Charlotte, NC mayor being asked to apologize for true but ‘insensitive’ remarks about black youths (ADDED: CONTACT INFO FOR McCRORY)
The local chapter of the NAACP right here in my hometown is outraged over McCrory’s recent remarks criticizing black youths who participate in gang activity and commit crimes:
The NAACP wants Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory to apologize for remarks he made about African American youth after last week’s arrests during Fourth of July festivities in uptown.
Ken White, president of the Charlotte Branch of the NAACP, on Wednesday called the mayor’s comments “insensitive” and said he’s concerned they painted “African American youth with a broad swath that cuts deep in many of our communities.”
McCrory’s comments came July 5 in a letter to the city manager congratulating police on their efforts the night before, when 169 people were arrested in uptown. McCrory also wrote that “too many of our youth, primarily African American, are imitating and/or participating in a gangster type of dress, attitude, behavior and action.”
Later Wednesday, McCrory said he won’t apologize.
Why not?“Because my comments were accurate. Period.”
White asked for the apology at a news conference, where he was joined by Michael Lawson, president of the N.C. Democratic Party’s African American caucus, and Joyce Waddell, who serves on the boards of the local NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.
“Everyone is aware that black people have been saddled with many negative stereotypes…,” White said. “Mr. McCrory’s comments reinforce that stereotype… especially to those inclined to hold on to racist thinking and behavior.
“His comments, quite possibly unintentional, characterized all young black people as troublemakers and gang members.”
He also said he is concerned that black parents and families in Charlotte feel they “have been slapped in the face by an insensitive comment made by our mayor.”
[…]
“My role as mayor is to communicate what I consider to be concerns and in doing so you have to step on some toes,” he said. “What you say can’t always make people feel good…. We can’t run away from the situation and shoot the messenger.”
After disturbances marred July Fourth celebrations the previous two years, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police assigned more than 300 extra officers to patrol streets in or near uptown during this year’s festivities.
Officers stood on street corners, rode bicycles and watched over the crowd from a raised platform.
They made six times more arrests than in each of the previous two years, but no large disturbances were reported.
The uptown crowd was primarily African American, as were most of those arrested: Of 143 adults arrested, 122 were black. Police later noted that those arrested comprised fewer than 1 percent of the uptown revelers.
[…]
On Wednesday, he cited statistics showing more than 60 percent of Charlotte’s gang members are African American. And, he said, the victims of gang violence also tend to be black.
“One thing we agree on is that it is a horrible stereotype,” McCrory said, “but it’s being perpetuated by those who continue to dress like, behave like and act like gang members. It’s not productive to our community, our neighborhoods, our schools, or to those individuals who are doing it.”
I’m not a Pat McCrory fan, because he’s primarly a RINO and he also played a big role in bringing a new arena to town that was financed largely by public funds, in spite of the fact that voters had voted against public funding for a new arena. But I am more proud of him today than I ever have been for not apologizing for speaking the truth, and for not bowing down to the winds of political correctness.
And isn’t it just typical that the black ‘leaders’ who have spoken out against Pat’s comments didn’t address the substance of what he said – which was true? They don’t even challenge it. Probably because they can’t?
Rather than screaming about ‘insensitivities’, their time and energies would be better spent focusing more on why gang activity/violence among black youths is on the rise in Charlotte, and what needs to be done about it. If the NAACP spent as much time zeroing in on the problems that plague black youths not just in this city, but nationwide, as they did whining about ‘hurt feelings,’ think of the progress they could make. Instead, a disproportionate number of black youths and familes continue to wallow in a sea of poverty, crime, violence, and hopelessness because the NAACP would rather their feelings not be hurt by speaking the truth – which in essence shows how much they aid in keeping that cycle of violence alive and well.
Update: I should have added this to my post to begin with. If you’d like to show your support for Mayor McCrory and encourage him not to back down, here’s how to do so:
Phone: 704-336-2241
E-Mail: mayor@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Mail: Office of the Mayor
600 E. Fourth St.
Charlotte, NC 28202
Personal Website: You may visit Mayor McCrory at his personal website: patmccrory.com
Jeff Taylor at The Meck Deck blog calls McCrory’s comments his “Sister Soulja moment” 