Deborah Hearn Smith: Let your voice and actions show your commitment

What can Indianapolis do to build a more inclusive community?

Living in this city all my life, I have observed the slow pace of change. We Hoosiers pride ourselves on the peaceful and friendly nature of our city. During the tumultuous 1960s, Indianapolis was spared the destructive rioting that swept across other metropolitan cities.

Is Indianapolis ahead of the rest of the country? If so, what is the magic formula? If not, what has keep the storm below the surface?

Experience suggests a very thin film barely covering the lack of genuine inclusion in Indianapolis. While there is the appearance of inclusive city, it’s an illusion.

I will not go back 400 years, but I will cite the beginning of Unigov, which has been praised as the best in local government and the base for all the growth and financial success of the city. However, for the citizens of color, Unigov is an example of our rights compromised away.

Beech Groove, Speedway and Lawrence keep their status, giving their residents double influence as residents of those cities and the city of Indianapolis and insuring the electorate in Indianapolis remained white. The citizens of color know this decreased our influence in local matters. It took 50 years to begin to have leadership at the city-county level that reflects the city.

To build a vibrant and thriving city, we sacrificed our children. Since property taxes provide some school funding, a taxable base is critical to public education. Building a downtown that brings in revenue should be a ship that raises all boats. So we all joined in and supported the growth of downtown Indy. Tax abatements were given freely to investors—and so while we were cheering the progress, IPS was losing its tax base, leaving it to educate the poorest students with limited and shrinking resources. The community of color suffers the loss of a quality education.

The great economic boom of recent years has been revealed at its core to be a boom of the service industry economy, with jobs held by people of color that do not provide a living wage and offer few benefits. Today, communities of color have the highest rate of unemployment and no safety net.

When hope is lost and your very life is at risk you look to change and improve your condition. That was exactly what the Founding Fathers did as they charted a course for a more perfect union.

So for change today, first, white citizens must stop pretending and take off their blinders.

Here’s an example of how blatant the lack of inclusion is: On Friday night, I was watching WFYI’s “Indiana Week in Review” when the moderator asked the panelists if they felt the current Black Lives Matters issues would be a factor in the November election. What struck me was that all four panelists—all white—answered with authority.

We need to ensure that on every decision-making board and committee—public, private and not-for-profit—there is diversity. Consider whether each of these groups reflects the community, with no members who are tokens.

Speak up! Let your voice and actions show your commitment.

Join a group or organization focused on building an inclusive city.

There is no place for neutrality in matters of race. I praise and am encouraged by the large number of whites who have added their voices for a collective cry for justice.•

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Smith is former CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. Send comments toibjedit@ibj.com.

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