Last Thursday evening, the Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper hosted a special Town Hall meeting in conjunction with its commemorative march held on August 24 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. As the original March’s title suggests, Thursday’s Town Hall focused on the state of San Diego in terms of where African Americans stand in the economic and job arenas. Dr. John Warren, Publisher of the Voice & Viewpoint, led the evening discussion.
“There is not enough discussion on what’s important in our community,” Dr. Warren advised, “We need to think about this upcoming election and what it means for our community. The black community is not confined to Southeast, we are across this jurisdiction.”
About 60 people gathered to raise their concerns with the state of San Diego, and though the numbers should have been greater, the ideas were spirited. “When we come together we can talk about changing things that happen here in San Diego. You have very few African Americans that have been in any key positions in those [labor] unions. San Diego is a place that should have a chapter of the A Philip Randolph Institute. Unions are supposed to be the friends of workers, but we have a division in San Diego. We have business on one side fighting for City Hall, and we have labor on the other side – and until the mayor’s resignation – it looked like the Mayor was making some real advances,” said Dr. Warren.
Ms. Phelps spoke on her concerns with the Supreme Court’s order to release California inmates and how this will directly impact the economy of San Diego. Inmates are being released because of overcrowding in state prisons. “People who are released are going to return to the communities they love, and Southeast San Diego is considered a hub. I think there needs to be an array of social services to engage not just the people returning to the community, but their families.” She expressed concern that there should be funds available to support these programs and initiatives.
To Ms. Phelps’ point, Dr. Warren mentioned Coming Home to Stay as well as the work of local Pastors who have been actively involved in the rehabilitation of inmates for several years.
Ms. Kathleen Harmon added to Ms. Phelps’ point on the jails and her desire for the Governor to take an active role in the monitoring of the inmates’ release. Dr. Warren advised that as a community, we do not know how the federal government will monitor this process. “They can’t send them back, they don’t have the space,” said Dr. Warren. “They have locked up so many people on minor charges.”
Dr. Smith, a now retired and former educator for many years, expressed her concern for education and pushed for young people to pursue a college education. She spoke of the link between a successful college career and a prosperous life.
Mr. Philip Liburd with the NAACP San Diego Chapter and longtime education activist, echoed Dr. Smith’s sentiments on education. “We are desperate for folks to get involved. That is the best way for your child to know about the opportunities, whether it’s the community college, continuing ed, etcetera.”
Dr. Warren agreed, but mentioned that it is difficult to keep those without children, or whose children have grown, energized and active on the concerns of those youth that are still in the system.
An African American gentleman representing the ironworkers union spoke on the conditions that African American ironworkers face, but was encouraging in urging young people who do not wish to pursue college to begin the process of working as an ironworker. He advised that a council was created three years ago to combat the harassment African American workers endured. “You don’t need a college degree. We take prisoners. We take youth. So if you have children that you can’t afford to send to college, send them to me. We’ll take them gladly.”
Dr. Ellen Nash spoke eloquently on the issue of jobs, and the hidden impediments African Americans face in the job market. “The issue of jobs can be very compartmentalized.” Ms. Nash also urged the community to challenge the bilingual qualification in many job applications. “I think that’s an impediment to getting jobs.” Dr. Warren was in agreement that the issue was serious, and offered,
“There is no law that says that you have to speak Spanish to get a job. This is a new segregating instrument.” Though he added, “Americans don’t speak a second language for the most part, and I have thought for a long time that we should be learning a second language. We need to deal with this.”
From the Town Hall, committees and task forces were created, and these groups will meet regularly to develop action plans in lobbying for a more level playing field for African Americans in jobs and labor.
