It was interesting to see black representation (or should I say the lack of it) at the Master Planning sessions held during the month of May at various locations in Asheville.

These planning sessions were widely publicized, and will affect the African American communities in Asheville whether they participate or not. What was notable (and noticeable) was the absence of black clergy (our traditional leadership), and representatives from the local black business community, and the heads and members of the local branch of the NAACP (which seems more interested in awards dinners) than activism.

Once again, the “Black Leadership” if you can call it that, has let the African American community down. When the door was opened for participation in the “process,” once again, we as community members, and black leaders definitely missed the boat!
Maybe I’m missing it! Maybe there is NO black leadership here in Asheville. Maybe there’s NO African American community here! Only just a few black folk scattered about, who have lost their vision, lost hope, and lost will.

Perhaps the black people of Asheville and the County have just resigned themselves to their situation - and this is as far as they can go! However, you need to look at all the economic opportunities taking place here now, and what’s coming! Could it be that blacks in Asheville are still satisfied picking cotton, playing the “yes-sa boss,” being job scared, and eating crumbs from the table?

One irony to this is that young black people graduating from colleges in the area will be leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. With some effort, encouragement, support, and participation from the community in Asheville, they could have economic opportunities right here; building a vibrant and vital African American community.

I often wonder what’s missing in our black communities! Why is it that other ethnic groups who come from all over the world strive and achieve what we cannot? If we couldn’t sing, dance, or play basketball, would there be any black people with major money?
Speaking truth to truth, I don’t know if I could have endured some of the things that people of color had to endure (here) to get me to the point where I wouldn’t at least have an opportunity to say, “I want a seat at the table that we helped prepare!”

How tragic would it be if yet another opportunity to take our rightful place at the table to get our “forty acres and a mule” came and went without us even showing up for dinner!

Brothers and Sisters, it’s simple, there are no guarantees in life - but there are some certainties: If you don’t vote you don’t count; and if you don’t participate you have no right to complain!

That’s just my opinion — and I’m sticking to it!

~ Jesse Junior, Arden