In the October issue of the Atlantic, Adam Harris discusses the rise of the blacks to assume the mayoralty position in cities across the country, but especially in the South. His article is entitled, "The New Southern Strategy."
A few years ago, I participated in a seminar in DC to discuss with the new mayor of the capitol of Georgia in central Europe how to establish himself in the position. I, and some others of the panel, emphasized the importance of righting the problems the citizenry were complaining about regarding the services and expenditures of the city. Uppermost appeared the need to improve upon garbage collection. We encouraged the mayor to solve this problem right away. He had come to us with his vision of how he would transform the city's architecture to make it akin to the horizons of London and Paris. But we steadfastly urged him to gain the respect of the citizens in ways dear to them. They wanted the city without clutter and debris in the streets and rats in its sewers! He was being called upon to deliver when others in his position before him had failed!
Similarly, to the black new mayors in the South looking to change the racist climate of their cities, they need gradually garner the support of their electorate in areas where their citizens cried for improvement in its services. In this way, the mayors are sure to make themselves useful and important to the city's dwellers in yet more lasting ways.
Remember, as horrible as were the actions of Hitler against humanity, German citizens remembered with uncanny exclaim, "Hitler got the trains to come and go on time!"
Nevertheless, these mayors seem ready to tackle the crises at hand in order to improve the quality of life their cities offer.
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