La June Montgomery Tabron: A call to action

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation has launched a Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation process that will help communities across the country embrace racial healing and uproot conscious and unconscious beliefs in a racial hierarchy.

Throughout the lead-up to the announcement, we recognized that the TRHT has a supporting role in BC Vision to help transform Battle Creek and deliver on the goals to increase job opportunities, develop talent and create a culture of vitality.

BC Vision has made progress. It has brought together business, nonprofit, civic and community leaders who converse in authentic ways.

It has compelled stakeholders to come together and brainstorm on ways to make the community vibrant for everyone. In our meetings, we are asking some of the tough questions like whether our circle is inclusive enough? Is the room too white? Are the views of youths, teachers, seniors and parents being represented? We may not have the answers, but at least the questions are being asked.

We recognize that the education system is not preparing all children for success. And while Battle Creek is more diverse than the state, African American and Hispanic residents are more likely to live in poverty, experience unemployment and are less likely to achieve a college degree.

But we have to ask ourselves if we are approaching these big issues in perfunctory ways?

Are we the same people sitting around the table, talking about the same issues and developing the same safe solutions? In other words, are we achieving only limited success, while segments of the community are convinced that we don’t understand their problems and can’t comprehend their daily struggles in neighborhoods that have been ignored for too long?

What can TRHT do?

The TRHT process will draw from the practices and learnings of Truth and Reconciliation Commissions around the world that have helped reconcile conflicts that have divided nations. These concepts will be applied to addressing the consequences of racism in the United States. The TRHT will engage communities in a healing process with public forums allowing leaders and residents alike to discuss their histories, their stories and their anxieties.

In Battle Creek those conversations must be centered on racial healing. Only then can we fully explore the segregated housing patterns, the disproportionate unemployment in minority communities and the history behind establishing four school districts for a city with less than 14,000 students. These issues must be acknowledged and discussed; we can’t hide from them any longer.

Once the past is behind us, the community will have a clearer path to healing and forging a new narrative, one that is filled with promise for the future.

This is what is envisioned for Battle Creek.

Much of the nation was surprised by the findings in an analysis of recent polling data prepared by the Kellogg Foundation in conjunction with the Northeastern University School of Journalism. It found that a majority of Americans believe more needs to be done to eliminate racism.

In a poll last year, 53 percent of whites said more changes needed to be made to give blacks equal rights with whites. That was up from just 39 percent a year earlier. Furthermore, last year, 44 percent of whites said the criminal justice system was biased against African Americans, a sharp increase for whites over time. In 1995, only 15 percent of whites said the criminal system was biased. And in 2000, 32 percent of whites said it was biased.

This data tells us that the nation is ready for change. Other data tells us that Battle Creek is also ready.

After a recent BC Vision Steering Committee meeting, the 10 participants were asked if they were interested in continuing to learn more about racial equity, inclusiveness and overcoming racial disparities to improve our work together on behalf of BC Vision. Nine out of 10 participants said yes.

Sure it is only a small sample, but we believe it is representative of how this community feels. Together, we have the courage to take the next step.

Our ranks must swell with those committed to racial progress, to blocking efforts to limit voting by people of color, to ending racial disparities in school discipline, to quality education for all, to jobs for residents of underserved communities, to restoring fairness in our justice system, to ending segregated housing patterns, to promoting health equity and to providing opportunities for all of our nation’s children.

The TRHT is our call to action — for the nation and Battle Creek.

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La June Montgomery Tabron is president and CEO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation