Harry Jaffe: Racism alive and well in D.C. Council
By: Harry Jaffe
Examiner Columnist
October 9, 2009
You have to give Marion Barry his due: The dude is consistent. He came to power in this town in the 1960s by pitting blacks against whites; while mayor for 16 years, he slapped down the race card every time he was threatened; in the twilight of his career, he is once again demonizing people by the color of their skin, rather than the content of their character.
How else can we interpret the way he criticized parks chief nominee Ximena Hartsock, who happens to be a Latina? In the midst of an ugly confirmation hearing last week, Barry led his colleagues into the racial realm when he said Hartsock was not qualified because she didn't "understand our culture," as in black culture.
Translation: She's not one of us. A black person can best cater to the needs of those who use the city's fields, swimming pools and recreation centers.
This line of thinking is appalling and wrongheaded on so many levels it boggles my mind. Facts are that people of all hues and ages use city recreation facilities. Skin color and ethnicity are irrelevant. What I find more disturbing is that Barry can still play the Pied Piper on the city council and lead a majority of its members over the cliff into racial politics. Three council members have shown they are particularly vulnerable to Barry's racist appeal: Harry Thomas Jr., Michael Brown and Yvette Alexander.
The racial composition of the 13-member city council has changed over the years, from majority black to white and back. When Brown replaced Carol Schwartz this year, it swung back to a majority black legislature. I have heard reports that some members, egged on by Barry, have tried to enforce a black voting bloc.
Muriel Bowser, who represents Ward 4, has not fallen in line. She has declined to vote with her black colleagues on some issues in part because her ward is integrated, in part because she often carries Mayor Adrian Fenty's water, in part because she has an independent mind. Her thanks? According to my council sources, some staffers have started calling Bowser an "Uncle Tom."
Yeah — it's getting ugly.
I can understand why Barry can't keep his inner racist in check. In his four terms as mayor, he favored blacks in hiring and promotions. That made sense in his first terms, because blacks had been excluded from public service. But the city has changed. About half of the city's population is black; the rest is white and Hispanic. Fenty has hired on merit rather than race. His police and fire chiefs are white; school chancellor and construction czar are of Asian descent; his new economic development director is Filipino; his city administrator is black.
There may have been substantive reasons to vote down Hartsock's appointment. But in the 7-5 vote, all the black council members voted against her — except for Ms. Bowser.
Barry was in the hospital, but his racial prism colored the day.
E-mail Harry Jaffe at hjaffe@washingtonexaminer.com.
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