Editor, The Smithfield Times:

Last week’s “Our Forum” (“Saddened by Surry turmoil”) highlighted the racial turmoil in Surry. The need for racial justice in Surry cannot be ignored. 

When an employee reports that people feel threatened in the workplace from racial injustice, then management (in this case, the Surry Board of Supervisors) must take proper steps to investigate the allegation. The accusations in the county administrator’s correspondence stating that “… I know that because we have African Americans in leadership positions we are discriminated on big time. Fact!” and “…10 people who can have an opinion but just don’t like the way we look…” can’t be swept under the rug. Ignoring the issue will only result in the festering of ill feelings that will surface in unhealthy ways. We have to face racial issues out in the open.  

Censoring open dialogue to resolve issues cannot be tolerated. The county leaders who feel there is no problem to be resolved must realize that turning their backs to an employee’s and fellow board member’s calls for help is in direct conflict with their oath to serve our county. The damage caused by racism lands on everyone – the people feeling the injustice, the people accused and the surrounding community. 

The “Our Forum” recommendation to bring in an independent facilitator should be acted on immediately in order to fairly address this issue of racism. Let’s put aside our biases and come together to raise the level of justice for all races in our county. 

 

Dianne Cheek

Surry