Will The Day Ever Come When Everyone Will Be Included?

Sun., Sept. 28, 1997

Nancy Nelson Special To Roundtab

On Sept. 16 I joined the guests who filled the Ag Trade Center for the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting.

Admittedly, the primary reason for my attendance was to hear Ambassador Andrew Young speak. However, I easily joined in the joyous air of celebration for the Chamber’s 100th anniversary.

The luncheon moved very smoothly. The program began with introductions of special guests and continued unintrusively during a delicious and well-served meal.

Ambassador Young spoke briefly and brilliantly of how Spokane has the framework to be very profitable in the coming century.

He also said that money being made by one ethnic group during the Olympic Games in Atlanta did not mean that another group was left out. Money was made by all ethnic groups. He also told how Atlanta was described by a kindergartner as being a city that was too busy to hate. Since the Games, six grocery stores have opened in the city’s African-American section, which previously had none, and a contractor is now building homes priced at $300,000.

At the end of Young’s speech the auditorium rose to its feet in applause.

Yet in all of this festivity and talk of the future of Spokane, with the exception of Young’s presence and speech, I was not there.

In a film describing the great strides and predictions for Spokane in 1997 no person of color was present.

When the children from Franklin School joined hands to march across the stage with an outgoing board member, signifying the past and the future, no student of color walked with a gleaming, smiling face.

When Spokane was described through past years as being a great place to live and to raise a family, no mention was made of people of color who were not hired in workplaces, even in menial positions, who were not allowed in Nat Park, or who were forced to live on reservations.

Spokane may have been a great place to live for European-Americans. I guess that is who the luncheon was for since I was not included. I guess that is who Spokane’s bright future is for, according to the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, since I was not included.

I am looking forward to the day when I will no longer have reason to write this type of commentary.

I am looking forward to the day when all people in Spokane are included and Spokane is a great place to live for everyone.

But if the city’s leaders and the shapers of the city’s future can not see me now, will this day ever come?

Editor’s note: Nancy Nelson isn’t the only person who had misgivings about the Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon and meeting. Many others, including Chamber officials, had similar reactions when the program was over. The Chamber since has issued a public apology and has invited those in attendance back for a follow-up luncheon and a dialogue about race and diversity in the community.

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