Dr. Horace Huntley
Contrary to Commissioner Jimmie Stephens’s belief that the battle has been “fought and won,” the battle for equity and justice is ongoing. Jimmie, it is ironic that your fore-fathers started this fight generations ago. Now that we can legally defend ourselves, you arrogantly declare the struggle is non-existent. Although George Wallace is not standing in the schoolhouse door, and Bull Connor is not using water hoses and dogs against Black children, the struggle is no less important, and the opposition’s efforts are no less debilitating. They wear three piece suits and have learned to properly pronounce Negro. They smile in one’s face but only give respect to non-whites when it is demanded. They make statements such as, there is no need for a Human Resources Department; or that there has been no discrimination at the County in hiring; and that the next five department heads will be white males. They attack competent Black department heads, and leave incompetent whites in place. In fact, the Republican Commissioners are responsible for laying a Black man off who is one of the best on staff, and attempted to replace him with an unqualified white subordinate. Those who led this effort were overruled and forced to return the Black man to his position. The white subordinate refused to work cooperatively with the Black man and was given another position by the Commissioners.
The Republicans on the Commission came into office for the express purpose of “right-sizing government.” That effort has been based on race and class. A war against the poor. They closed the Rehab Center, which was a last resort for poor people who could not afford this care in other institutions. After closing the Center, this Commission actually sold the bed license to a facility in two upper middle-class suburban cities. That is tantamount to taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Robber Hood?
The second dastardly deed was the closing of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. The attack was on that institution, which was managed by a competent Black physician and her Black finance head. The Republicans on the Commission continually harassed and attempted to defame Dr. Sandral Hullett’s nationally recognized reputation. With assistance from two Black males, the majority of the Commission has destroyed that institution, and decimated healthcare for the poor in this County. The two Black males were enlisted to give the white commissioners cover from the racist tag. Internalized racism, greed and subservience explain why there is Black participation in such a dastardly deed.
Judge Linwood Smith did not send a Receiver to Jefferson County because the battle has been “fought and won.” He sent him here to correct the wrongs of this County against Black people and women for the last 30 years. Those 30 years were preceded by 300 plus years of atrocious inequity.
So Jimmie, though strides in the Movement have been made in attempts to correct the misdeeds heaped upon Black America, it ain’t over. You or no other white man can orchestrate our responses to your injustices. It is obvious that you and your cohorts are oblivious to the pain and suffering you cause by the decisions made on a daily basis. You think you do not have to answer to the ones you inflict pain upon. But you do have to answer to a higher power. A spiritual principle that one can not avoid is, “What you give is what you get.” Be Prepared.
Dr. Horace Huntley
Birmingham, Al. 35211
