"State of Black San Francisco" Conference Raises QuestionsHarrison Chastangbyline‚ Jun. 30‚ 2008An audience of over 100 people turned out for a panel discussion Saturday at the San Francisco West Bay Conference Center on Fillmore Street entitled “The State of Black San Francisco.” The consensus of the panelists and the audience was that a combination of violence, economics and lack of Black leadership has contributed to a situation that could soon turn San Francisco into a city with only a handful of very rich and very poor African Americans. The makeup of the panel’s 10 speakers was unusual in that instead of the usual Black task force contingent of ministers, City Hall insiders, elected and appointed officials, the “State of Black San Francisco” panel consisted of community activists, policy analysts and representatives of community based non-profits working with at-risk Black communities. |