americans and others for discussing race and relating race to policy, practices, and outcomes
- Have a conversation or lunch with someone who does not look like you
- Reach out to local and state leaders to pass a resolution to support the Hate Crimes Bill
- Reach out to leaders to pass a resolution denouncing racism or discrimination in your organizations, city and county
- Support local nonprofit organizations and organizations that address issues of equity and race like the Cobb NAACP, Cobb SCLC, and the Georgia Community Coalition
- Send an email or letter to school board members letting them know you support them addressing racial disparities in educational outcomes, teaching staff, and school resources
- Support your African American leaders who are minorities in majority elected bodies
“I think we can only go up from here as I have heard from you and others that this was just a start,” Cupid said.
She is not the sponsor of the proposed resolution, which is listed on the agenda as being an item to be brought by board chairman Mike Boyce and is being presented for consideration by County Manager Jackie McMorris.
Tuesday’s commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. and will be available online only, but citizens are invited to participate in a public comment session via phone at the start of the meeting. You can sign up at this link.
The rest of Tuesday’s meeting agenda can be found here.
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Response to creating a “PROCLAMATION BY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS”:
First off I appreciate all the other ethnic groups who have joined in the protests around the world, but I am insulted as well. Don’t hold my hand,raise a banner claiming to support me yet when its time to leave run back to your wealthy suburb homes where your children attend a private school ( because you don’t want them around the “elements” of public school). The schools costing more than some people make all year. When you see me at work smile but really don’t care that I get shafted for a promotion. Or never stand up for me when accusations you know aren’t true are hurled at me for fear of being called a “N lover or not invited to the country club”. You simply blow it off and keep living. One thing I can attest to is that unless you ARE BLACK you have no earthly idea how my daily life is. I was born in Marietta, raised in Calif till 3rd grade, but mostly here. Raised to be courteous always, raised to ALWAYS try to eliminate everything out of the equation before we yell “RACIST”. But after 60 years I can say most non-minority Americans simply live the fantasy that everyone is treated equal. Honestly I think its always going to be that way. Wonder why when my older white neighbors whom I have to call the PD on 4 or 5 times already, yell over the fence and strand in the street yelling defamatory things to me the 2 officers say there is nothing they can do—I have to go get an attorney. So the neighbors have rights, but I don’t have any without paying an attorney. YES, it is just that simple. The ever present, constant belief in white America is we are doing something wrong all the time. There does not need to be any Cobb proclamation because racism and inequality are the American mindset. Anyone can put something on paper–actually it already is but until actions truly reflect the situation then its all nothing but crap.
Laws only protect my rights to purchase this house, but not to stay here in peace.
Denise Watson Marietta, GA
Ms. Parker, Thank you for taking time to address this matter. A point of clarification. I did not propose the resolution. It was presented to all commissioners for consideration by our county manager.
Thank you. That has been changed.
From the article:
Cupid, a Democrat who’s running for Cobb Commission Chairman, issued a follow-up message via her campaign e-mail Wednesday night highlighting the discussion, and suggested the following actions:
• Be compassionate and mindful of others
• Recognize the challenges some African Americans may have in just showing up, at work and in your organizations
• Don’t back down from conversations about race and do not ostracize African Americans and others for discussing race and relating race to policy, practices, and outcomes
• Have a conversation or lunch with someone who does not look like you
• Reach out to local and state leaders to pass a resolution to support the Hate Crimes Bill
• Reach out to leaders to pass a resolution denouncing racism or discrimination in your organizations, city and county
• Support local nonprofit organizations and organizations that address issues of equity and race like the Cobb NAACP, Cobb SCLC, and the Georgia Community Coalition
• Send an email or letter to school board members letting them know you support them addressing racial disparities in educational outcomes, teaching staff, and school resources
• Support your African American leaders who are minorities in majority elected bodies
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Singling out one race is racism in itself. The resolution wording doesn’t, but what Cupid said sure does. What she really needs to address is, e.g., not how just “racial disparities” affect educational outcomes, but how many things affect educational outcomes and try to address them for all races, creeds, etc..
This is a knee-jerk reaction to one aspect of a current problem and, IMO, is an insult to her constituents and the entirety of the county. There’s plenty of stuff on which they could be working and they aren’t.
If they’re going to be doing this, anyway, then the wording of the “therefore”should be “… by the CCBC that we reaffirm our commitment to all citizens of CC to achieve racial and economic justice, gender equality, and human and civil rights for all.”