According to the Times Union, the new Black Republican Headquarters in Jacksonville is scheduled to open Thursday- the only office of its kind in the State. I question the wisdom of Republicans opening a separate office.
Studies by JCCI through the years, and including the most recent one (page 34), have demonstrated that a racial divide continues to exist in the City of Jacksonville. In fact, in 1996, the City was labeled with the title of “worst race relations” by the U.S. Commission on Human Rights. In response, the City’s Human Rights Commission, under the guidance of Charlene Taylor-Hill, began holding study circles, groups of 10-15 people of diverse ethnicities aimed at encouraging people to talk with each other about issues that were creating racial divisions. As of 2006, approximately 2500 people had participated in the study circles. While that’s a good start, there’s still much more work to be done. So here’s a link to the study circle program if you’re interested in understanding and helping to resolve the racial divide in Jacksonville.
According to the local GOPers, the new Black Republican office is being opened to concentrate on getting more blacks to sign on as Republicans and vote. But I wonder if we aren’t increasing the racial divide that currently exists in our City.
Filed under: Jacksonville, Black Republican Headquarters, Charlene Taylor-Hill, City of Jacksonville, Jacksonvile Study Circles, Jacksonville HUman Rights COmmission
