ICMA closes investigation against Durham County Manager Wendell Davis: A case study in white privilege

Letting go of white privilege is knowing when to give up the fight. It involves not having to be right. It owns how implicit bias interferes with judgement.  

The evidence presented to members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners sends a clear message regarding potential bias against Durham County Manager Wendell Davis. 

In a letter dated July 1, 2020, the International City/County Management Association dismisses all charges against Davis of ethics violations submitted to the association in an anonymous complaint. The complaint was in response to the February 11 letter Davis sent to Durham County Commissioner Heidi Carter. 

The ICMA letter addressed six complaints made against Davis: 

1. 1. “You did not follow the County’s grievance policy and procedures to report your concern with Ms. Carter’s conduct toward you and other county employees; 

2. 2. You did not speak to your governing board to enable them to begin an investigation but instead chose to write a letter that was quickly leaked to the press; 

3. 3. You chose to speak openly with reporters and gave on camera interviews about the highly sensitive personnel allegation; 

4. 4. Your timing in writing the letter may have interfered with your governing body’s upcoming primary election; 

5. 5. You may have recruited former Commissioners to run for election against Ms. Carter to build a voting block on the governing body; and 

6. 6. You wrote the letter to cite during your upcoming employment agreement negotiations” 

The complaint is rooted in the assumption that Davis created a scenario of racial bias to influence the outcome of an election. It assumes white innocence at the expense of Black guilt. It implies the goodness of a white member of the board while applying the racist trope that Black people lie. At the root of the charges against Davis are underlying biases that attack the integrity of a Black man. 

 ICMA accepted the explanation Davis gave to the anonymous complaint. 

“The CPC accepted your explanation you wrote the letter to encourage Ms. Carter to reflect how her pattern of statements had impacted you with your hope there would be positive change by sharing your candid observations, “ the letter states. 

The damage created by the investigation of Davis confronts a long history of white power and privilege. The bias of Wendy Jacobs is on display in the handling of this matter. In pressing for an investigation of Davis’ motives in writing a letter to express his feelings, Jacobs challenged the credibility of a complaint rooted in the assumption of white innocence.   

This is the mistake made by the vocal supporters of Heidi Carter. Defending her innocence requires the dismissal of a Black man’s complaint. It forced the creation of a narrative stacked with unsubstantiated assumptions involving intent, backdoor conversations with former board members and a conspiracy theory to stack the board with Black members. 

Restoring Carter’s reputation came at the expense of Davis’ integrity. Her white innocence became a campaign blitz. Naming her a “good white woman” forged a narrative of Davis as an anti-education, deceitful Black man who must be stopped to protect our children. The protection of white innocence made his confession a lie. What Davis offered as a source for potential healing and growth became a declaration of war. 

The ICMA ethics committee recognized the landmines planted to address complaints made by Black people. Where does a person like Davis go to share his feelings? What are the consequences related to having enough of feeling disrespected by white people? 

“In reaching its decision, the CPC considered your continued willingness to engage in dialogue with the governing body about these matters and the county grievance procedure does not apply to those positions like yours that report directly to the governing body,” the letters states. 

It matters that Davis names how he feels. It matters because he is not alone. His letter to Heidi Carter addressed a pattern with other Black county employees. As the County Manager, Davis has an obligation to confront both real and perceived acts of racism within county government. 

How do you do that?  

Moving forward is complicated by the desire to win. It’s worse when the desire to win is rooted in assumptions of white privilege. White members of the Board of County Commissioners may find it hard to move forward due to an overwhelming desire to validate white innocence versus accepting the possibility of being tainted by their own implicit biases. 

White fragility shows up to control the narrative. Carter, Jacobs, and advocates are invested in the evolving story of white innocence. Reading Robin Diangelo’s while exhorting the vocabulary naming institutionalized racism isn’t enough to sanction white purity. You don’t matriculate to a realm beyond white supremacy. Why? Because it’s not about the people. It’s about the institutions which manifest and impose the will of white dominance.  

White supremacy controls the narrative of white innocence. It's the warning ICMA makes in the letter. 

“The CPC ultimately voted to close the case finding your conduct in the matter did not violate the ICMA Code of Ethics,” the letter from the association reads. “As you move forward, the CPC encourages you to consider your strategy and approach to engage your board members and employees in constructing dialogue to advance the interest of all.” 

Heidi Carter made a mistake that was shielded by white supremacy. Wendy Jacobs protected Carter by failing to address the letter Davis wrote. Jacobs called it “feelings being hurt.” An investigation of Carter was announced publicly. Later, it was announced Davis is also under investigation. Will that change given ICMA’s decision to close the case? 

If not, we have another entry into the long history of examples of white power and privilege. If the design is to continue the quest to protect Carter’s innocence, it comes at the expense of a Black man’s guilt.  

It all began with a discussion regarding implicit biases. After reading all those books and gathering in support of Black people, white members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners prove, again, it doesn’t matter how loud you scream Black Lives Matter when you’re working overtime to kill the reputation of another Black man.

‘LOCAL JAZZ’ INTRODUCES THE WORLD TO SAM KING WITH AN INSPIRING PORTRAYAL OF AN ARTIST AND THE MAKINGS OF HIS TALENT SPRAWLING MUSIC SERIES RETURNS WITH AMBITIOUS ODE TO DURHAM’S UNIQUE JAZZ SCENE

(DURHAM, NC—July 7, 2020) Local Jazz preemptively canceled its spring and summer seasons because of the coronavirus. Despite these necessary cancellations, Local Jazz is pressing forward in a way that advances and celebrates Durham’s jazz scene through producing a documentary centered on some of its incomparable artists. The storytelling begins with Sam King Trio at Kingfisher: a mini-documentary/fundraiser for the larger work that shares the journey of NCCU’s most recent jazz progeny, saxophonist Sam King.

Joined by fellow Eagles and area standouts, drummer Dwayne Jordan and bassist Chris Mills—and filmed at the already beloved downtown Durham cocktail bar Kingfisher—Sam King Trio at Kingfisher offers a refreshing portrayal of an artist and the makings of his talent. The remarkable set from the trio—highlighted by spellbinding performances of “Out of Nowhere” and “Juju”— is interspersed between interviews, adding dimension to the storytelling. The marriage of King’s talent and the tucked away venue are pitch perfect. As a standalone film, Sam King is well worth the price of “admission,” but the ticket purchases also support the development of a larger work that promises to be a memorable and authentic celebration of Durham’s inimitable pool of jazz talent, NCCU’s renowned jazz studies program, and the Bull City itself.

Founder and curator King Kenney elected to move up his ambitious aim of documenting “the scene” after inspiring conversations with local jazz artists and enthusiasts. Producing a documentary has always been in the works for Kenney, but now, with much needed restrictions to live performances, he deems the all-important project the most fitting response to an unprecedented moment. “For years, I’ve made the claim that ‘jazz’ is Durham’s greatest export and telling the stories of the city’s many talented jazz musicians is the best way to substantiate that claim,” Kenney shared. “Music is universally recognized as a unifying language and jazz is music’s most unappreciated conduit for impassioned storytelling. My hope is that by sharing the stories of Durham’s rising stars—along with their influences, journeys, and challenges—that people will better connect with their artistry and its power.” Based on the trailer, Kenney’s decision to introduce us to Sam King first sets a high bar for what’s to come. 

Each ticket purchased will:

• receive access to the mini-doc, Sam King Trio at Kingfisher from Monday, July 20 through Sunday, July 26
• receive an invitation to our opening night screening of the completed documentary at TBA when the world permits
• receive an invitation to the opening reception of our commemorative art installation at Kingfisher when the world permits
• offer the financial support necessary for the production of the full-length documentary

Tickets are $10 and can be found here. The film will be accessible on Monday, July 20 through Sunday, July 26. Tickets are on sale now and are only available online and in advance.

ABOUT LOCAL JAZZ
Established in 2019, Local Jazz offers performance grants, dedicated stages to experience jazz showcases on select Monday nights, and an attentive audience for jazz musicians with Durham roots. In its first season, Local Jazz dispersed $15,000 in performance grants and highlighted the talents of Ernest Turner, Shana Tucker, Kate McGarry, Lynn Grisett, Autumn Rainey, Brian Horton, Thomas Taylor, Ariel Pocock, Al Strong, Kevin Beardsley, Shaquim Muldrow, Jasmine Best, Christian Tamburr, William Ledbetter, Kobie Watkins, Annalise Stalls, Blu Thompson, and others.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
PLEASE VISIT LOCALJAZZ.CLUB

Organizers plan rally to suppoort Wendell Davis

Organizers of a rally to support Wendell Davis say the Durham County Manager is enduring treatment symbolic of a knee on a neck.

“Standing in the Gap of Wendell’s Truth” is the name given the peaceful protest planned for Wednesday, July 8^th at 11:00 a.m.  The Durham County Administrative Building is chosen as the site to demonstrate an investigation against Davis for charges he wrote a letter to influence the outcome of the election of members of the Durham Board of County Commissioners.

“We are standing in the gap for Wendell Davis due to the non-transparency and what we see as the retaliatory actions against him due to him stepping forward,” Steven Williams, one of the rally organizers, said “One thing is always certain, if an individual has to explain why they are not racist, then most likely they are indeed.”

Davis’ February 11 tree-page letter accused Heidi Carter, a white member of the Board of County Commissioners, of “inherent bias” toward him and other “people of color in general.” Davis suggest Carter’s bias was at play during a February 3 work session when she said the county would have developed a funding plan for Durham Public Schools sooner “were it not for the manager.”

Williams, who serves as a member of the Workforce Development Board, says supporters of Carter refuse to concede how Black people feel.

“You can easily identify racism by a person’s actions not by what they say.  In this case, Commissioner Carter was charged with similar accusations during her tenure on the Durham Public School Board which is public record,” Williams said. “Therefore, we are demanding a fair and transparent investigation which will avail the details of Wendell’s grievance publicly so as a community we can assist the Commissioners on deciding next steps and moving forward together.”

Otis Lyons, founder and president of Campaign4Change, facilitated conversations leading to the rally. Lyons, also known as Vegas Don for his unique approach in reaching troubled youth, says the attack against Davis is an example of modern-day lynching.

“He [Davis] is being served injustice because he stood up against racism,” Lyons said. “White liberals are trying to oust him which is nothing but systemic racism. Their goal is to get rid of Wendell, and people of color -Durham County employees will be next.”

At the end of the February 24 Durham County Commissioners board meeting, Wendy Jacobs, chair of the board, announced an investigation of all issues pertaining to Davis’s accusation that Carter targeted him with racist comments. Th room was packed with angry citizens who booed after Jacobs said she recognized Davis’ feelings were hurt.

Things got messy when Jacobs announced a second investigation during the April 27 virtually held board meeting. Jacobs said county commissioners instructed the county attorney and county clerk to submit notification regarding a second investigation against Davis.

The investigation against Davis focuses on the actions that the county manager took in the way he sent the letter as it relates to the intent in impacting the election. Durham County Commissioner Brenda Howerton was surprised by the decision.

“You mentioned two issues that you had not informed me about. One of those issues, you had not informed me of,” Howerton said during a tense exchange with Jacobs.

Jacobs recommended going into closed session with an attorney present and chided Howerton for bringing personnel matters during a public meeting.

“Don’t throw stuff out that you haven’t discussed with me,” Howerton responded.

Howerton expressed concerns about the investigation of Davis in an April 21 email. She wrote that the investigation being “pushed through” in a very clandestine way” is problematic. She said she voted against an investigation demanding resources from a budget impacted massively by Covid-19. She also questioned “how decisions are being made when all board members aren’t apprised.”

In a May 15 Facebook post, Rev. Mark-Anthony Middleton, a member of the Durham City Council, called for county commissioners to end the investigation due to limited transparency and resources caused by Covid-19.

“The proposition that at this time our commanding general would be occupied with anything other than defending us; and our elected leaders would direct precious resources towards investigating circumstances around an election that has already been certified and broke in their favor is tantamount to a dereliction of duty, and an abuse of power,” Middleton said.

The call to cease the investigation of Davis has been met with deaf ears. Organizers fear Covid-19 and the necessity of virtual meetings prevents citizens from crashing meetings to express their outrage. Prepare for a large group of protestors in downtown Durham on July 8 at noon.

They’ll be screaming about the pain of a knee on neck.

I'm not good, and it's not my fault

There’s pain trapped in my bones. I’m not alone.

I’m not good.  Every image of black death adds to the pain. Every protest is a reminder that none of it has mattered. Taking a knee. Raising a black gloved hand during the singing of the National Anthem. Singing We Shall Overcome or screaming fuck the police – it is never enough.

It is not enough to stop white knees against the neck of Black men and women. We can’t breathe. The only solace is the thought of the ancestors waiting to take our hand to lift us to the other side. The pain of hearing “I see my mama.”

This is the testimony of Black people living in America. We ain’t good. We are tired of nonviolent resistance. We no longer trust the power of white privilege to do the right thing. We have suffered too much – collectively and individually – lessening the promises of white people who claim to have our back.

The testimony is about Black people and their mental health. I’m not good is about my personal grappling to find peace. It is also about our collective mental health. I’m not good because we’re not good. Saying that implies being one step, one word, one more death away from throwing a brick. It doesn’t change anything other than acknowledging being fed up with promises.

This is the testimony of historical pain. Where do you go for treatment? How do you get help when therapeutic models assume the need for introspection, accountability and depression medications to treat historical racism? Are therapist properly trained for this? What white man or woman properly understands the rage of Black people stirred by decades of being dismissed. Can a white therapist help me with that? Will a pill take that pain away? What happens when a Black therapist treats a black patient trapped in the maze of historical pain? The answer, two people in need of another form of treatment.

Do people understand it’s not just the police? Do they understand Black anxiety and depression is the result of systemic racism? It’s not just the actions of white supremacist. It’s more than the image of burning crosses and bodies dangling from trees. It transcends the bad ways of a few bad apples in law enforcement. It’s liberal Karen calling the police on a Black man while walking her dog in a park. It’s liberal Adam dismissing the contribution of a Black woman during a board meeting. It’s what politicians do in assuming white folk intelligence matters more than Black genius when they pimp Black people to support their position.

I’m not good. I’m not good because of the assumptions of white women. I’m not good because of the paternalistic ways of white men determined to tell Black people how to think. I’m not good because of a life undermined by white people who scream Black Lives Matter in public while treating Black people like shit in private.

I’m not good because of white fragility. I’m mentally drained by white tears. My soul is tarnished by the unceasing demand to say, “not all white people.” I’m not good because my, no, our, condition is not our mistake. We have been abused by white privilege. We’re told to get help for our rage because we should be proud to stand for the “Pledge of Allegiance”. Get some help for your internalized rage. It’s not real. Refrain from your obsession with ancient history. We’re told that. It’s not them, it’s you.

I’m not good is a statement affirming the damage of covert racism. It’s a form of racism concealed in the fabric of American society. It’s the unnoticeable arrangement of discrimination that punishes Black people for exposing white power and privilege. It reprimands Black people whenever they attempt to escape. Colin Kaepernick was punished. Jemele Hill, sports journalist for The Atlantic, was forced out at ESPN for sharing her version of truth. Everyday, black people are silenced and punished for challenging white power and privilege. I’m not good because Black success, in America, demands bowing to the demands of white privilege.

I’m not good because I’m fed up with the assumption Black people suffer due to our mistakes. I’m not good because I’m not a mistake. What we carry is pain caused by a system consistently engaged in denigrating Black people for living with rage. We didn’t create this. We need help, but there is no place to receive it.

The insanity we carry is the consequence of watching white people do the same thing – over and over again. This is rage created by centuries of indifference.

Please, don’t make me say not all white people.

Joe Biden's gaffe: a lesson in whitesplaing

I Hate it when white people tell me how Black people should think.

Whitesplaining is rampant on social media. Take note of opinions protected by enough social distancing to inspire trash talk regarding what Black people should think and do. In other words, say that to my face. The boldness of it all.  The assumptions of privilege and unwarranted intrusion into the life Black Twitter.

No one told you to interrupt our Black think tank session.

Joe Biden trolled our Black think session. He, like countless white people allowed access to our social media spaces, was welcomed in for a visit. You can sit and enjoy Black culture and thought. Come on in, take a seat. Enjoy your time. Like a glass of iced tea? Glad to see you.

The Breakfast Club, a syndicated radio show hosted by DJ Envy, Angela Yee and Charlamagne tha God, is a Black think tank session. It is part of a witness of Black spaces that exist to provide comfort, solidarity and humor for Black people. These places are part of “the culture”.  It’s where and how we figure things out without the intrusion of white folks informing the conversation.

Melissa Harris-Perry discusses the importance of these places in Barbershops, Bibles & BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. These places are where Black people gather to flush things out together. It’s where views are shared for an informal chat involving “what we gonna do”.  These are places that welcome extreme disagreement. Black people are allowed to scream at one another because that is what real family does when there are a variety of perspectives in the room.

These are sacred spaces where Black people gather to “understand persistent social and economic inequality, to identify the significance of race in that inequality, and to devise strategies for overcoming it,” says Harris-Perry. She provides the roadmap for understanding Black politics by highlighting the community dialogue among Black people in constructing their collective political interest.

Harris-Perry offers four ideologies that shape the framework for black political thought: Black Nationalism, Black Feminism, Black Conservatism and Liberal Integrationism.  Black radio, barbershops, beauty salons, the black church, Black twitter and Facebook are the places where Black political thought is debated every day. This is the Black community think tank where the Black agenda is designed with an informal strategy to confront white supremacy and institutionalized racism with the goal of empowering “we” the people.

Many argue the Black community isn’t a monolithic voice. That is true, but we are all gathered for the family meeting – be it at the barbershop, at church or listening to Joe Biden talking trash on The Breakfast Club. We come with differing political perspective – Black Nationalism, Black Feminism, Black Conservatism and Liberal Integrationism – but all of us are listening and posting comments aimed at creating a Black Agenda.

You are welcome to join us, but, please, don’t misunderstand your place within our discussion. Sit over there and mind your business. This is Black folk business.

That may ruffle the feathers of your white privilege. I would apologize but doing so would refute the claims of Harris-Perry’s thesis. You can sit and watch, but we are conducting family business, albeit in public view.

Don’t speak out of turn. We got some questions for white people. You are welcome to answer our questions but keep your opinions regarding what we should think and say to yourself.

Carry on now.

Show love by voting on Valentine's Day

What better way to say I love you than to vote on Valentine’s Day?

That was my first thought upon awaking this morning at 4:30 a.m.  I don’t know why? I’m strange like that sometimes. Thoughts come to me from divergent places. Get it. Voting. Love. I know, you don’t get it.

It took considerable time for me to process the significance of correlating voting with the day created to give men a chance to recuperate after a year of endless mistakes. What better way to say you’re sorry for being a worthless example of simmering testosterone than with a box of chocolate and a dozen roses.

It never helps when a man beats his chest while exclaiming, “I’m a good man, woman!” It’s best to get the chocolate and roses, no matter how little time was spent sleeping on the couch while eating dog biscuits. Staying out of the doghouse is a major accomplishment, but, in most cases, forgetting Valentine’s Day will lead to a temporary suspension.

Voting isn’t a romantic activity. Right? Did I miss something since the last Presidential election? Have the rules shifted? Wait! That’s it.

I’ve sensed deep barrenness since Trump defeated Clinton. The way people talk – both to themselves and to each other – has radically changed. Everyone seems more antsy than before. I’ve witnessed more rolling of eyes, snapped fingers and hands on the hips. There is a devoid in patience occupied by limited listening, partial understanding and no trust.

Things are more tense than before. Politics has morphed into a game mimicking mortal combat. Words are weapons thrust on the battlefield with an intent to destroy the ideology of anyone standing in the way. T-shirts and baseball caps are the new age uniforms of soldiers shoved into battle by conflicting beliefs. Political statements are everywhere, MAGA, CNN FAKE NEWS, MAKE AMERICA THINK AGAIN and shirts that make a joke to keep people from crying -” the problem with political jokes is sometimes they get elected”.

Insensitivity has replaced common decency. Making a point translates into I don’t care what you think.  The workplace is often a warzone and churches are places to rally the troops.

What’s love got to do with it?

Maybe it’s something in my dreams. Maybe it’s something I heard in a song, a prayer, a thought or a moment of weakness. Maybe that moment of weakness is the thing granting me strength and hope to believe.

In what? What is left to believe? Love? A world where we can love again?

The best way to show love, to be the embodiment of love, is to vote on Valentine’s Day. In voting there is hope we can fix it. All of it. By voting we have an opportunity to elevate our local communities, our state and national government beyond the chaos eating at our souls. By electing people determined to restore sanity into a nation inundated with a desire to fight, we can find love again.

Some will argue we never had it. Love, some say, is no more than an emotion familiar within the context of tribalism. I’ll love my family; you love your own, defines what we have always been. For some, it is all we will ever be. It’s sad to think that might be true. If it is, what we have now is an amplification of what has always been true.

God knows I hope that’s not true. I pray we can do better than this.

I show love on Valentine’s Day with my vote. My vote reflects my love for America. It’s a statement regarding the world I envision for myself, my children and all the little children of the world. My vote is an expression of the life I want for all of us – united, one nation, under God. For those who don’t believe in God, one nation under the God of your own understanding.

 My vote is a prayer for unity infused with a bunch of love.

 America, I do love you.

 Now, shut up and kiss me.

Race Matters: Who will get my vote for President?

I don’t know who’s getting my vote for President.

That statement troubles me. Early voting starts today. Bernie Sanders will be in town tomorrow. I’m interested to see how that plays out.

This is complicated.

The pundits say Joe Biden still leads with Black voters. I struggle with that. It’s hard to dismiss his contribution in passing the Crime Bill. It doesn’t help that Bernie also voted in support of the legislation responsible for increased Black incarceration.

I’m still angry about Bernie’s rapid dismissal of reparations for “being too hard to pass.” Of all people. You can’t talk to me about things being too hard.

Everyone is dirty. People in South Bend, Indiana say former Mayor Pete Buttigieg has a problem with Black People. He did well to shuck it off with an apology after a hullabaloo regarding the termination of the Black chief of police. It takes more than talk to convince Black people.

Mike Bloomberg is showing up as a potential pick for Black voters. How does that happen given his policy of “stop and frisk” when he was Mayor of York City? Claims of racial profiling must not hold the same contempt as back in the day when it felt like people were being stopped for chewing gum while walking down the street.

Speaking of the police and the criminal justice system, how can a Black person justify voting for Amy Klobuchar after reports that she failed to prosecute any of the officer in Minnesota who shot unarmed Black people. Not one. That’s the type of record from of an Attorney General that forces deep pondering regarding motives laced in white supremacy. I’ll pass.

I like Elizabeth Warren, but her affection for plans makes we wonder if she has the ability to follow through. How many of us know a person who has all the solutions while lacking the capacity to get it done? Back home, we call that walking the walk more than talking the talk. Besides, I need to see more Black people.

As for Tom Steyer. I’ll stop there because I heard the collective gasp – who?

I’m almost convinced Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian plant to further destroy America’s democracy. Nothing left to say about that.

My frustration is elevated by the graveyard of Black candidates dismissed by mostly white progressives for failing the radical left litmus test. Duval Patrick is out less than 90 days after jumping in the race. That’s not even a good sprint.

Kamala Harris and Cory Booker represented Black folks hoping for another Black President. Harris was blasted for being too tough on Black crime and Booker was challenged for dancing too much with big shots on Wall Street.

It begs the question, what will it take for another Black person to get a shot? It’s hard not to feel the lesson of fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Is this white America’s answer to never being fooled again? Please holla no.

Maybe I’m struggling to get motivated because of how we got here. We gained some things during the Obama years, but access is not one of them. It feels like back to business as usual with a Democratic Party that talks about race with no real dialogue with Black people. Don’t get me started on how Black women continue to be taken for granted.

The politics of galvanizing white undecided voters leaves me stumbling to find words to address the agony of the taken for granted Black voter. It doesn’t feel good being taken for granted. Is that what Biden is doing?

I can see it now – people blaming Black people, again, for Trump winning the election. I can hear them, in my imagination, talk about low Black turnout. Dang. I get sick of Black people getting blamed for everything.

Sigh. I have to go vote in the primary, but I don’t have a candidate for President. None of them represents me. Not one. Should I vote for the person who can best defeat Trump? If so, what does that say about me. Strike that. What does that say about life and politics in America?

Go to the back of the bus, please. Well, they did say please.