[Read more about the growing relationship between the BCC and the Latin Kings in the article "Sharing the table." You can also view pictures of the media conference.]

The lead editorial in yesterday’s News & Record, “A truce among gangs?” would appear at first reading supportive of an effort by Latino and African-American communities to find peaceful and cooperative paths together.  The editorial is referring to the news conference held Monday at Faith Community Church, lauding Jorge Cornell for his efforts to reach out to gang members in this area.  Those of us who met last week at the Beloved Community Center’s weekly community meeting met many of these members of the Latin Kings, labeled as a “gang” by the editorial.

The approach taken by the editorial leaves questions in its wake.  While apparently giving praise to the peace-making efforts mentioned, the writer implies some darker motives are at work.  Questioning the reasons for such an effort at this time, the writer then makes some strange associations with local news about recent gang activities.  A reader finds more than one message here.

What is even more bothersome about the editorial, in fact, is the continued “demonizing” of the Rev. Nelson Johnson, associating him only to the November 3, 1979 shootings, leaping past the ongoing and amazing works of social ministries he has led his Faith Community Church and also the Beloved Community Center to achieve in the years since 1979.  It is as if nothing has happened in the intervening years worthy of mention, so that only the November 3 moment has any relevancy to Johnson’s history. Additionally, the editorial seems to forget the fact that the Greensboro Police Department, not Nelson Johnson, were found jointly liable with the Klan and Nazis for wrongful death. This editorial, in connecting him to that historical moment through such a negative lens thus smears the significance of what is taking place today.  For example, the writer notes that “Some of us may question the involvement of the Rev. Nelson Johnson in Monday’s announcement.  After all, Johnson is no stranger to controversy, especially as it pertains to the Nov. 3, 1070 Klan-Nazi shootings . . . etc.”

At the close of the piece, the writer credits the newspaper with prior efforts, in calling “for the local faith community to be an active part of the gang solution.”  And then notes that Johnson and the Rev. Gregory Headen “appear to be doing” just that, and “more power to them.”  What a patronizing and discrediting comment that is!