Saturday, January 18, 2014

Address Race Relations in 2014

Mustapha Muhammad, who ran for mayor last year , spoke at the Jan. 13 City Council meeting about the decline in African-Americans in Plainfield and expressed concern about them being "disenfranchised and gentrified."

I have some rapport with him and respect his opinions, but while the numbers of African-Americans have declined 16 percent from 2000 to 2010, I must point out some facts about who is leading the city. (Click on the highlighted words for images.)

All the PMUA commissioners are African-American.

All the Board of Education members in 2013 were African-American and so are the new members as of Jan. 1.

All but one member of the City Council is African-American.

In addition, six past mayors - Everett Lattimore, Rick Taylor, Harold Mitchell, Mark Fury, Albert T. McWilliams, Sharon Robinson-Briggs - were African-American and so is the new one, Adrian O. Mapp.

If this demographic is being "pushed out," it is not from the seats of power.

But racial tension has come up more and more often recently in public meetings. I do believe some individuals lean on issues of race and class for the sake of dramatic rhetoric, but others are genuinely concerned about relations among the city's diverse populations. My suggestion is that perhaps the Human Relations Commission can be reactivated and take the lead in holding some forums or town meetings on increasing understanding among Plainfielders of all races and backgrounds.

From his perspective, Mustapha Muhammad sees, without some change, "a community that is going to erupt."

And nobody wants that.

--Bernice

25 comments:

  1. That is a good comment .... but Why are African-Americans moving out of Plainfield? Surely no on can suggest there is an effort to force people out..

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  2. Bernice, a very pertinent blog. His comments and Rolands were out of line as being threatening. I have prewritten my blog for MLK day where eI make reference to this subject and post a link to a site of the Southern Poverty Law Center which gives interesting information about Nj and Plainfield.

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  3. Yes, the African-American population decreased by about 15% from 2000-2010 and the non-hispanic white population decreased by almost 25%. But those who replaced both groups are probably poorer and certainly less politically engaged, at least for now. So what's really bugging Mr M? I'm guessing that its a combination of two things.
    First, I think that increasing Latino control over street level retail and entertainment, not to mention the schools, bothers many blacks who saw Plainfield as their town but now feel in their gut that despite holding the power of office their community domination is slipping away.
    Second, the ever-increasing intrusion of big money corporatism into our daily lives - credit dependency, too high mortgages, too high taxes, way too few jobs - makes us all feel much less in-control of our financial lives and our children's futures.
    Mr Muhammad's disenfranchisement and gentrification were last generation issues. We've got new and more complex problems to solve.

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  4. I have been siging this song in a proper respectful tune for some time now and its no secret. but as the prophets of old could only warn and offer sincere council oft times they were ignored and history details the results of them being ignored, the major exodus of african americans out of plainfield and major influx of others into plainfield is a story of economics i.e gone are kentile flrs, john manville, lockheed, revlon, ford, general motors, woods, and the list continue, the one thing all races can relate to is economic developement that benefits the locals and their families let the process begin untill then i'll continue my tune of peace, progress, and prosperity for all. Mr. x

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  5. Plainfield still is much more affordable than many other towns and cities if you look at the price of housing and even property taxes. I would suggest that a major reason that people are moving out is the poor quality of the school system. When their children get a certain age, basically middle school age, they move to put them in a better school system. A lot of black people are moving right next door to Scotch Plains. As you point out Bernice, half of the residents in the city are renters and among that number a a huge percentage of blacks so it's not gentrification. Muhammad is a renter.

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  6. Erupt? Did the caucasian community "Erupt" when their numbers dwindled? Is the solution to any probelm "Eruption". Who is our friend going to "erupt' against. Hispanics? Caucasians? Orientals? What kind of eruption does he contemplate? Burning religious icons on lawns. Blowing up places of worship? Murder? I thought we had put this behind.

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    1. Hear, hear. This person Muhammad is a mad man. If what he says is true, and I don't think it is, his statements should be viewed as terroristic threats. Then let Homeland Security deal with him.

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  7. Actually I think people are so Happy with the Council and Bd of Ed they are moving out so others may have the pleasure of those.

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  8. standing on front st in large groups is legal for some but standing in groups of two to three in number is illegal according to plfd police if your african american. oh i forgot no one wants to talk about that.

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  9. In my great respect and appreciation for our distinguished local journalist writer and blogger, Bernice Paglia, I must applaud the perspective in reality of demographics with this on going extremely imperative discourse as it relates to our City, our community and our families, inclusive of all races and ethnicities.

    Nevertheless, the narrative is compelled to include the disparities and the psychology of institutional racism that has had its most damning effect in most cases through the appearance of so-call substantive and equitable inclusion.

    The local political chronology of political power as it relates to race and ethnicity puts one in the mind of the worlds dying colonialism era being replaced by neo-colonialism. The people remained underdeveloped, targeted and exploited… Propaganda, public policy and economics has endorsed and perpetuated these dynamics, and our Great City Plainfield is not immune.

    Across the board our city over-all falls short in part because of what goes deeper than just the color of ones skin or ethnicity, but very much a targeted reality, which systematically has a tremendous effect.

    I humbly appeal and urge the leadership of our city and community to take a new approach; over-haul our system of business and policies that has been blind to so many apparent realities. We need to open our eyes, for we have allowed and played into the hands of forces that has not had Plainfield’s best interest at heart, and that very much includes the Black community ( African Americans ).

    Mustapha Muhammad

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    1. "of forces that has not had Plainfield's best interest at heart" , I can only assume you are speaking about the effect that black leadership has had on the standard of living of the black residents (and all residents for that matter).

      You certainly can't blame that on the white folks as the City's leadership is pretty much 100 percent black. The PMUA is 100 percent black.

      The sense of entitlement on the part of the leaders of both the City and the PMUA is what is causing this problem that you refer to as "not having the interest of the black community".

      But change has come, change is here. It is now time for people in leadership, whether officials or public advocates like yourself to start speaking out for ALL of the people of Plainfield. The City is only 50% black.

      Your comments Mr. Muhammad have a racist flair to them and have no place in the public arena.

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    2. For this anonymous person too much of a coward to use their name what have you done for the community? What have you done to make Plainfield a better city? Nothing I bet just running your mouth while positive people like Mr Muhammad is out on the front lines making a difference. So what I'm saying is until your out trying to make Plainfield a better city shut up & keep your lame unwanted comments to yourself

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    3. Why are yall so worried about his faith & who he's associated with? Just sounds like cowards who try to use anything they can to discredit the man but the people in the community already knows he's a great man

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  10. Blah Blah Blah Blah

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  11. Maybe Storch will erupt LMAO

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  12. 2:39 What a perfect example of verbosity garbage. Perhaps as you claim the African-American community has not had Plainfields best interests at heart"; will the Nation of Islam offer anything better including tolerance for all ethnic and religious groups. Farrakhan's history b odes otherwise.

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  13. olddoc
    thank you! you're the best! Keep wrightin' and talkin'

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  14. Since Bernice, as you noted the representation has been decidedly African American, he should be asking the question, "What have you done for us lately" to the very peoples he believes are disenfranchised and needs aren't being met. In the spirit of Farrakhan, I'll keep my white devil opinion to myself other than to offer the above advice.

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  15. The blacks have been in control of this city, as Mr. Mustapha has pointed out, for many years. And, what have they done. From the appearance of the school, and the downtown, not much.

    But what does race have to do with it, Mr. M? People are moving, sir, because the city does not have a school system, and does not have a downtown. What exactly are you doing to make this city better other than using divisive language (and a lot of it, I might add, in strings of words that make no sense)?



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  16. Mr. or Ms. anonymous January 20, 2014 at 3;03 PM
    It's obvious that your comprehension isn't that great. Please go back and read Ms. Bernice article first and then go read Mr. Muhammad's response. The language which Mr. Muhammad used is not divisive. If you were to clear the words, I'm sure you would agree that his words makes good sense.

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  17. I previously resided of Plainfield for almost 40 years grew up here, attended the schools and I remember when it was The Queen City. (Clean, great school system, free bulk pick-up twice a year, a tree planted in front of almost every house, at ;east on the East end and I can go on.) When was this you ask? When we had a Caucasian Mayor and I'm not sure of the race of council. I do know the majority of the city officials were Caucasians. Now I'm not saying we African Americans can't do a great job and I know times have changed, but what I do know is I've watched the city go down further with every African American Mayor. Why have folks moved out well for me I wanted a better education for my children and although I loved Plainfield and you have the most beautiful housed I couldn't risk my children. IT'S NEVER TO LATE to make a change as long as you have breathe, but as long as you blame one another it won't happen. This is a new year people put your differences aside and realize we all have different opinions, and that's alright but we all should have LOVE for our community wherever that might be. Work together and stop all the bickering if you really want to help your city.

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  18. I read Ms. Paglia's article, Address Race Relations in 2014, which obviously was motivated by the spoken words of Mr. Mustapha Muhammad at the City Council meeting on January 13, 2014. I also read Mr. Mustapha Muhammad's response, which I found both to be very interesting.

    This could very well be the beginning of intelligent deliberate dialogue on issues which concern Plainfield's diverse population regardless of class, creed or color.

    I agree with Ms. Paglia's suggestion to reactivate the Human Relations Commission. Her idea of having an open forum could serve to be very valuable to the success of Plainfield.

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  19. I've known Mr. Muhammad for decades. I looked up to him as a boy and now as a man. His words are true. If you choose to respectfully disagree with him, then that is your perogative. But don't stop there. HELP HIM THEM!

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  20. To Jeannetta Muhammad, Thank you for your balanced, intelligent, and thoughtful comment. I hope people read and will heed your words.

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  21. The community will not "erupt." That sort of hyperbolic speech is suggestive of a violent uprising spewing forth (like a volcano) on the part of the residents of Plainfield, whether that was the intended meaning or not. The people of Plainfield are peaceful and committed to improving our city. People all over the country are upset at the economic inequality that they see--Plainfield, as a small city, is not in itself responsible for the lack of local jobs--manufacturing has been gone for a long time, and the powers that decided to take over 1,000 jobs from our city by closing Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center are also partly responsible--as well as the larger economy of NJ and the country--in addition, the companies like Walmart that do not pay a living wage--what is happening is bigger than "Plainfield"--it really is. I look forward to local economic development being able to provide opportunities for businesses to create more jobs to our residents, but I also look forward to an improved economy that will provide our residents with jobs either in- or outside of the boundaries of Plainfield. The job of a municipality, in my opinion, is to provide services and public safety to its residents, and also to create a climate where businesses can come in to help provide as many jobs as possible. Economic development is a key component to helping our city move forward.

    Rebecca

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