At the Tuesday, December 10, city council meeting, Shreveport mayor Adrian Perkins announced the formation of the Shreveport Commission on Race Shreveport councilman Willie Bradford, Adrienne Critcher and LSUS Chancellor Larry Clark make up the initial advisory committee.
On the city website (Shreveportla.gov) Shreveport mayor Adrian Perkins notes that Shreveport is a majority-minority city (56.3%) black with racial divisions that are typical of similar cites, and as the nation as a whole.
Perkins says Shreveport can serve as model for what a community can achieve when it sincerely and honestly decides to address the issues that divide the city versus uniting it. Perkins says that the lack of will to address these issues in the past has held Shreveport back and will continue to do unless they are confronted head on.
The mayor is seeking applications from Shreveport residents to serve on the new Shreveport Commission on Race to make specific proposals on uniting Shreveport. In an effect to achieve a diverse commission, the website lists questions to be answered by applicants:
1. List up to 5 racial division issues that need to be addressed
2. List up to 5 positive outcomes that might ideally come from a new commission
Other information is requested from applicants including race, age and sex. The deadline for submission of applications is January 10, 2020.
A special announcement will be made on the commission at the Thursday, December 19 council meeting.
This Article ran in the December 13 issue of The Inquisitor.