REMARKS
Challenges and responsibilities of increased Black leadership
0:09:45
ยท
58 sec
Public Advocate Williams discusses the complexities surrounding increased Black representation in leadership positions across city, state, and federal government.
- He notes that while there is more Black leadership than ever before, outcomes for Black communities have not significantly improved.
- Williams acknowledges that Black leaders may face different treatment due to their race.
- He criticizes some Black leaders for mimicking problematic behaviors instead of driving real change.
- The Public Advocate calls for using political power to support Black leadership that prioritizes community needs over personal interests.
Jumaane Williams
0:09:45
All of this is happening at a time when we've had more black leadership than we've ever had in the city, state, and federal government.
0:09:52
That means we managed to diversify the leadership but not change the outcomes at the end and that's a problem that all of us need to hold.
0:09:59
I also wanna be a % clear that you can be treated differently or probably are if you are in leadership and a black person.
0:10:08
It doesn't change the fact that you might also be doing a lot of foolishness at the same time.
0:10:12
Both of those things can be true at the same time.
0:10:15
And, to be asked to come to the defense of certain black leadership so they can be treated differently while doing the same foolishness that they should not be mimicking but actually changing is not a good thing for the political the political will, the political power that we have.
0:10:33
We're better off using that power to defend black leadership trying to do what's better for the community, not what's better for themselves.
0:10:41
Just wanna make sure that that's on the record.
0:10:43
And, lastly, I do wanna say anti blackness is steeped in this country from the beginning, and we have to be honest about that, and one of the reasons they're trying to erase history is that people think somehow we woke up and everything was all about meritocracy.