Fires Still Burning

Our nation's supreme court had an opportunity to put out the fires of disparate treatment in fire departments across the land yet did nothing today to augment and diversify the ranks of fire departments in our country which remains the most segregated public service departments in municipal governments in America. Our supreme court was wrong before in the Dred Scott and Plessey rulings which sanctioned segregation and 2nd class citizenship for Black citizens and other people of color. This supreme court decision continues the ugly firewall against inclusion and opportunity in our country. Black firefighters in New Haven remained on the sidelines behind their white peers when it comes to promotions. This result does not assist in dousing any cultural and racial fires across the nation.