Greg Hedgepeth, President
All across the United States, black people who have risen to positions of professional leadership, are telling us that all that glitters is not gold, and the view from the top can be perilous. What are to be made of these claims? Are black professionals really experiencing racial biases unique to them, or do their challenges simply come with the territory of their high profile positions?
Durham, North Carolina, self-professed – and outwardly perceived – as one of the most diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities in America, is in a battle for its racial soul. In recent weeks, a public debate has erupted in Durham over the future of County Manager Wendell Davis.
Join us virtually on Tuesday, April 27 | 6-8 p.m. for an open and honest conversation about racial healing, reconciliation and progress. Racial Equity Talks is an ongoing series that aims to have critical conversations around racial equity in the United States. This important town hall seeks to determine two things:
- First, what is the status of black professionals writ large in a time that demands and professes the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion? Can black professionals find equity in their workplace, or only if they do not anger whites?
- Second, is Wendell Davis being wrongly targeted for standing up and suggesting that he and other Black county employees were feeling racial bias from a white county commissioner? Or is this simply a matter of the Black community being too sensitive?
The three Durham organizations, the People’s Alliance, the Durham Committee on Affairs of Black People, and the Friends of Durham – that have issued public statements on the plight of County Manager Wendell Davis have been invited to speak on behalf of their claims. We hope that you will join us and make your own decision.
Join in on this public conversation and be sure to engage in our Polis poll.
Conversation Topics
The Legal Perspective: The Perils of Anti-Discrimination Laws for Black Professionals.
Black Public Leadership and White Liberalism: The Case for or against Wendell Davis
Support for this event is provided from Substantial Media LLC and The Computational Democracy Project (Polis)