Who is, if not me?

Dear Neighbors,

Both black and white alike have told me to stay away from race if I wanted to get elected.  How can this city Not talk about race in and an election cycle.  My delivery and style needs improvement but the points need to be made.  The city needs to know where I stand and all the other candidates stand on the issue of race.  Black people have lived on this soil called Medford since slavery and the colonial error of white supremacy.  How can this socio-cultural and economic component of Medford be avoided?

First, credit needs to go to Mayor McGlynn (yes-credit) for having done what he has for black/white relations in Medford.  Breaking down barriers do start with the kids (I ought to know), however the next phase in our racial/political/economic future lies in intergrating black people into our business districts, public forums, and input on all major committees with actual power.  The mayor handled race behind closed doors just like he has all other issues in Medford.  Decisions were made without public discussion.  That needs to change as part of the open political structure that lies before this city in it’s future. 

Haines Square is a prime example of adult intergration, the business district has at least 4 hair salons that I know of and I do not believe one of those salon’s specializes in black hair.  I also see immigrant groups of color (be they Central American, South American or Asian) organized enough to start there own businesses in Haines Square.  How can we get atleast one black American business opened in Haines Square?  Do they not deserve to open a restaurant, laundry mat or accounting service? Medford Square also deserves to open real store, no offense but someone from the white business community needs to volunteer to help them fill out a business plan and deliver goods and services in Medford like any other business.

I should be talking about this with the entire city, but we have been denied access to that venue for the entire history of Medford cable access station’s history.  The Mayor should be credited for having done what he has in relation to social intergration of the schools. However, he alone is at fault for denying the city the venue (we pay for through our cable bills) to speak as adults and not just as the parents of white and black/bi-racial children in and through the school system.  We need to move this ball forward and in order to do this we need to have open forum where discussion leads to Action.  It is not good enough to talk about it, but make a plan of execution.  Do I know how to do this, no, but I do know it could start with opening up our media center.  I do know that we need to listen to black American people in public, not behind closed doors.  I do know that black Americans are different from Hatians and other black groups, they did not receive the same conditioning that black Americans in Medford have received.   We need to listen to black Americans and we need to deal openly with white priviledge, resentment, and guilt. 

I am an imperfect candidate to be this conduit but I can not run for the seat of Medford City Councilor and Not talk about this huge component of this city’s psychy.  We as a city need to grow up and face the new level of evolution.  The millinials will be less resistant than previous generations including Mayor McGlynn’s or my own Gen X.  We need to confront it, not run for it.  If elected, this will be one of my goals and the city needs to know that while I may screw up, I will not run from the subject.  If I am not elected, I will keep bringing it up anyway.  One way or the other, it will come out of the closet.

Respectfully,
Jeanne Martin