The better angel
Simplifying the complicated can lead to problems, but when the Ku Klux Klan sought a permit to hold a rally in Clarksburg, W.Va., a few years ago, Councilman Jim Hunt offered a simple solution to the complex problem of racism — holding a “Let’s get real” rally to celebrate diversity. Hunt understood that the Klan’s aim likely was to protest the election of the town’s first African-American mayor. He also recognized their rally for what it really represented: pure, old-fashioned hatred of a group of people who were different than the majority in the mostly white town of 16,000.
More importantly, Hunt also gambled that an all-American appreciation of diversity would trump the adversity the Klan was seeking. Hunt was right, and Clarksburg met the challenge with more than 300 residents, which dwarfed the Klan’s rally of 15 diehards. At that point, it would have been easy for Hunt to claim his town’s victory over hatred and move on to the next challenge, but he must have realized that America’s fear, dislike or disregard for entire groups of people was his next challenge.
Hunt and the mayor established The Unity Project, a civil rights organization that brought Asian, African and Eastern European high school and college students to Clarksburg so residents of all ages could recognize and respect people’s differences. By the time Hunt was elected president of the National League of Cities last year, he was ready to take his message outside of West Virginia, and began by leading the organization’s Partnership for Working Toward Inclusive Communities.
To date, more than 120 cities have resolved to build inclusive communities, making specific levels of commitment. For example many communities post signs that announce, “Welcome. We are building an inclusive community.” Hunt compares that message to the “Whites Only” signs found throughout the South as late as the 1960s.
I understand the power implied through those hateful messages, having seen them everywhere as a child, knowing even then that the most prestigious members of our community — doctors, lawyers, and city and county commissioners — approved or at least gave tacit approval of their intent. And today, despite the federal Civil Rights Act passing more than 40 years ago, Hunt still has to remind us that it takes effort to venture outside our short list of family and friends, which is why many people don’t. Worse, over the same time, businesses and politicians have been catering to those who are uncomfortable with the unfamiliar, which has led too many of us to be leery of our neighbors and attracted to the hideous homogeneous blend of restaurants and stores that are turning our cities into clones of each other.
Knowingly or not, Hunt has become the better angel, the one who recognizes and values diversity. The other choice when faced with the differences between us — our gender, ethnicity and, of course, religion — is to revert to our fear and eventual hatred of each other. But, you may notice that reaction isn’t working out too well in the rest of the world.
Nor will it ever.
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