Danville's history all white

Danville, VA is the last city of the Confederacy - the last hold-out in a war to defend the right to own people like they were a commodity. While there were white slaves and Native American slaves, for the most part slaves were Black. And while African Americans have come a long way since the Confederacy surrendered (just half a mile from where I live now!!) in Danville, there's one nut they haven't cracked. Sure, our mayor, councilmen and women, businesses and local leaders and even on the Board of Supervisors African Americans are in positions of power. But who would know? The newspaper is all white. All male and all white. Women and Blacks (and old people, don't forget - Steve Kaylor doesn't want any "grandmothers" or old women involved in his latest production - "All About Her" -just young sexy chicks)....are pretty much left out of the mix. (Yes Steve, I taped the meeting where your comments were discussed and you were Dis'ed by all the women present...remember - you came in to meet them all and were confronted over the comment about no gran'ma's...But then again, you lied to the face of the woman who asked you what you were going to do about the reporter who videotaped her breasts without her consent...told her that was the first you'd heard about it. Too bad you didn't remember all the emails you and I had over that. I sent them to her. Everyone else can read a couple of them in this blog - they're near the beginning).

But I digress....

Even with the occasional Black reporter - where's the diversity in management? There's certainly a lot of sexual diversity - married, straight, gay, married and sleeping with other staffers, married and dating other staffers, gay and dating other staffers, gay and married, married and not sure....single and never dated - but where is the diversity when it comes to culture and news? White males are the ones deciding what Danville's history will be - because the daily newspaper IS the history. There's no news from the Black churches, or about the Black leadership in Danville. Why not?

Danville has a Black, female Fire Marshall Shelby Irvine. When I wrote my first story about Shelby the copy desk person changed her title to "Assistant Fire Marshall," because they said there was "no way" she could be THE Fire Inspector. Surprise boys. She is. At a celebration of the oldest fire station in Danville event last year one old-timer said there had been a lot of changes since he was a fire-fighter - one, that not only were there minorities on the department but a double minority as Fire Marshall - both Black and Female. I don't think his comment was made with the best of intentions, but he had a point.

Shelby's an incredible manager and good at what she does, but when I was at the paper, the Danville Register & Bee managers didn't think she'd be a good candidate for a story...white advertisers and all that...

So, not to drag anyone into the spotlight, but why is the African American community letting an all-white newspaper (except for the janitors, front desk, carriers and finance office) write their history, snub their leaders and limit mention of Blacks to stabbings, shootings, gangs and robberies? Women of all color suffer too. When's the last time you saw a female leader or business owner portrayed?

Just curious. But then, so are others. Danville may be racist - and is, but if you're a businessperson the only color that should matter is GREEN. Read here: