We long for the day when race is no longer a prevailing factor in politics.

History suggests that colorblindness in the political arena is an elusive ideal, with federal judges well into the 21st century still compelling local and state governments to draw legislative districts that ensure minority voting strength and representation on an assumption that voters tend to pick candidates of the same skin color.

There are signs of progress. Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, who became the first Black woman to be elected to that position in 2021, looks to make history again this year as the presumptive Republican nominee in the race to succeed outgoing Gov. Glenn Youngkin. She won with significant support from white voters in 2021 and will need it again to defeat what will be a formidable, well-funded challenger in November, no matter whom Democrats nominate.

Still, racial distrust too often colors and complicates political discourse, evidenced by current conflict in neighboring Surry County, where accusations of racism are being hurled in both directions.

Black elected and appointed leadership believes that criticism from white citizens is motivated by racism, while those white critics say reverse racism is actually to blame. The discord has infected the Board of Supervisors, with white Supervisor Amy Drewry saying she was targeted with a retaliatory change in the board’s Code of Ethics after she unsuccessfully attempted to address County Administrator Melissa Rollins’ accusations of racism.

In an email to supervisors after a 3-2 vote to approve the current fiscal year’s county budget, Rollins wrote: “I can respect everyone’s prerogative to vote the way desired but fair is fair. … When the information is not read or you don’t fully grasp it please do not blame staff and put out a false narrative. This has been done over and over and it is simply wrong. … I know that because we have African Americans in leadership positions we are discriminated on big time. Fact! But we will continue to do our job with our elected leaders who will continue to … make bold and courageous decisions rather than the same 10 people who can have an opinion but just don’t like the way we look and who are making improvements to the county.”

Regardless of whether Rollins is right or wrong, such open hostilities among elected and appointed leaders are unhealthy, and set a bad example for the citizens served by those leaders.

The Board of Supervisors would be wise to hire a facilitator and devote some time to honest dialogue about the racial distrust that divides county leadership and, in turn, the citizenry. A little more listening by both sides could go a long way in healing the divide.