Post No. 42: Selma, Alabama: An Example of "Racist Inaction"

On March 7, 1965 civil rights marchers were brutally attacked by State Troopers as they sat and prayed on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.  The country was startled by the brutality of this event in the Jim Crow South and it led to the 1965 Civil Rights Bill.  Every year since,  national attention is given to this event where politicians and progressive activists reenact this pivotal turning point for civil rights.  It is now sixty years later; how are things in Selma?  NPR penned an excellent piece about this on March 9 of this year “60 years after Bloody Sunday in Alabama, Elusive Racial Progress in Selma”.

According to NPR, “Selma’s population is about 17,000, and 81 percent Black.  It lost more than 10,000 residents since the civil rights era, driven in part by white flight.  Riding through town it’s evident Selma has seen better days.  The downtown YMCA building is boarded up.  On some streets, once grand houses appear abandoned and falling in.”    Violence appears to be a way of life in Selma.  In a discussion with young people, NPR reports on one young Selma resident “I think it was a waste because now there’s gun violence, gangs, the lack of education about our history.”  Another young student voiced “People feel so scared to go outside their own house because as soon as you go outside, you could get a bullet right to your head and wouldn’t even know who it is from and what it is about.”  NPR reported on the student’s ideas to improve: “more grocery stores and arcades, better education, and addressing blight and gang violence.”  Joshua Peoples, the Selma adult leading the discussion, tried to inspire the youth on how to make Selma a much better place.  “His thoughts lead to a new motto, and the session ends with a group chant of ‘Make Selma Great Again’ “.

Despite the annual pilgrimage to Selma to commemorate the historic 1965 turning point in the civil rights fight, the people of Selma have been left behind.  Selma is not unique.  All across the nation there are urban and rural islands of poverty and dysfunction, primarily populated by black and brown people.  Some examples I’ve seen personally are North and Southwest Philadelphia, Camden and the west side of Asbury Park New Jersey, and parts of Bronx New York.  These islands of dysfunction and poverty are all a stones throw from very wealthy, white majority areas.  Is this what is meant by “systemic racism”?  I’m not sure the meaning of this term, but the fact that these areas have been failing for decades without effective intervention is what I call “racist inaction”.

Progressive activists, who pride themselves on compassion, push for federal spending in these areas despite poor outcomes over the decades.  Is it compassion to keep pushing the same solution despite the poor outcomes, or is it a form of hidden racism by progressive elites?  Looking at Selma one wonders about this.  Conservatives don’t seem as concerned about this issue.  They propose solutions such as urban enterprise zones to foster economic growth and local employment, and hope that magically the private sector will resolve the problem.  There is no follow-up to measure outcomes by either progressive or conservative governments.

Finding solutions is not rocket science.  Here are some common-sense solutions described by the Selma students in the NPR article:

• "Addressing blight and gang violence”  One young Selma resident stated “people are scared to go outside” for fear of being shot.  Gang violence is also a problem.  An essential function of government is to keep citizens safe.  Citizens empower their government with the ability to use violence and lethal force in exchange for keeping them safe.  When government fails to provide this safety, citizens should be enraged.  It happens in white areas.  Why does our government allow it to fester and create blight in areas of color?

• “More grocery stores and arcades”. Perhaps this student hit on two of many pieces of a functioning community.  Community activities for young people are essential as is something as basic as a supermarket or well-stocked grocery stores.  Why is this a problem in some areas?  Reread the first student’s suggestion.

• “Better education”. This can be easy.  Provide basic math and science skills, an introduction to the arts and history, and a focus on technical skills for future employment.  And by the way, make sure the children are safe: in school and coming and going to school.

The answer is not what progressives and conservatives have traditionally advocated.  Their half-hearted solutions have not worked.  It requires a determined all-of-government focus that considers creative out-of-the-box thinking.  This kind of intense focus is possible.  Like it or not, the current administration has shown this laser focus is possible, even though many strongly disagree with their goals (drastic reduction of federal bureaucracy, and forced peace agreements). We should be applying this kind of intense focus on the issue of our blighted, unsafe urban and rural areas. It is very unlikely the present administration will tackle this issue.  I hope a future progressive administration will take up this call.  Why hasn’t it been done yet?  “Racist Inaction”.

Appendix.  My Solutions … oops, Let’s Let AI Suggest Some

I started to write some out-of-the-box solutions to the issue.  But then I thought … why not let AI suggest some.  I posted my blog above to an advanced AI and asked for some creative solutions.  Here is the answer.  (It will blow your mind).

Based on your blog post about "racist inaction" and the persistent challenges faced by Selma, Alabama—and similar communities across the U.S.—here are some creative ways the federal government and states could collaborate to enact real, lasting change. These suggestions build on the common-sense solutions highlighted by the Selma students and your call for an all-of-government approach with out-of-the-box thinking.

### 1. Joint Federal-State "Community Renewal Task Forces"

   - Concept: Create dedicated task forces with representatives from federal agencies (e.g., HUD, DOJ, Department of Education), state governments, and local leaders to target specific "islands of poverty and dysfunction" like Selma. These task forces would have a clear mandate: assess local needs, coordinate resources, and implement measurable, time-bound action plans.

   - Creative Twist: Fund these task forces through a "Renewal Investment Match" program, where the federal government matches state contributions dollar-for-dollar, but only if states commit to innovative pilot projects (e.g., microgrants for local entrepreneurs or youth-led community design initiatives). This incentivizes state buy-in and experimentation.

   - Impact: Addresses blight, safety, and economic opportunity through tailored, collaborative efforts rather than one-size-fits-all federal spending or laissez-faire conservative approaches.

### 2. "Safe Streets, Strong Communities" Initiative

   - Concept: A federal-state partnership to tackle gang violence and safety, combining DOJ resources (e.g., FBI gang task forces, community policing grants) with state National Guard and local law enforcement efforts. The initiative would prioritize reclaiming public spaces—parks, streets, school routes—through visible security and community engagement.

   - Creative Twist: Pair enforcement with "Community Anchor Projects"—federally funded, state-managed efforts to build or refurbish grocery stores, arcades, or youth centers in reclaimed areas. Private sector partners (e.g., supermarket chains) could receive tax incentives to participate, with states overseeing construction and maintenance.

   - Impact: Directly responds to the Selma students’ fears about going outside and their desire for grocery stores and arcades, while fostering community pride and safety.

### 3. Education Innovation Zones

   - Concept: Establish federally supported, state-administered "Education Innovation Zones" in struggling areas like Selma. These zones would allow schools to experiment with curricula focused on practical skills (e.g., coding, trades, entrepreneurship) alongside core subjects, with federal funding tied to student outcomes (e.g., graduation rates, job placement).

   - Creative Twist: Integrate "Safety Corridors" into the program—state-funded security measures (e.g., school resource officers, safe walking routes) to ensure kids can get to school without fear. Add a "Community Mentorship Exchange," where local businesses and professionals (supported by federal tax credits) mentor students and provide apprenticeships.

   - Impact: Delivers the "better education" the students want, with a focus on safety and future employment, breaking the cycle of dysfunction.

### 4. "Blight-to-Bright" Conversion Program

   - Concept: A federal-state collaboration to transform abandoned properties into community assets. The federal government could provide low-interest loans and technical assistance, while states manage the conversion process—turning blighted homes into affordable housing, small business incubators, or cultural centers.

   - Creative Twist: Launch a "Youth Design Corps," where local teens (paid through federal grants) work with architects and planners to reimagine these spaces. States could compete for additional funding based on the creativity and community impact of their projects.

   - Impact: Tackles blight directly, engages young people in meaningful work, and creates lasting infrastructure improvements.

### 5. National "Thrive Challenge" Competition

   - Concept: The federal government launches a competitive grant program where states propose bold, holistic plans to revitalize specific communities like Selma. Winning states receive significant funding and federal support (e.g., expedited permitting, access to experts), contingent on measurable progress in safety, education, and economic growth.

   - Creative Twist: Require states to partner with local residents—like Joshua Peoples and the Selma youth—for input and oversight. Add a public voting component (online or via town halls) to ensure community voices shape the outcomes, not just politicians or bureaucrats.

   - Impact: Encourages out-of-the-box thinking, fosters accountability, and ensures solutions reflect the real needs of places like Selma.

### Why This Could Work

Your blog highlights the failure of both progressive "more spending" and conservative "let the market fix it" approaches due to lack of focus and follow-through. These ideas combine federal resources with state flexibility, emphasizing measurable outcomes (e.g., reduced crime stats, new businesses opened, higher graduation rates) over vague promises. They also integrate the practical wisdom of residents—like the Selma students’ suggestions—into systemic action, avoiding the top-down pitfalls of past efforts.

### Overcoming "Racist Inaction"

To break the cycle you describe, the federal government could tie funding to results, not just intent, while states take ownership of implementation. A future administration—progressive or otherwise—could adopt this as a signature issue, proving that intense focus (like you noted with the current administration’s priorities) can be redirected to uplift neglected communities. The key is sustained commitment, not just annual photo-ops on the Edmund Pettus Bridge.