|
|
DEPARTMENTS
|
Controversy Simmers over Dallas ‘White Only’ Sign
by Kym Keeton
Special to the NNPA from the Dallas Weekly
DALLAS (NNPA)—“Whites Only” etched on walls above water fountains at the Dallas County Records Building has become the talk of the town since the cover story first appeared in the Dallas Weekly two weeks ago.
From businessman Robert Pitre, who first brought signs to the attention of The Dallas Weekly, to Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price and leaders of various civic organizations, the fate of the signs is of interest.
At a meeting of the Pylon Salesmanship Club, founder Jasper Baccus, owner of Baccus Cleaners, called a press conference at the Old Mill End, in Fair Park, to denounce the signs.
“It is now time to stop playing with us,” Baccus said in response to an earlier Commissioners Court meeting where citizens gathered to express their feelings.
In the court, citizens are able to sign up and express their concerns before the four commissioners and county judge.
Dwaine Caraway told of how those in attendance “walked away knowing that this would be more than just a talking war.
“We are going to war,” said Mr. Caraway.
The current Pylon president, Corey Tony, said he believes that “we must join forces in order for our people to see any changes.
“Unless we come together and get on the same bandwagon we will not get through this,” Tony said.
According to Dapheny Fain, administrative assistant to Commissioner John Wiley Price, until the recent controversy, little had been said about the sign.
“No one has ever called this office about the sign that is etched in the wall,” said Fain. “We did know about the first sign on the first floor; but the second sighting we did not know about.”
In response to comments from a fellow commissioner, Price responded that he was not going to react to Commissioner Ken Mayfield’s “knee-jerk reaction.”
“He’s been in that position for eight years and has not had one African-American appointee,” pointed out Price, adding that now Commissioner Mayfield is concerned about a “damned sign.”
Dianne Gibson addressed the court, calling on emphasis to be placed on other issues. Citing homelessness, unemployment, crime and other issues, Bibson urged the commissioners to remain focused.
“We’ve got bigger issues,” said Gibson.
During the press conference, Lee Alcorn spoke out about his efforts in helping the Black community, and said he was told that the sign would be covered up and it wasn’t.
“This is more than just about a sign,” said Alcorn, who is a past president of the Dallas NAACP. “It’s about disrespect. At some point, African-Americans in this country should want to be respected.”
Alcorn said his main focus was on the sign being removed completely. “We want a decision as to what they are going to do by next Tuesday,” he said, referring to the weekly Commissioners Court meeting.
A decision is what most of the leaders at the conference said they were concerned about.
“The only solution to the problem is to remove the sign,” agreed Tony.
Also weighing in was former Dallas City Councilman Al Lipscomb, who said he was asked not to speak out on this issue in the meeting with the county officials.
“The sad part about this is that when you have officials who are in office that represent us, who don’t try to make any changes. That is considered misrepresentation of the community and themselves,” Lipscomb said. “Then we must take action.”
Dallas residents seem to differ about the situation.
“I think that it’s a part of history,” said businessman Donald Parrish. “It doesn’t offend me. That’s how Dallas used to be.
Resident Arlisa Hunter views the signs as an “atrocity.”
“If I walked by it now it wouldn’t hurt me,” she said. “You can rewrite history but you can’t undo it. I think it’s the most absurd thing to look at. This is 2003. It should have been changed many years ago.”
####
!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
