Racial tensions continue to roil Durham commissioners
A plan to provide racial equity training to the Durham County Board of Commissioners exposed an ongoing rift on the board and led to a powerful political group accusing some commissioners of racial bias.
In a letter to the Board, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People says commissioners treated County Attorney Lowell Siler and a consultant he recommended for the training with "blatant disrespect" that he believes was racially motivated. Both Siler and the consultant, Robert Bobb, are Black.
"We have to call for time out in terms of stop using Black employees, in terms of disrespecting them, scapegoating them and gaslighting them for political appeasement," Antonio Jones, chairman of the group, said Wednesday.
The training was recommended following an incident early last year in which County Manager Wendell Davis accused Commissioner Heidi Carter of an "inherent bias" against people of color. Davis is Black, and Carter is white.
"The board needs training, I would submit, as quickly as possible," Siler told commissioners at their March 8 meeting. "It’s painful to watch you go through some of these challenges because I know you need help soon – very soon."
But Vice Chairwoman Wendy Jacobs questioned the $50,000 cost of the training and raised concerns that no competing bids were sought.
"I cannot support this contract. We need accountability; we need transparency," Jacobs said at the meeting.
Carter and commissioners Nida Allam and Nimasheena Burns echoed those concerns, and the board voted 4-1 that Siler find two other options in addition to Bobb and to pursue training for them on topics identified by the board.
Burns did acknowledge that “sea of employees here” feel “abused” by some of the commissioners.
Chairwoman Brenda Howerton was the only person to vote against the motion. She said Wednesday that she has pushed for the racial equity training since last year.
The Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People said Jacobs, Carter and Allam owe Bobb an apology.
"The topic that he was coming to consult on, it makes people uncomfortable," Jones said. "It is clear that that was not the normal course in which they handle consultants. So there is a disparity. ... That energy is not the same when non-minority contractors present their plans."
Carter and Jacobs both said Wednesday that their actions toward Bobb and Siler weren't racially motivated.
"Board members must be able to ask questions of all staff, always respecting their dignity and expertise, without these questions being thought of as a sign of disrespect," Carter said in a statement to WRAL News. "We are fulfilling our obligation to make informed decisions on behalf of our community and constituents."
“We have to recommit ourselves to making sure that we are being aware of any implicit or unconscious bias. Having minority firms bid on contracts is a priority for me. I think it is very important that we are supporting minority businesses," Jacobs said. "This is a very unfortunate situation that could have been avoided if we had followed what we said we were going to do.”
When asked how she plans to unite the board, Howerton said, "I believe unity means respecting one another and what they contribute to the board. Each commissioner has been elected by the citizens of Durham, and the citizens expect us to put their interest first."
