Mia McLeod: The Color Of Civility

“I’M NOT TRYING TO CATCH FLIES …”

|| By MIA McLEOD ||  Just because I’m candid doesn’t mean I’m confrontational.

Leadership, like candor, requires courage.  And whether you’re black, white, brown … male or female … democrat or republican … real leaders don’t hide from real issues.

Race is a real issue in South Carolina.

From the senseless murders of Walter Scott and unarmed black men across this nation, to the rezoning and redistricting plans that re-segregate our schools, marginalize our voices, disenfranchise our voters and disadvantage our citizens – those in leadership positions have a duty to speak up.  And speak up, they do.

“You can catch more flies with honey…”

“Are you an angry black woman?”

“Let’s restore some civility to this ‘racial rancor’ in Richland Two.”

“Why are you fighting for more diversity in your district? Don’t you know that majority black districts are safer (for black incumbents)?”

And while your elected “leaders” are busy critiquing my tone and delivery, guess what they’re doing – nothing.

Some black leaders question my “blackness” because I refuse to blindly support the actions of other blacks, just because they’re black.  Some white leaders question my “civility” because they’d rather not deal with uncomfortable issues like race and racism, but my candor won’t allow them to continue to hide.

In South Carolina, the adversity of diversity is real.  As a freshman lawmaker in 2011, I chose to fight the Republican Party’s redistricting plan for my district because it deliberately and needlessly diminished the diversity in it.

In 2012, I challenged “the system” again, as well as a newer breed of Old Guard politicians … this time, by demanding accountability and transparency from our Richland County Legislative Delegation and Elections Commission (the majority of whom are black and democrat) after the disenfranchisement of thousands of Richland County voters.

In 2013, I exposed Richland School District Two after District officials purposely “packed” certain schools with black students during its rezoning process, while deliberately diverting its resources, funding and facility upgrades to “non-packed” schools, creating “the haves and have-nots” within the District.

In 2014, I fought Richland Two again for making race an issue in the school board election by launching a race-based smear campaign against a black school board candidate who instantly went from being the District’s best “Ambassador” to its worst “Agitator” the day she filed to run for the board seat she now holds.

Here’s the deal.  I don’t “go along to get along.”  If that’s their definition of civility, I won’t ever be “civil.”  Who cares what color, gender or party these good ole boys and gals are.

So when I challenge Richland Two’s Superintendent and some school board members, it’s not because she’s white or he’s black.  It’s because their individual and collective actions are self-serving, regressive and wrong for our students, parents and communities.

Yes, I’m black, but I don’t speak for or agree with every black person.  I’m a woman too, but that doesn’t mean I support every woman who’s in office or aspires to be.

Obviously, some disagree – sand that’s probably how we got Nikki Haley … twice.

Corruption and collusion are not confined to one race, gender or political prototype.  So, when I call others out for their self-serving ways … or expose those who denounce “the system” as they secretly participate in it and benefit from it … what does my race (or theirs) have to do with that?

One thing’s for sure … I’m not trying to “catch flies.”  Neither are the people I represent.  And to “restore some civility” mistakenly implies that the use of my voice to articulate my truth somehow contributes to its loss.

And while I whole-heartedly believe in diversity and choose to celebrate the positive differences, contributions and uniqueness of others, nobody said that the path to greatness would be homogeneous or easy.

We can be a great county … a great state … a great nation. Our diverse perspectives and contributions are key to a more competitive, more inclusive and ultimately, more productive South Carolina.

Questioning my civility because you don’t appreciate my candor is one thing.  Using race to “discolor” and discredit the authenticity of my perspective is another.

So, contrary to what some believe, I’m not “ an angry black woman.”

Truth is …“I’m mad as hell!” And if you knew what these good ole boys and gals were really about, you would be too.

How’s that for civility …