Is Racism a Local Problem? the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Has Been Asking since 1986. Now the Division Is the Widest Ever

Patton, Charlie, The Florida Times Union

Byline: CHARLIE PATTON

73% OF BLACKS SAY IT IS

43% OF WHITES SAY IT IS

Asked if racism is a problem in Jacksonville, 35-year-old University of North Florida student Earl Williams Jr. reacted as if he'd been asked if the sky is blue.

"You've got nooses . . . in a fire station and you ask that question?" said the self-described community activist.

Actually, the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. has been asking that question since 1986 as part of its annual Quality of Life Progress Report.

In its most recent report -- released Feb. 7, 10 days before nooses were found on gear belonging to two black Jacksonville firefighters -- almost half answered yes to the question, "Is racism a local problem?"

But what was most striking about this most recent report was the growing perception gap between the races. About 43 percent of whites -- the same as the previous …

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Publication information: Article title: Is Racism a Local Problem? the Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Has Been Asking since 1986. Now the Division Is the Widest Ever. Contributors: Patton, Charlie - Author. Newspaper title: The Florida Times Union. Publication date: March 2, 2006. Page number: Not available. © 2007 The Florida Times-Union. COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group.

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