As with last month’s first meeting of the State of Black Lynchburg, Monday night’s second gathering provided a lively mix of old guard and new voices. In the end, however, it was a member of the former who had the last word — and that word was “yes.”
Near the end of the two-hour planning session in the basement of Humbles Hall at the Virginia University of Lynchburg, veteran local activist James Coleman, a Lynchburg minister, announced that he would run for an at-large seat in the City Council election in May.
That followed on the heels of a statement by Lynchburg Voter’s League president Danny McCain that his organization would not support the Lynchburg First slate, which he said included Joan Foster, Randy Nelson and J.P. Vaughan, because it contained at least one moderate Republican.
“We’ve heard this before — just wait,” said Coleman. “But we can no longer wait while other people determine our destination and leave us out of the discussion. Now is the time. We can do this thing.”
Earlier, City Council member Ceasor Johnson told the group: “We need to come together as a community to build our political clout.”
This was echoed by JoAnn Martin, who said: “If you think who’s on City Council doesn’t matter, you’re sadly mistaken.”
Coleman’s acceptance of what amounted to a draft by McCain and the Democratic-based Voter’s League was a reaction to the increased voting muscle of Liberty University, which tipped the balance against incumbent Democratic Del. Shannon Valentine in favor of Republican Scott Garrett last fall with a formidable demonstration of electoral force.
“Jerry Falwell Jr. has made it clear he wants to control the city,” McCain said.
At one point, co-chair Treney Tweedy announced with an ironic smile: “Politics seems to be the No. 1 issue.”
But not the only one. A group of perhaps 35 attendees also grappled with creating new leadership, generating wealth within the black community and better internal and external communication. They talked about Facebook and Twitter and databases.
“If you go to a Habitat build and there are 100 people there,” said Sterling Wilder of the Jubilee Family Center, “95 will be white and five will be black, and three of those will be the homeowners. We got to be sure we’re not just receiving these benefits, but also giving them.”
Tweedy, a member of the Lynchburg School Board, made the distinction between the civil rights era and the need to confront new problems and embrace new opportunities.
She also advocated more inclusion in the group, including of those who have moved to Lynchburg from other places.
“They bring so many good ideas,” she said, “and they have embraced Lynchburg for a reason.”
“This is not 1965,” added Pat Price of Lynchburg College. “It’s 2010. We need to bring this into the 21st century.”
The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 22.
Rev. James Coleman
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