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Local community members discuss race, policies to engage black youth

Activists support "Black Lives Matter" movement

<p>Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy</p>

Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy

In light of the recent tensions between African-Americans and police nationally, local community members are taking action to address racism and racial disparities in Charlottesville and the surrounding area.

Vice-Mayor of Charlottesville Wes Bellamy attended a lunch meeting arranged by local activists in mid-July to discuss a plan of action that he had on his mind.

“I think one of the biggest problems or biggest missteps that we could have is believing that there's not a problem or believing that we don't have issues in our community or believing that things are the same for everyone,” Bellamy said in a press release.

Amanda Tolka, who attended the meeting, said she has been an activist for many years.

Tolka said growing up in an economically disadvantaged white family in a predominantly black community exposed her to racial tensions and barriers at a young age.

“I know now, as a mother, that I couldn't hold on to my integrity without showing Savannah, my daughter who is 10, that when others are not able to enjoy freedom and are brutalized at that, we must not ever be bystanders,” Tolka said in an email statement. “We can't enjoy our freedom at the expense of others.”

Believing that not every American is enjoying equality to the same level, Tolka offered her opinions of the intensifying “Black Lives Matter” movement.

“[It] is a demand to everyone to have integrity to the ideal of freedom and to work for a country, which includes both cultural and structural changes, that will elevate black lives and all of those who do not enjoy freedom, to the same exact footing as white lives.” Tolka said.

#SilenceIsViolenceCville is a Facebook group which Tolka created as one of her efforts to encourage more people to break the silence and ultimately, challenge racism.

“Our stories, experiences, inner feelings, fears, hopes, etc. are all essential to connecting, working through our problems, and creating unity/solidarity,” Tolka said. “The process of resolving any issue is to first state it, but in order to state a cultural problem and proceed to rectify it, this requires many voices, many statements, many who are willing to trudge through the difficult task of facing that bad exists, yes, but also that there is good to be had.”

Tolka is working closely with Bellamy, and said she thinks any plan to initiate local change will require a lot of work.

“We need to pursue police reform that actually takes hold in both the city and community, including getting body cameras on our officers immediately,” Tolka said. “We need to start showing up to meetings where community leaders are present, making decisions, and be a part of that process.”

Those ideas, as part of a three-step plan, were proposed by Bellamy during a Black Male Town Hall Summit last Tuesday evening.

The plan is intended to motivate the black youth in the community. The plan has been embraced by several local organizations, such as the 100 Black Men of Central Virginia, which has community leaders serving as mentors for the black teens, and 101.3 Jamz, a local hip hop and R&B radio station.

Damani Harrison of 101.3 Jamz said in a press release that the station will serve as a platform for disseminating news and community issues throughout the local area.

University Assoc. Prof. John Mason attended the summit to participate in a discussion about race in Charlottesville. Mason said he enjoyed the enthusiasm of the speakers.

“[Bellamy] has injected a much-needed energy into Charlottesville politics,” Mason said. “I think Wes’s primary focus is going to be uplifting individuals to find ways of supporting young men who find themselves in difficult situations.”

Mason said increasing the willingness of people to engage in public policy making is an important aspect of creating change.

“Political engagement I think, though, has to start at the local level,” Mason said. “What might come out of the meeting last night is greater participation of the African-American community in local politics, such as voting, supporting particular candidates, sending emails to your council members.”

Organizing political action is a slow and difficult process, and community members will continue to make contributions, Mason added. 

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