So, in this context, what does Uptown’s “diversity” mean? At best,
it symbolizes an ideal. But it breaks down because this discourse
of “diversity” assumes a racial and economic duality, which allows
it to act as a rhetorical tool untethered from its own reality. That’s
why when we talk about “diversity,” we escape talking about
inequality. We escape accountability and that makes us feel good.
It has become a meaningless word: a tool used to drive wedges
deeper into already fragmented social conditions. We love the
word because it replaces the pesky burden of moral responsibility
with a comfortable mask for our complacent racism.
Minorities are still poor because of racism, so economic and
racial diversity are still mutually dependent. This is inconvenient to
racists who, in their use of the word and in their acts of resistance
to make it any more true, i.e., protesting an affordable housing
development, imply absurdly that there can be a “diversity” in
which race and class are mutually exclusive.
Ultimately, Helen Shiller built Wilson Yard, but the controversy
served to galvanize her opposition. After 23 years in office, James
Cappleman (a white social worker!), who was strongly connected
to the groups that fought Wilson Yard, succeeded her. As his first
act in office, he took down basketball hoops from a park. I repeat
in case the racism was lost on you the first time: he took down
basketball hoops from a park. The giant “Uptown: Where diversity
brings success” mural, however, still stands.
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