Some called it a clash between the old Durham Committee
and emerging leadership. The new
school feels foiled by the perceived lack of willingness of old heads to share
the reigns of control. They claim the
powerful organization is held back by a class divide that makes it hard for
some to participate.
Jackie Waagstaff was the reason for the meeting. The
Durham Committee’s Executive Committee censured her as Chair of the Political Committee. On last night, the troops showed up to cast
votes to determine the fate of the controversial former member of the City
Council and School Board.
Wagstaff won the battle.
The vote was taken after heated conversation and name
calling. It was the type of battle that has long been the trademark of the
Durham Committee. After years of
battling to unseat Lavonia Allison, the former Chair, last night was back to
usual for a group hard pressed to define its role within a community in need of
its guidance.
After years of hearing the echo – the Durham Committee
is dead – all seemed headed in the right direction when Randal Rogers pushed
for the removal of Wagstaff. Many
present last night raised serious questions related to the integrity of the
Executive Committee’s decision. Many
wondered why. Others asked why now.
The decision to allow Wagstaff to remain as Chair of
Political Committee sends a clear message regarding the state of Durham’s black
leadership. It’s a message that has been
lingering near the backdrop of the internal affairs of the Durham Committee for
decades. The quarreling has been construed
within the context of personality differences and leadership style. There’s much more going on than many are willing
to concede.
Complaints about Wagstaff’s leadership style and
personality have been understood from a vantage point that assumes the merit of
black privilege. It’s a point that
Wagstaff and her supporters have raised. The mistake that members of the Executive Committee
made was to dismiss the validity of that contention.
The attempt to remove Wagstaff unleashed a nemesis
that has fought for the soul of Durham’s black community. That enemy can be found in virtually every
black community that strives to press for the greater good of all black citizens. At issue is more than the competency of
Wagstaff. At issue is the way we measure
and support black leadership that comes from a place outside the norm.
This battle is about class and sub-culture. It’s an issue that Wagstaff has raised. In doing so, the Executive Committee moved
for her censure, which left many believing she was being removed for the
reasons she exposed. A lack of substance,
beyond the personal, left space for a challenge to the Executive Committee’s
recommendation.
The result of last night’s vote provides an
opportunity for the Durham Committee to have a real conversation related to the
unspoken truth on the table. How can the
Durham Committee effectively represent all of Durham when it grapples to affirm
and respect the voice of those shaped in the grammar and ways of the streets?
That’s not to suggest that the Executive Committee moved
based on a disconnection with Durham’s marginalized sector. What is implied is the need for significant
dialogue regarding ways to overcome the assumption that the Durham Committee is
an organization designed to affirm the black elite. Failure to do that will further alienate the
Durham Committee from the people Wagstaff represents.
I recommend that Randal Rogers call a meeting to
discuss the state of Durham’s black community.
Invite the larger community to participate. Allow Jackie Wagstaff to share in the
planning of the summit. Build a bridge
beyond what happened last night.
It’s the best way to mend that which has been
broken. If you take time to listen, the voice
of reason can be heard.
End the war.
Only in The Durham Committee could an officer get away with going to Raleigh, and though not authorized, filing a document on behalf of the entire organization to reserve its name as a Business Corporation, refuse to inform anyone, put her name as the official agent of the organization, and instead of using the organization's PO BOX, using her own? That is fraud and she should be charged. If anyone did that on their job, you'd be f-i-r-e-d.
ReplyDeleteWho are these individuals that think Jackie Wagstaff is more important than an entire 78 year old organization?
This is not about race and class. This is about an officer being allowed to so whatever she wants and not being held responsible.
Watch the Black Community REJECT her pay-to-pay line-up of Omar Beasley, Pam Karriker and Sylvester Williams.
We've seen this show before folks...and it never ends well for Jackie. LOL!