Cincy in Black & White

-By James Clingman Jr.

Mark Twain is often quoted as saying if he knew the world were coming to an end he would move to Cincinnati, because everything happens ten years later there.  If that’s true, and from all indications it is, it means Black people will have to wait ten more years for justice as it relates to the latest in a long string of ridiculous events in this town.  It also means that white people are ten years ahead when it comes to the same thing.

Want some examples?  How about these?  A couple of years ago, a white police officer, Steven Roach, killed a 19 year-old Black man, Timothy Thomas.  The Black man was wanted for misdemeanors but received death.  The officer committed a felony but received misdemeanor charges, for which he was subsequently told by a white judge, “You are free to go.”

Last year, the second highest-ranking police officer in Cincinnati, a Black man named Ron Twitty, was indicted by a “special” grand jury for lying about a dent in his police car. He was charged with two misdemeanors and two felonies, which carried penalties greater than those of all three of the white cops who killed Timothy Thomas and another Black man, Roger Owensby, who was choked to death, despite not even being wanted by police when he was stopped.

There are several other incidents I could cite, especially things like a blind man being given a jaywalking ticket for crossing against the light, and the grandmother being cited because she put a quarter in someone’s expired parking meter, but I am sure you get the picture.

Cincinnati’s latest in-your-face-injustice inspired me to write this particular article.  During a recent so-called “celebration” some college students decided to start invading private homes (Breaking and Entering, in police parlance), setting fires (Arson), overturning automobiles (Destruction of Private Property and Vandalism), throwing rocks and bottles at police officers (Assault on Police Officers), and causing fear and panic among neighborhood residents (Disturbing the Peace, Intimidation, and Inducing Panic). 

The local media gave it very little coverage and some attributed it to “a few college kids getting out of line.”  Several residents called 911 Operators but it took the police more than thirty minutes to react.  Despite the same thing happening last year at the same event, the police were ill-prepared to take charge this year.  According to the Chief of Police, their “intelligence” failed to advise them of the event.  He also said they did not have enough officers to deal with that kind of situation.   I reiterate, the same thing happened last year at the same time and at the same place.

Juxtapose that scene against the scene at City Hall a few weeks prior, when a few hundred Black supporters of Black attorney, Kenneth L. Lawson, rallied to let city officials know we would not stand by and allow Mr. Lawson to be vilified.  (Ken Lawson is the attorney who brought and won the racial profiling lawsuit against the City of Cincinnati.)  The cops assembled for that peaceful event were in vans, on horseback, in cars, on bicycles, on foot, hiding in alleys, on rooftops, and undercover in city council chambers, waiting for an outbreak that never occurred.  Double standard?  You bet.

Also compare the white youth who turned over the cars to the Black youth who turned over some hot dog stands in the aftermath of the Timothy Thomas killing.  The white group was just a “little out of hand,” while the Black group was immediately called “rioters” some of who received a year or more in jail.  Compare the high-ranking Black officer, who lost his job after 29 years of unblemished service, to the cop who killed Thomas and received a new job.

That’s the Black and White of it; now let’s get to the Green.  Two stadiums totaling nearly  $1 billion have been built with taxpayer dollars, with around 5% of the aggregate economic benefits, both short term and long term, going to African Americans.  A 30% “minority” allocation was included in a $200 million highway construction project a couple of years ago; white contractors filed suit and the 30% requirement was abandoned. 

We are building a $110 million National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, and have allocated around 25% of the benefits to “minorities.”  We just cut the ribbon at our convention center, which will be expanded at a cost of $160 million.  We are told, “This time it will be different.” 

And finally, we have a $1 billion school building construction project in the works.  The good thing about this project is the bold move by the Cincinnati Board of Education in mandating a “race-conscious” program, unlike the “race-neutral” program approved by our “black” (small “b”) city council members and city administrators.  Please keep in mind that Blacks comprise nearly 50% of Cincinnati’s population and 70% of our school district’s population.

Maybe old Mark Twain was right about Cincinnati, at least when it comes Black folks’ rights.  In a city where you can turn over a hot dog stand and get a year in jail, but turn over a car and get nothing.  In a city where you can kill a car and lose your job, but kill a Black man and get promoted. In a city where you can hold a brick and get killed by police, but throw bricks and bottles at police and get police “restraint.”   In a city such as this, Cincinnati, Ohio, when it comes to the Black, White, and the Green, it looks like we will never catch up.

James Clingman He is an Adjunct Professor, Univ. of Cincinnati, Dept. of African American Studies on "Black Entrepreneurship". He is the founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, served as its first Executive Director and President. Hosts the radio program, "Blackonomics" at "1230TheBuzz.com", sponored by Visions 2000 and is the author of the book, Economic Empowerment or Economic Enslavement – We have a choice (www.enterzone.com/power). Contact him at P.O. Box 6722, Cincinnati, OH 45206, 513-489-4132.