TIME FOR ACTION
Parker: Stop with the platitudes and do something tangible to end systemic racism
Whether it’s apologies offered by Vincent’s Pizza owners or The Stone Terrace by John Henry’s, these mea culpas connect to money more than meaningful change.
Bias and prejudice in the age of Black Lives Matter combined with the snuff film of Minneapolis resident George Floyd — dead under the knee of police Ofc. Derek Chauvin — can do monumental damage to bottom lines.
For the record, offering free meals as reparations for racism, bigotry and bias sounds preposterous. Sorry our partner Joe Russo posted those racially inflammatory comments — here’s a coupon for a free appetizer next time you visit The Stone Terrace.
Seriously? My selfworth, self-respect and self-awareness values out to at least a free entree and a G&T with a lime slice. And some item from the dessert cart.
Giuseppe and Rosemary Sciabbarrasi said in a statement sent to The Trentonian:
“We are outraged by the comments and social media posts of our son, Michael,” after someone outed his racist Facebook posts.
“All of us, including our family, are seeing a newer and deeper recognition of the pain caused by conduct in the past and the need for change in the way we speak and interact with each other,” the pizzeria parents said.
“We want to work with the leaders and members of the community as we heal and strive for unity and learn more about how we can effect change and have a positive impact.”
Several weeks have passed since this Hamilton Twp. racism outburst and nothing. There’s been no continuation of communication as if racism just disappears on cue.
Shouted protestations and confessions come easy but the more difficult situations, painstaking conversations and face-to-face connections prove challenging.
Almost attended The Stone Terrace short-list community discussion with owners John and Cathy Henry.
Arranged by Pastor Joseph Woods of St. Phillips Baptist Church in Hamilton Twp. and attended by Mayor Jeff Martin, plus several others, everything seemed copacetic until my intestinal machinery started rumbling and second thoughts arrived.
The list of attendees had grown and included James Stevenson, a historical Hamilton figure as the first black resident elected to the school board in 1976.
Memories of a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration surfaced, recalling Pastor Woods, a guest speaker for the annual January event in Hamilton, noted that from “1862 to 1976, no black individual was elected to serve in any capacity in Hamilton Township ..... Not only was (Stevenson) the first black person elected, no other black person who had been elected was re-elected” but Stevenson.”
Stevenson’s son, Troy, a former Hamilton school board member, Trentonian Editor John Berry and Mercer County Freeholder Sam Frisby also joined the come to Jesus meeting as John Henry, Jr. made a declaration.
“Your reporter didn’t do his homework,” Henry claimed when pressed about Russo’s affiliation with the restaurant.
“(Russo) presents himself as a chef and partner. I told him 100 times you’re not the owner.”
The Trentonian reported the Henrys said they come from a tightknit Catholic family with good values and oppose hate in all forms.
They also expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement and said a majority of the staff at the catering business is minorities.
The last admission likely meant Latinos hold down jobs although imagine being black and dealing with Russo daily.
“This is not us. This is not me. We’re just mortified by this,” Catherine Henry said.
Tracy Syphax, one of several organizers for a protest at The Stone Terrace, tells an interesting story about his Facebook account.
“When the Joe Russo story broke I noticed that 21 of my friends were also friends with him. Four, I unfriended right away and then I contacted the others and had the conversation about casual racism,” Syphax recalled.
Casual racism mirrors casual cancer — it’s eventually deadly when left unattended or accepted.
Casual racism leads toward a slippery slope unless people, friends and relatives are willing to end relationships.
It’s amazing the number of people who disconnected from those aforementioned associates when Donald Trump became president but have no disdain for the casual remark about blacks, Jews and Mexicans or the LBGTQ community.
It’s mind-boggling that people mingle with racists and bigots then attempt subterfuge with a wink and disclaimer — your reporter didn’t do his homework despite numerous news articles that referenced Russo as co-owner.
No, reporters got this right and exposed Russo with his racial hangups. And Russo never surfaced for a man-up conversation or apology.
Russo’s Facebook posts supported a common meme — Never apologize for being white, never apologize for your race. Perhaps, although no request for either occurred. Apologies for ignorance and hate rank as acceptable interventions.
A final observation involves Hamilton Twp. Mayor Jeff Martin who finding the racial animus at Vincent’s Pizza and Stone Terrace, stated he would no longer visit these businesses.
Martin took a stand although he might consider a Hamilton Twp. discussion about race as the municipality makeup changes.
Sleeping on the topic of race eventually produces nightmarish events come daybreak.