At the Noon special session meeting over 2 student housing agreements (one has been tabled for a couple of months! I am somewhat amused that the words plantation politics has caused some discomfort. The phrase ia no less loaded than the words “good old boys” in fact they are synonymous. Perhaps, because I am a person of color... speaking truth to power is discomforting. Some of you have the privilege of saying “good old boys” without any negative connotation – but if I say plantation – people are worried that I am talking about race. The truth is, I am talking about race, class and power. My use of the word plantation was very intentional. Columbia is in the heart of Little Dixie... home to a land grant institution whose history is seeped in plantations, race, entitlement and disenfranchisement as a working culture. The University historically has been on the wrong side of every race/class related issue and has been sued to force change. As proof of the University’s plantation culture, you will not an MU representative participate in any of these development conversations. You will not see them take a high profile role in sharing resources or data to aid our financial misunderstandings about economic development. Instead you see the likes of the Chamber of Commerce (a very homogenous group) who like MU leaders and the city are all about protecting their OWN turf, power and process which think they are ENTITLED to control. While the MU could serve as the anchor of equity in the conversations about how our town grows, who is impacted, and the economic needs of our most vulnerable communities – they instead are serially absent. However, a few years ago MU did play their own role in the “test” land grab policy in an attempt to acquire land for new digs for the State Historical Society of Missouri. One must wonder about their level of community engagement? We are seeing the public process repeatedly flattened in a serial disenfranchisement fashion. For those who think race and class have nothing to do with the deliberate and opaque disengagement with the public by truncating the rules of procedure and public notice – I have news for you.. it’s on purpose and by design. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize what and who the demographics of downtown and North Central neighborhoods represent and significantly money isn’t one of them. So, we are watching history repeat itself because many in the community dont understand the insidiousness of this type of power grab. The belated invitations to the downtown and North Central neighborhoods is either benign, malicious, or blind (incompetent) neglect and none are acceptable. As a community we should not only be outraged and flabbergasted – but also very very angry. I am can admit that I am angry and am willing to say so without apology. Here’s why. Committing public money in the absence of shared governance, publicly-debated and agreed upon policy is the ultimate act of political & social disenfranchisement. In short, supporting these agreements without a robust deliberative process replete with financial details is a gift of public money behind the public’s back. Moreover, since Mr. Mathes was hired, he has demonstrated that his administration only knows how to serially and blatantly power grab in a way that intentionally skirts the public process. In my opinion, these are sufficient grounds for dismissal. These actions are the hallmark of plantation politics – a mentality that justifies its power based upon invisible unearned privilege and entitlement. In closing, to make the loaded word plantation palatable for the squeamish on speaking truth to power; let me offer these 2 brief analogies for your consideration: 1) The process (or the lack thereof) led by City Manager Mathes is like a spouse booking a vacation to the Caribbean resulting in a maxed out credit card without telling their partner; plus they are 6 months behind on the mortgage, it’s the dead of winter, and the kids need food, clothes, coats and shoes. 2) Or (an easier one) in a drunken stupor your unemployed spouse buys a two-seat card on credit, but you have 6 children. I repeat, plantation politics is about disenfranchising power from the people. We should all demand accountability from our elected leaders. Politics is a messy business and the truth often isnt so nice. See you at noon! Traci Wilson-Kleekamp
Posted on: Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:25:53 +0000
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