PAUL SCHRAG: A PREVIEW >>>

City Club of Tacoma will host a lunchtime discussion about race and politics in Tacoma on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Landmark Convention Center. The discussion will be led by Lyle Quasim, interim Pierce County executive director of public health, and Tacoma Councilwoman Marilyn Strickland. Between them, Quasim and Strickland will highlight past struggles, current views, and future hopes and dreams for the local African-American community and for Tacoma. They will then open the conversation to a dialogue with the audience.

For many, this is a chance to talk frankly about a topic that is frequently shoved aside because of its complexity and emotional charge. The election of Barack Obama, among other factors, has placed race and politics into the spotlight, center stage. This conversation, and the millions like it happening all over the country, is likely to be difficult. These won’t be the stifled discussions about race that we’re used to hearing in many social circles. Relatively sterile solutions to our discomfort such as political correctness and revisions to history books are likely to give way to some down and dirty, uncomfortably-real dialogue. The bravest among us will be presented with a blessed chance to talk about aspects of race that are frequently left on the sidelines â€" economic justice, political disparity, and the continuing struggle for racial equity. It’s about time.

“I don’t think we can talk about race and politics without talking about social, economic and political justice,” says Strickland, who was born to parents of African American and Korean descent. “All three issues play into political power.”

Strickland notes that this discussion will occur roughly five years after a report conducted by City Club raised some interesting questions about the intersection between race and power in our fair city. The study, titled “Image of the City: What Tacomans Think About Tacoma” suggested that the diversity we’re all so proud of had a bit of a cloud hanging over it. Of nine trends called out by Tacoma citizens, several suggested that Tacoma’s celebrated diversity isn’t as inclusive as many would hope.

For example:

Trend No. 3 â€" Our Innate Strengths â€" “Those strengths include community on a human scale, diversity, our neighborhoods and a distinctly grassroots perspective,” but suggested that political power and influence didn’t always extend to minorities.

Trend No. 4 â€" titled “Big City, Small Town Politics” â€" noted “an interesting tension â€" on one hand, Tacoma can be an easy place to get involved and affect change. On the other hand, some perceive that the real power is limited to a small clique, closed to most citizens, but especially to minorities.”

Trend No. 5 â€" titled “The Many Faces of Tacoma” â€" suggested that “we are very diverse, and growing more diverse by the day ... but it is also a missed opportunity if the centers of power don’t hear them.”

Trend No. 8 â€" titled “A Key Moment” â€" indicated that “there is s sense that Tacoma is on a cusp … the downtown Tacoma renaissance is obvious” but asked “what does that mean for individuals?”

People who have $30 to spare and can take an hour and a half during their lunch hour will have a rare opportunity to talk about how much, if any, these perceptions have changed. Strickland hopes this is the first of many important public discussions.

“As we have this conversation, I hope everyone understands that there is a hopeful future,” she says, “but we all have to be a part of it.”