Revive Human Relations Commission

The recent spate of racially-tinged incidents in and around the city made me wonder whatever happened to the Human Relations Commission.

Empowered to have nine members, the commission had none when Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, former president of the NAACP, took office on Jan. 1, 2006. According to 2006 posts on Plaintalker, the mayor proposed the names of Oliver C. Hubbard, Judawn L. Musa and the Rev. Carolyn Eklund to serve on the commission. Joan Hervey was another possible nominee.

But to the best of our knowledge, no one was actually seated and the commission is still inactive. I have never seen a meeting notice or any other proof that the commission is functioning.

So now we have multiple examples of bias and misunderstanding, with no official local body to address the situation.

Years ago, the Human Relations Commission held hearings on alleged police brutality and heard much testimony. If nothing else, the hearings helped to clear the air by giving people a way to vent their feelings.

It is always shocking to find that a veneer of good will toward others is just that, nothing more than a veneer. Underneath, the ugliness persists.

Politicians may publicly deplore these incidents, but where do the average folks go with their hurt and dismay?

If there were a Human Relations Commission in place, that would be a start.

--Bernice Paglia