Buncombe County Government, NC BCtalks, 27 Oct 2017

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From YouTube: The Wage Gap & Wealth Disparities in Buncombe County | Comm. Al Whitesides

Description

"If we're going to close the gap... It's time for us to stop talking about it and do something about it. If we're going to make a change, we've got to start by setting examples in hiring." - Comm. Al Whitesides

Buncombe County Health and Human Services is sponsoring a Lunch & Learn series that focuses on the history of African Americans in Buncombe County. This developed from a community request to help preserve this information. The purpose is two-fold: 1) to capture the historical perspectives of older African Americans in our community & 2) to use that perspective to help inform and inspire current efforts to revitalize the Black community.

Comm. Al Whitesides is recognized throughout Asheville as a successful businessman, a community leader and a living touchstone to the city's struggle to eliminate segregation. The long-time community activist and former banker is the first African-American to serve as a commissioner for Buncombe County.

Buncombe County is excited to present a new video in the BCtalks series. Filmed around Buncombe County, BCtalks intends to bring you knowledge worth sharing.

Subscribe to stay up-to-date with Buncombe County news and events: https://www.youtube.com/user/bcgovtv
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A

Good afternoon, oh, it's good to see a crowd good crowd here. Of course, we had I know it the first one. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the second one, because we had a retreat. The county commissioners, so I had to be there but I'm glad we moved up here, because you don't have to stand because that the first one was so tight.

A

I would like to say it's really a pleasure to be here and for me, it's back at home, and it's a coincidence because exactly one month from today, September 23rd I'll be back in this building. With members of the class of 1962 from Stevens, we will be celebrating our 55th reunion.

A

And you know it's something back, then we were fighting to sit down at the lunch counters and trying to get in away from the balconies at the movie theaters to go to the PAC Memorial Library, and all that at that time, when you know I was one of the eight school kids and I had no idea. I would be here today, 55 years later, a member of the County Board of Commissioners, because you got to remember the time at the point in time that we came along then.

A

But what I want to do, though, today is let's get in a topic. That's really near and dear to me and that's when we talk about the disparity in income.

A

When we talk about wealth, because this is something I'm spent and it ended up, I had no idea when I left college, because I wanted to work a few years and maybe go back to law school. But once I found out that I enjoyed working in banking 40 years later, I realized I, never made it to law. School and I haven't missed it for you, always in the house, but one of the things I saw early on as a kid I learned.

A

I was fortunate to come up in the family that I came up from mom and dad because they impressed upon us it's really education.

A

They told us that the only way that we were gonna level, the playing field, and especially when I became involved in the civil rights movement, because dad made sure he didn't care about how many times I was arrested. As long as I stayed on the Dean's List in college, he was happy with that, because what he said you can't take advantage of what you're fighting for, if you're not prepared, okay- and he was right- but let's get in I've- got some numbers here which I hate dealing with.

A

You know you see a former banker, you don't like dealing with numbers, but no, not this this fight. But let's talk about some of the things I want to set the stage here. Is we start with the population of Buncombe County? And these figures?

A

It's a 5-year estimates from 2011 through 2015 in the United States. Seventy three point: six of the population during that time the estimates from eleven to fifteen. Seventy three point: six percent is white.

A

Twelve point: six percent is African Americans. This was interesting now in this five years before the estimate 2006 to 2010. Seventy four percent was white and 12.5 was african-american, so you can see the numbers were beginning to change in North Carolina from 11 to 15. You had sixty nine point: five percent of the population and by the way, at that time, I should have given you in the America.

A

It was three made three hundred and sixteen million and in North Carolina nine point: eight million sixty nine point: five percent were white, 21.5 percent African American and the five years before that it was 69 point six percent, white and 21.4 african-americans, so that point 100 percent, a tenth is the same that was changing nationally and in Buncombe County, though it's eighty eight point, seven percent white and six point six percent african-american, and it stayed basically the same from six to ten.

A

So we've been about the same for that time, according to the figures, I have here from census. Now, when also when we look at the total population during that time, when you talk about the Latino population in North Carolina from eleven to fifteen, it was seventeen point, eleven percent, I'm, sorry 17.1 old percent and in five years before that was fifteen point seven we're here in Buncombe County.

A

It's six point four percent now around that, and it was five and a half percent before so we're actually going on the Latino population, not as much but these figures. If you look out in the actual figures today, it's going up, though, all the time and let's talk about per capita income per capita I think you've got that one. What happened? I email a lot to him. Some didn't come through. You know how that works.

A

If you look here, you'll see in the United States the per capita income in the past twelve months, this is in 2015 inflation. Adjusted dollars was twenty, eight thousand nine hundred and thirty dollars in North Carolina was twenty five 920 and in Buncombe County twenty seven thousand twenty and sixty six dollars now for african-americans in the United States.

A

It's nineteen point three: seven, eight nineteen thousand three hundred and seventy eight dollars North Carolina. It drops to seventeen thousand nine hundred and sixty-five dollars and in Buncombe County for african-americans it's was fifteen thousand three hundred and thirty five dollars.

A

Now, when we look at the Latino population same time, it was sixteen thousand six hundred and seventy four in the United States North Carolina, thirteen thousand one hundred and ten dollars and in Buncombe County thirteen thousand one hundred and twenty one dollars think about that living in Buncombe County with that income.

A

Another thing that go along with this is the veil ability of jobs. This is something we need to think about too. There were five thousand sixty one people looking for work in Buncombe County, compared to six thousand four hundred and ninety-six job openings as of 12 16 December of 2016.

A

The city's unemployment rate was three point: seven percent twelve in December of sixteen compared to three point: nine percent in December of fifteen, the african-american unemployment rate was in the teens, probably around closer to the best. I could get to it around. Fourteen percent I think about that. But we couldn't feel all the jobs we had. The poverty rate by race in Buncombe, County 33.9% of african-americans live in the poverty. Okay, 35.6% of Latinos in 13.2% of whites live in poverty on average, from 2011 to 2015.

A

And remember: we're talking about disparity and income and I hope you can see where I'm going you'll be plenty of time for questions, because don't worry, I'm not gonna, stand up here and blow make the place hot for you. So Keenan already told me that, but let's talk about another statistic: that's important here is and I hope you have this. You have that you don't have the housing units you can get that one is occupied housing units.

A

This is home: ownership versus renters, ok, owner-occupied dwellings in the united states, and it's estimated a hundred and sixteen million nine hundred and twenty six thousand in the country: okay, owner-occupied, seventy four thousand, seven hundred and twelve seventy four million, seven hundred and twelve. I'm sorry when I occupied thirty two point: two million a forty two I'm sorry, so sixty three percent of the people in America live in only occupied homes during this time, 37 percent of renter's.

A

Now, let's break that down and look from 2011 these estimates through fifteen. Let's talk about the african-american population in America owner-occupied! Well that just that old estimate hormone! It's a people live in! It's fourteen million one hundred and eighty six 983 households in America six million fourteen thousand of these owner-occupied eight million one hundred and seventy two thousand.

A

Rentals in North Carolina, seven hundred in we're talking about seven hundred and ninety one thousand six hundred and thirty-two households, three hundred and sixty six thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one unoccupied and renters of four hundred and twenty four thousand seven hundred and sixty one and remember I'm still talking about the african-american population in the state. Let's talk about Buncombe County, its 6382, two thousand six hundred and seventy-one her Nona occupied homes, 3711.

A

Arena occupied so for Buncombe County. Forty-Two percent of the African Americans live in owner-occupied homes, why 58 percent arenas and the Latino population?

A

It's fourteen million four hundred and ten thousand in America six million six hundred thousand owner-occupied, seven million seven hundred and eighty six thousand I'm around in these off or when I occupied in North Carolina. It's two hundred and eighteen thousand nine hundred two hundred and eighteen thousand nine hundred and owner-occupied of ninety two thousand nine hundred and when I occupied a hundred and twenty six thousand twenty seven and in Buncombe County you've got 4472.

A

1731 owner occupied houses, 2007 41 arenas, so in the county of the latino population, that's 39% live in the homes that they own or buy and 61% of rivers.

A

This gives you some idea, I hope of where I'm going and what I've tried to do.

A

When we start talking about personal wealth, I tried to simplify it because I did this is our Whitesides chart, so if you have any you have to, although I have to give Cheryl and credit for making it pretty for you because I'll it wouldn't be like that if it was for me and also for the figures, I'd like to say that I thank Lisa and her group from Buncombe County Heidi from the Chamber of Commerce, who helped with these and Catherine Mitchell, who was always my standby when I need she's almost like you know in the old days when we had encyclopedias well she's, the one I call when I need information along with you know a lot that I gathered, but they helped me in getting this information.

A

But let's talk, if you look here, look at this chart. What's in the heart of the chart, jobs, it's no way that you can amass wealth or even think about it if you're, unemployed and you're not working.

A

But when you look at wealth, you know a lot, and this is one thing: I saw a lot of it and saw a lot of wealthy people in my time working and a lot of poor people, probably more poor people than wealthy.

A

Unfortunately, but one of the things is when you come from a family and you inherit it the old-fashioned way, you know it's easy as long as they've taught you how to take care of it, because most of the wealth is transferred through inheritance, okay and on the other side of the coin, when you look at, if you inherit it or if you make the money you've got to have education, you've got to be trained. Let's face it. You know when I look today at some of our ball players or look at people winning the lottery.

A

You know if you give somebody four hundred million dollars if they win it tonight, I think something like that: a lot less after-tax, maybe that's after taxes, but if you give them that and they don't know how to take care of it, I guarantee you in three or four years, they'll be broke, and if you read the national statistics, that's what happens. Oh you look at professional ball players. I remember once talking to my dad I'd say that was about 35 and been working at the bank and time I said you know.

A

If I was a professional ball player and had a five million dollar year, contract I would never be broke again and my father laughed that means and I said.

A

What's so funny, he said if you had gotten a five-year contract when you were 21 years old, your mom and I would have moved in with a gun, a bullwhip in a chair to keep you in trouble, but- and he was right- I thought about that, because I wouldn't have known how to take care of it, and you know- and that's one of the keys- that's why we've got to push for education.

A

You know we don't stand a chance without it and let me give you some figures when you talk about that Buncombe County school system, graduation rate, the most recent I couldn't find four fifteen and sixteen was eight point: seven percent graduate 87 I'm, sorry, eighty five point: seven percent graduate I'm, sorry, eighty five point: seven percent, I'm, I'm, Way off I'm; sorry compared and really compared to eighty five point: six percent in fifteen and sixteen Asheville City Schools graduation rate and fourteen and fifteen was eighty five point. Four percent.

A

The graduation rate for african-americans in the county system was eighty point, two percent compared to eighty five point: three percent for Latinos in eighty six point three percent for whites in fifteen and sixteen, so we still have a way to go because you know when I was on the school board, we were bragging about reaching I, think ten around 78 to 79 percent and I. Think the superintendent was not happy with me. When I mentioned in the school board meeting that that was sad numbers.

A

We need to be at 99.9 percent, I'll give them one tenth. You don't settle for the numbers that I just gave you because you know we need to keep pushing for even more and homeownership. We talked about that. You look at homeownership the housing authority in Buncombe, County, three thousand-plus residents, a 65 percent African American, and the average home price in at the Asheville area is that's. According the figures, I got this summer in July three hundred and sixteen thousand dollars. Now you think about that.

A

Most of the people working here are a lot of them well, I'm, probably safe, to say most, don't even make the wages that will make it possible for them to become homeowners and that's something we've got to push and what we have done at the county. We're looking for the first time now in ten years, we're changing on program for companies, money that we give companies to move in Buncombe County if they are not paying an affordable wage and the other thing is if they aren't diverse and the people they hire.

A

They're, not gonna, get any money. So it's time to stop it, you know we're not giving them. I walked in one company that we gave a large amount to, and they've hired quite a few people and they're coming back to us. But what really got me when I walked in this business? This company- and this is a large national company- no african-americans, not one and I mentioned it to the manager too.

A

So we are talking about that and you know if they come back to the table, we don't have to change that, but they are changing because they are getting some heat from above anyway, not only from locally, but these are the type things if we're going to make changes in the wealth and what people do we can't? You saw last night what I did on television I'm sure you know when you have a captain of a ship that if we leave him there he's gonna sink us it's no way.

A

We can expect anything to be done nationally or at the state level. For that matter, that's unfortunate, but we've got to do what we need to do locally.

A

That's what's important, but now state and nationally know it's one thing. We got to do folks, vote vote and that's one thing that I never mean I, don't care if it's dog catcher, because I remember the people who died for me to be able to vote today.

A

I can't forget that and that's why it's important and I tell young people my grandson's the day they turn 18 I'm all but broke the ones armed here, taking him to register in the vote, and he knows the vote and my grandson in Texas, but these are things we've got to do, but in order for what we talk about when we talk about wealth, let's talk about, though, if we're going to change things, if we're going to close the gap, wealth is just like the gap that we have in the schools.

A

You know we've been talking about them to you, I'm almost white from talking about, and now you go all over the country and everybody have the same problem with the achievement gap. Well, when you look at income, the disparity, it's the same thing it's time for us to stop talking about it and do something about it. I mean- and it's not something. You know it's like lions in the Navy. We could change or destroy it. We could turn the destroy in on the dime, but a aircraft carrier. We needed more room to change.

A

You know it takes longer, but you've got to start somewhere, but let's talk about jobs locally, you know. If we're going to make changes and see the income see things change for african-americans or let's face it, Latinos, just poor people period. That is a problem. We've got to start by sitting examples in hiring and it starts at the county and city level.

A

We've got to do a better job in our high and we can't just talk to talk. You know I've been hearing that all my life. We continue to talk, but the numbers don't change, but we've got to do something about that and we can find qualified people to do the jobs.

A

You know I'm, not saying you have somebody bother because of the color of their skin or because they're poor whatever we don't do that that defeats the whole purpose, but we hire people who are qualified and if we can find somebody who's qualified to run the land field for Buncombe County, which is a big job. By the way. If we can find an african-american to do that job, we can find them. They will do a lot more.

A

In this county, because that we have hired a gentleman to do that, but we can do it so it's pop, but we've got to do and we got to you know, hold people accountable when you talk about the government. Let's talk about the institutions in our community, the school systems county and the city school system.

A

You know we have a superintendent of schools, the second one in a row in Ashe city of Asheville who's african-american.

A

But when I go to Asheville middle school to mentor boys over there this year, they'll be in the seventh grade and I they tell me it's one african-american teacher something's wrong. With that picture. Folks I mean we can find teachers and don't give me you know that I hear people said we have trouble finding them. We can't do this and that you know when I was at the bent banking. We needed a CFO at First Union. You know where we went to find a white man to be CFO, Australia, mind you.

A

We couldn't find anybody in America, but did you see you catch? Who I said we hired a white man? You notice it, but we can find who we need to find. We've just got to put forth the effort and do that. Buncombe County schools not a whole lot better and one of the things if we're gonna close the gap and disparage him with jobs. We've got to let these young people see people who look like them, teaching them and come in contact with it. That's that's critical folks. We've got to have them.

A

You know, that's why I'm Who I am today because of what started right here at Stevens Lee high school.

A

You know, I didn't know at the time when I went to school and it was all african-american the school's black everybody I did not realize until I started reading and was on the school board that at the time in the forties, there was a time Stevens Lee high school had the largest majority of black teacher teachers in the state who had master's degrees when we integrated the schools, Stevens Lee, a Nashville high back in the sixties, had teachers at Asheville high, who had to go back to school to get their bachelor's degrees.

A

Think about that. Nobody from Stevens Lee had to do that matter. Of fact, they probably should have ended up being ahead of most of the departments. People don't be fair, but this is what we've got to do: Mission Hospital, the largest employer in the community I spent 12 years on the Foundation Board I, listened to them and still do about their high and practices. They still got a ways to go.

A

Now we are bringing in doctors now we're bringing in people we're making a start, but they can't drop the ball, because these are the institutions in our community. Who've got to set the example and don't leave out as for Buncombe, Technical, Community, College and UNC Asheville. You know we're making progress there, but we still have a long ways to go. You know I told the Chancellor not long ago. I said you know it's great.

A

You know I feel privileged in some ways to have a building named after me out, but I want to see more black school students come through and see what they can do someday. If they were, you know we got to have the students and that's critical and last you know when you look at organizations like SIBO, but it's a mine. You know small businesses, the Chamber of Commerce. These organizations have got to come up and they have got to do their job to to ensure that we're being fair with all people in the community.

A

Folks, it's a case of where now we're at the point in America, where all hands of got to get on deck and if we're gonna change the income disparities in this country, we've got to do just the basics. There's nothing complicated, but the key is we've got to start doing it. We can't you know we can talk things to death.

A

You know I'm, tired of being on this board of that one of this deal or spending all this money to bring in consultants to tell us what we need to do to help black businesses or minority businesses. Small businesses bring consultants in to talk to us about how we need to work with African Americans and all this matter of fact, I ran one consulting eye on my office.

A

A few days ago, at the county because he wanted he was in to pick my brain to find out what we've done in the past to help small businesses and then he was going to take it back and get a large check for it. I said they can come to me and I'll, give it to him. Free I mean, and we need to stop that. That's to me, that's not a smart way to spend taxpayers money. You know we've got to do, I mean you know. I'm look!

A

That's one thing about me, I'm, very liberal, but when he comes to the dollars I'm a banker I'm conservative I, don't believe in just throwing money away but doing it in the right way. But this is what we need to do. When we talk about income. You know it's not space, science, it's not that at all, but it's got. We've got to be fair and treat everybody the same. But more than that, the key is is my grandfather said it was a baseball fan. He said if you have a level playing field will do well.

A

He always said this is why blacks are great athletes. He said because it's a level playing field, we're all playing by the same rules.

A

Think about that, but we need to do the same thing, because if we're going to be successful, it's going to take all the members of our community, no matter who they are or where they live, we're all in this together. You know it's. What's that old, saying a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Well, we've reached a point in America that we've stretched that chain. As long as we can go, we have got to make some changes. We've got to come together and have discussions like today and it's not gonna be easy.

A

It's gonna be uncomfortable for all of us, but we've got to have these discussions too and start doing what we need to do.