Democratic Cincinnati City Councilwoman Tamaya Dennard is facing blowback after saying global reaction to the Notre Dame fire in Paris shows “a prime example of privilege.”
Dennard drew a stark contrast between international outpourings over sympathy for the Paris cathedral blaze, and the burning down of three churches in Louisiana over the last several weeks.
“I’m saddened that the beautiful cathedral in France was damaged. But this is a prime example of privilege. White people don’t have to see me if they don’t choose to. Black people don’t have a choice. Please read Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison,” she said on Twitter Tuesday.
“It’s possible to hold multiple truths. I’m also saddened that Black churches in Louisiana were burned down. I’m sure they held significance as well. They were barely acknowledged.”
It’s possible to hold multiple truths. I’m also saddened that Black churches in Louisiana were burned down. I’m sure they held significance as well. They were barely acknowledged.
— Tamaya Dennard (@TDennard) April 16, 2019
Twitter users immediately criticized Dennard’s take on the global reaction to the Notre Dame fire.
One user wrote: “Ms. Dennard, I fail to see the comparison. Should there be more attention in the US regarding black churches being set on fire? Yes, absolutely. But I don’t feel this is an accurate comparison to Notre Dame because this is on a global level. Don’t make it something its not.”
Another user reminded Dennard that Notre Dame was the site where the first black priest was ordained in the Catholic Church’s history.
“Here’s something culturally significant for you. In 1854, James Augustine Healy was ordained in Paris, France, thus becoming the first Black priest in the Catholic Church,” he tweeted.
However, a new push to raise funds for the churches in Louisiana unfolded this week.
Responding to high-profile money declarations to help rebuild the French landmark, Huffington Post journalist Yashar Ali urged his Twitter following Tuesday to help raise funds on GoFundMe to rebuild three historically black churches in Louisiana after they were burned down by a suspected arsonist.
St. Mary Baptist Church in the predominantly African American community of Port Barre was the first church fire, on March 26. Then exactly a week later, the Greater Union Baptist Church also caught fire, just eight miles away from St. Mary. A third, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Opelousas, was burnt down, also in the parish, resulting in the wider investigation involving federal authorities.
Local authorities have not ruled out the possibility of arson or that the fires are a part of a larger plan to affect the community.
[Opinion: The fall of Notre Dame isn’t just a tragedy for Catholics]
