The 'nefarious, ugly demon called racism'

When Valerie Lemmie announced her resignation as city manager at a news conference last week, WKRC-TV reporter Dennison Keller asked her about a 2003 speech in which she lamented the "nefarious, ugly demon called racism." Was racism part of her decision to leave?

Lemmie, trying for a graceful exit, was diplomatic. She said her 2003 remarks were in the context of a national issue, not necessarily a local one.

But the 2003 speech, delivered 600 miles away at a community breakfast in Richmond, Va., was strong stuff. Delivered out of earshot of Cincinnati's politicians and press, she gave a candid assessment of the state of race relations in Cincinnati. Here are extended excerpts from that speech, obtained from a Richmond Times-Dispatch reporter who covered it:

... With all I have just reported as challenges, there is still something else. Something lingering just under the surface, which impacts and influences how citizens view their government and its role in promote democracy and adding value -- in creating, if you will, the environment for the greater community good Socrates gave oration to.

Just under the surface lies that nefarious, ugly demon called racism. The demon we try to ignore, refuse to publicly acknowledge, and hope through lack of acknowledgement it will go away. Yet it affects and influences what we do and how we respond individually and as a local government.

For example, civil unrest in our cities -- or a blitz of media stories -- have yet to be triggered by police shooting a young white man or the in-custody death of a young white man.

The demon racism is all-encompassing, like a huge cloud that has covered the sky and refuses to let the sun in. Structural, intractable, complicated, integral to our notion of democracy and our belief in its important tenets -- life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Racism cannot be ignored. It creates a separateness, a distinction, a color line, two worlds within and without the veil. And, as Lincoln admonished, a house divided cannot stand. While W.E.B. Dubois spoke of race as the seminal problem of the 20th century, I suggest to you this morning that the same can be said of the 21st century.

What makes racism such a demon? I believe it's because we don't talk about it, so we miss the opportunity to effectively communicate, learn about others, share information about ourselves, and gain knowledge as to how differences can be thread together into a tapestry of respect, tolerance and community well-being.

As such, we often make assumptions about behaviors as racist, when these behaviors could be attributed to other factors, such as lack of information. ...

Later in the speech, Lemmie spoke of Ohio's history as a "liberal bastion" and lamented that "a state's history is not necessarily a barometer of its present." She called Cincinnati "a city with two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings, and two warring ideals seemingly irreconcilable."

To say I jumped from the frying pan into the fire is an understatement. From the day I started, my professionalism, values, self-worth and intelligence were routinely questioned and tested. Whether from a City Council member who criticized me for suggesting to the business community they talk to the boycotters if they wanted to know the boycotters' concerns -- and, from the perspective of the boycotters how the business community could play a role in ending the boycott -- to the African-American community who encouraged me to ignore violations of law by African-Americans because of historic institutional racism. ...

I have found my new home full of many mean-spirited people who want to celebrate our divisiveness rather than work on solutions. But I am reminded: If it were going to be easy, God would not have called me to serve....

At last week's news conference, Lemmie would not criticize council members -- instead praising them for their commitment to the personal sacrifices they make to run for office. But she also urged them to continue her efforts.

"We have to find an effective way of dealing with race and class," Lemmie said. She said she made headway in appointing African-American women to key posts in her administration, including Assistant City Manager Deborah C. Holston and Solicitor J. Rita McNeil. "We have a long way to go, but we have also come a long way."

(Photo by Michael E. Keating/The Cincinnati Enquirer)