Lynell Mickelson's post re: the schools issue with some racism and calssism
thrown reminded me that weveral days ago I wrote a response to Fran
Guminga's comments about some comments she thought Mark Steinglein might
have said about a Poor peole statement. I wrote some comments but put them
aside thinking that oh Mother Goddess do I dare bring up calss and racism -
it seems so very foreign her in old Minnesota. SO now I share with you my
thoughts ready to dive in and open this can of worms about diversity, race
and all those isms we don't really talk about much - certainly not out in
public like this.
So attached you will find a few of Fran's words and my original response
from before.
Annie
>Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 01:21:05 -0500
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>From: Annie Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: Re: [Mpls] Mayoral Candidate Stenglein
>In-Reply-To: <002301c0ddb3$572e23e0$6d7462ce@gumfra>
>
>At 09:52 PM 5/15/01 -0500, Fran Guminga wrote:
>>At the April Mpls Property Rights meeting, I believe Mark Stenglein said the
>>following (paraphrased):
>>
>>It doesn't make sense to put poor people out in Minnetonka when Minneapolis
>>has the infrastructure to take care of them.
>>
>>Can anyone confirm that he made a statement like that?
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------
>
>I have no idea if Mark made a statement like that. But I must ask
"stupid" question? What is the matter with that line?
>
>However, in my ignorance, it does make me want to share a couple of
stories with all of you. You have all heard these stories a hundred times
and if you haven't then let me repeat these one more time.
>
>One of my jobs more than 10 years ago was as a VISTA Supervisor with 4
VISTA community organizers at CASH - Community Action of Suburban Hennepin.
We did work with the low-income communities, many of them people of color
who did live in generally large apartment complexes who were constantly
fighting all those density housing issues that go on with Section 8, and
other issues facing low-income folks. The organizing was being done by the
VISTA's and I went with them to many meetings in Eden Prairie (out by
Anderson Lane), up in Brooklyn Park, New Hope, Plymouth, etc.
>
>I can only guess that what Mark could have said, in a nicer way probably,
is that it is very difficult out there because the infrastructure need by
those in need really isn't out there. Visits to Hennepin County Medical
Center, transportation, a women's shelter, social service resources, child
care options and more are in fact miles away back in the core. And let's
not even start talking about the job thing. It never fails if you live in
Eden Prairie you'll get a job in southeast Mpls. (just as an example). Or
the reverse you live in Phillips and get a job in Inver Grove Heights. So
it's the same old story: getting to work, getting the kids off to child
care, what happens the day the kid is sick and your bus only runs in the
morning and night?
>
>But what I sensed more about the folks I worked with and living out in
"white suburbia" (remember in '90 the POC population was at about 10%) was
their loneliness for people who looked like themselves, or had trials and
tribulations like themselves. I heard stories all the time about the trip
to the laundromat, K-Mart or the grocery store (Byerly's) out there that
would make you think we were living in Mississippi in the 40-60's. It was
not a pretty picture.
>
>And if I had to say what was the biggest issue I would probably say
transportation - even just to get every day living done - and out there
it's horrible unless you have a car. And then if you are fortunate enough
to afford a car and drive to work you get stuck in traffic besides.
>
>I am not condoning what or how Mark may have made the statement but I do
want folks to know that moving people all over the region into scattered
site housing may not work either - it is very difficult unless all the
needed services are right out there too.
>
>My son's best friend, now a Fulbright Scholar studying in Africa, for a
variety of family reasons ended up having to atttend Minnetonka High School
after starting at South. He was smart and a jock and was given many
opportunities, but he still talks about how lonely it was as one of less
that 25 kids of color in a school with more than 2500 students and faculty.
>
>That to me is the real problem - being lonely and wanting to live close to
family and friends in the diverse population that we who live here in the
core love and appreciate and take for granted. How many assume that it's
all ok everywhere? It is not! Speaking for myself, I try to never go out to
the suburbs unless I have to - I can't stand them. And if that isn't about
class and race then I don't know what is - let's call it what it is? The
things people don't like to talk about: how the housing issues and the
prison population in the prison industry and how they relate to class and
race.
>
>I want my diversity. I can truly say "I love living in Minneapolis" - I
doubt if I could ever say, "I love living in Wayzata or Shoreview".
>
>Please just take this as food for thought.
Annie Young
www.annieyoung.org (new info as of 5/7/01)
Ward 6 - East Phillips in Minneapolis
Citywide at-large Park Board Commissioner
_______________________________________
Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy
Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more:
http://e-democracy.org/mpls
