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An Open Letter to Rev. Donald Perryman, PhD
By Toledo City Councilman Larry Sykes
Being a leader doesn’t change who you are, it reveals who
you are! ---
Michelle Obama
My Grandmother use to say some of the most interesting
things: Look before you leap; Think before you speak; What a
fool believes, he will see. Advice is like cooking you
should try it out before you feed it to someone else! Never
debate with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level
and then beat you with experience.
Last week I received a call from a friend asking me if I had
read Perryman’s article in The Sojourner’s Truth. I said no,
I don’t normally read his articles because they are mostly
based on opinions and you know what they say about opinions.
And when it comes to black elected officials in particular,
Perryman always shows disdain for us.
My friend proceeded to say that I should read the article
because my name is mentioned. He went on to recall other
times when Perryman misrepresented the truth in writing
about me.
I remember, my friend said, when you met with him about
being factual and accurate in his articles and statements
concerning you. I know you also told him to reach out to
you, man to man and as an elected official, if he had any
questions about your opinion, your action, etc.
So I picked up the July 31, 2019 Sojourner’s Truth and read
it. As usual it was full of inaccuracies and basically used
to call-out and chastise the African-American City Council
members. The members were noted by name: Riley, Harper,
Johnson, Adams and Sykes for what he believes was the lack
of a response to a statement made by Councilman Waniewski.
Rev. Perryman believes Waniewski made a racist comment. What
is most interesting is that other than the mayor, no other
elected officials names were mentioned, only their titles,
like the Lucas County Commissioners as if those three don’t
have names. Rev. Perryman, the following is your comment:
“I am deeply concerned and troubled by Toledo City
Councilman Tom Waniewski’s recent reprehensible comments in
which he compared the African American patrons of a bar to
cockroaches”. He went on to say, “for certain words do hurt
and silence emboldens the inflicting of even more pain”. He
ended his comments by stating, “IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE, WE
NEED NEW LEADERSHIP AT TOLEDO CITY COUNCIL”.
My concern is, who is WE and who are YOU speaking for?
It will be interesting to learn who you will endorse in the
upcoming election. Let me first address your comments
attributed to Mr. Waniewski. Rev. Perryman, what you don’t
know is that I met with Councilman Waniewski for an hour in
his office and explained the hurtful effects and negative
perception his statement had. I further explained where the
reference to cockroaches came from and how it links to
persons of color.
I explained to him that the statement came from the movie
Hotel Rwanda staring Don Cheadle. The movie depicts
the Hutu military forces living in Rwanda (the majority
tribe), initiating a campaign of ethnic cleansing against
the Tutsi (the minority tribe).
The film depicted the 1994 genocide in which an estimated
800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, were murdered. Most of the
murders were committed with machetes’ by Hutu extremists
whose favorite statement was, “the cockroaches come out at
night.” Councilman Wanieswski was very thankful for our
conversation. Councilwomen Yvonne Harper also had a similar
conversation with Councilman Waniewski about his comments.
Instead of blasting someone for what he may say or do,
sometimes you can use the moment as an educational
opportunity to teach him what he is not done out of racism,
but sometimes what appears to be racist is didn’t know.
Everything done out of ignorance.
It’s pretty simple; what you don’t know, you don’t know. As
a Rev. and PHD you should know that the end of racism will
occur when we are successfully able to build empathy and
compassion for each other, across racial lines. As long as
we have segregated communities, segregated churches, etc. we
will continue to lack an understanding which leads to
empathy and compassion for one another.
What I find interesting is that you live in Point Place but
didn’t call out your District Councilman, who you vote for
year after year! You are also part of a ministers group,
United Pastors for Social Empowerment, so why didn’t you use
that platform to address your concern?
Even closer to home, I didn’t hear or see any statement or
article coming from you or the United Pastors for Social
Empowerment when three of your follow Ministers were
arrested, charged and sentenced to up-to life in prison for
the heinous crime they committed.
Yes, it’s easy to complain about a situation, but taking
action to address the situation is what’s hard and counts
the most.
Had you taken the time to call me, I could have explained
some of the rules which govern City Council. For example,
unless the offense takes place during an official council
meeting there is little or nothing council members can do or
say about a member’s personal actions or conduct.
In reference to your statement about time for a change and
new leadership is needed. I agree, some people are like baby
diapers and they need to be changed often; especially when
they become curmudgeons.
Although I find your arrogant style of writing offensive and
distasteful, I know you are entitled to do so. But guess
what, so do I.
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