Syracuse-area residents will gather at a church this Sunday for more than worship. It’s the second in a three-part discussion about 400 years of inequality in Syracuse and across the nation.
Hopps Memorial CME Church Pastor, the Reverend Dr. Bruce Burns, Sr. says the dialogue comes with a twist...
"How did Syracuse, which once used to be a hub for the undreground railroad, become so unequal in its mindset?"
Burns hopes there can be an open discussion about how African Americans are seeing more bigotry on the national level…
"Persons now feel more empowered to exercise what we would consider white supremacy. I know we live in a country where everyone is entitled to their opinions. But can we do it in a more constructive way as to learn, vs. as to cause division and destroy."
This weekend’s dialogue might also include the recent racist at Syracuse University. Burns says faculty and staff might have regular diversity training, but students hardly get any.
"The level of hatred on the student body level doesn't change because you still have persons coming from diverse backgrounds coming together for educational purposes, but still sharing and exercising their upbringing based upon where they come from."
At the same time, Reverend Burns wonders how students can see racial division in their four years on campus, while some long-time faculty cannot. The premise of 400 years of inequality goes back to when the first African slaves arrived in North America in 1619. Sunday’s discussion takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hopps Memorial CME Church at 1110 South State Street.
