COMMENTARY – When the Rev-elution started reporting on the story of dysfunction within Durham County Government, it was easy to see the proverbial handwriting on the wall. The game plan was set long ago. County Commissioners Wendy Jacobs and Heidi Carter were determined to get rid of Durham County Manager Wendell Davis by any means necessary.
The aim of my reporting was threefold – to educate residents on the politics behind the tension, to counter massive one-sided reporting and to prepare residents for what happened on yesterday. In that sense, this reporting is an act of prophesy.
Longtime journalists know what separates Durham from other markets. In Durham, everything must be viewed from a racial lens. It’s also critical to examine how all the dots interconnect. What happens at Durham Public Schools impacts the county. What happens with the city council leaks into both the county and schools. Each form of government has its own jurisdiction; however, the players on all sides play chess while residents assume they’re playing checkers.
Over the next few weeks, prepare to witness Wendy Jacobs, Heidi Carter and Nida Allam attempt to detract from their critics. They’ll cling to the claim that removing Davis is not about race – that it’s pressing the restart button to move forward with a more progressive agenda. They’re wrong. Everything in Durham is about race. It has always been that way. Not understanding how that plays out is a big mistake.
It’s about race because removing Davis is about power. When power shows up to enforce its will in the face of criticism, that is the imposition of white power. White power is deafened to the roar of Black people. It seeks to justify actions trough the affirmation of close Black friends. Removing Davis validates the power of white people to do as they will, because Black power isn’t enough to defeat their objective.
This is all about race because underestimating racism is the lead in this never-ending drama. Everything is tainted by revenge. Carter and Jacobs never wanted Davis in the position. Carter is outraged by the assertion she’s a racist. Durham Association of Educations crave payback for years of underfunded schools. People’s Alliance continues to seek revenge against Brenda Howerton for supporting the 751 project.
Old and messy defines Durham politics. Power is messy business because winning is resistant to listening. Whenever white power stands in the way of a Black collective vision, the perception will always be that’s racism.
The mistake of the 3-2 vote to oust Davis is the assumption that the vote is not driven by racism. The decision was made by two white women and a white adjacent woman. In their minds, it’s not about race. It can’t be. Davis is a wealthy Black man. In their minds, race isn’t a critical concern when the Black person in the room reaps the benefit of economic advantage. In their minds, racism only happens to poor Black people.
In their minds, this is a decision involving one person – Davis. It’s much deeper than that. This is a story involving how white power fights to win in the face of Black opposition. White power screams “you’re wrong, it’s not about race, we’re doing what’s best for the broader community, I have Black friends.” The big mistake when white power is enforced is the failure to listen. White power doesn’t crave Black authorization.
White power does what it does because it has the power to win. That is, at the very root, the definition of institutionalized racism and white privilege. The commissioners removed Davis because they have the power to impose their will. They did so because history tells them they can without consequences. Black people will forget. They have three years to repair the damage before the next election. They assume they know the minds of Black voters. It’s an old game plan managed by key players within the white regime.
The mistake is in that assumption. America has changed since the old play book was crafted. White people are woke now. Critical Race Theory gives new vocabulary to defy maneuvers to control Black people. The national spotlight on weeping “Karen's” highlights a high level of disgust toward white women’s tears when they fail to get their way. Removing Davis is about Carter’s tears after being accused of racism. When white women cry, look for a Black man under attack for getting in the way of a white woman’s freedom.
This is not the final page on the reporting of this story. The story is just beginning. Prepare for reporting aimed at dismantling a culture created to maintain white power and privilege. The mistake of the 3-2 vote is the assumption it’s a restart button. It’s not. It’s a kick ass button.
Prepare for more from the Rev-elution. Fast forward to a change gonna come.
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“If you’re not careful, the newspaper will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” - Malcolm X
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