This Is the Issue, This Is the Time
Rev. Douglas M. Parham
Member of the Ecumenical Leadership Council
January 2009
A huge transformation is occurring in St. Louis that is extremely detrimental to the African-American community and the community at large that warrant the grave concern and strong reaction of our entire community. Throughout our history, there have been times when our people have been offended to the extent that a massive outcry and steadfast, determined resistance has been necessary. In decades past it was easier to recognize injustice and respond accordingly. Today, it is more difficult. The interests and involvements of black people are more diverse and more stratified. Consequently, it is more difficult to achieve consensus and unity with regard to critical issues or even to recognize what they are and when they occur. How do we know when a specific issue or set of issues are the ones that we must go all out (fight) for?
As many in the community know, I and a number of citizens have been seeking justice in the Fire Department as a result of the constructive firing (demotion and subsequent resignation) of Chief Sherman George. Consider what the consequences of this have been:
- 1
Deputy Chief and Fire Marshall Charles Coyle, clearly qualified to succeed Sherman George, was passed over so that a white Battalion Chief could receive a double promotion to the office of Chief. What does this say about future promotion policy?
- 2
Since the promotion of Dennis Jenkerson to Chief the purview of Deputy Chief Coyle has been narrowed considerably. A number of responsibilities have been taken out from under his oversight, including the Firefighters Academy.
- 3
The new Chief has eliminated Administrative Regulation 117F. This regulation required the seating of at least one African American on the Disciplinary Board of black firefighters written up for discipline. This regulation was originally established after a long hard fight by the Firefighters Institute for Racial Equality (F.I.R.E.). It has helped to reduce racial bias in disciplinary actions. The absence of 117F opens the door to a reign of terror against black firefighters which is currently taking shape.
- 4
A new policy has been instituted which allows the lifetime record of a firefighter to be considered in a current disciplinary action. This had been limited to one's last three years of service.
- 5
Since Chief George's removal, promotions have gone almost exclusively to whites.
- 6
Perhaps most telling of all, the recent class of new hires of entry level firefighters consisted of 34 whites and only 4 African Americans and 2 Hispanics. What will the department look like in a few years?