Historical September 2014 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
No doubt we have all been caught up by the recent tragic events in Ferguson.
The clear disparities between black representation in both the Ferguson and the St. Louis County police forces reminded me of the research I undertook for my dissertation several decades ago.
I surveyed cities of over 100,000 in population to gauge overall minority workforce representation and representation in the protective services.
The size of a city’s minority population was the best predictor of representation.
A minority mayor was also important.
If a city had a rigid civil service, that detracted from representation. Because of affirmative action attached to the receipt of federal funds and court suits, minority representation did grow in larger cities. Why is such representation important?
The issue is legitimacy.
If someone in authority is from your group, that raises the comfort level a bit. Representation does not necessarily mean that there are substantive policy differences although there may be. Without such representation, minorities may see police as members of an occupying group.
In Ferguson and some other North County suburbs, the population has changed but elected officials and bureaucracy have not.
If there is little attrition, change is more difficult.
It is also difficult if those wielding power do not see the need. Living in the diverse neighborhood that we do, it has been necessary to try to include people in the activities of the SDCC. That has helped our road to stabilization.
It has not always been easy and there has been contention that fell along racial lines but the efforts of inclusion that have been sustained over time have borne fruit. Newspapers are reporting that St. Louis is a segregated city and that the metropolitan area is one of the most segregated in the nation. Yet, contrary to the conventional wisdom, Skinker DeBaliviere exists as does the Shaw, Dogtown, Southwest Gardens, Tower Grove etc. People forget to mention these diverse neighborhoods, the tasks they face, the obstacles they overcome. Inclusion is not simple nor is it easy but trying to make it work is a bit of progress we can reflect gladly on.
The Editors also note with appreciation that Renni Shuter, one of our longest-lasting advertisers, has retired from Feinberg Real Estate and therefore from advertising.
As Renni said, “not from donating to the TIMES, of course!” Thanks to Renni for many years of support for the TIMES and for the neighborhood. Happy Retirement!
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September 2014.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2014_09.pdf, printed page(s) 2; PDF page(s) 2.
