Duval Times

Jacksonville Mayor, in his MLK, Jr. Unity Breakfast speech, acknowledged the persisting racial inequities in the city and called for collective efforts to address them. He highlighted the disparities in areas such as home values, life expectancy, poverty rates, and infant mortality between predominantly Black and White neighborhoods. The Mayor emphasized the need for true prosperity that is shared by all residents, regardless of their race.

The Mayor's administration is actively engaged in conversations with various stakeholders, including businesses, nonprofits, and philanthropic leaders, to tackle racial inequities and create opportunities that benefit all neighborhoods. As a recent example of their commitment, the city took down the last Confederate monument, symbolizing a belief in shared humanity and a commitment to learning from history.

The Mayor also outlined specific actions being taken by his administration to address racial inequities. These include programs to improve infant and maternal health, investments in early literacy and afterschool programs to bridge the education gap, and funding for parks and pools in underserved neighborhoods to provide better opportunities for children. The administration is also focusing on housing initiatives to help struggling families save for a down-payment and address the issue of homelessness.

While acknowledging that these actions are just a start, the Mayor assured that more would be done in the upcoming budget. He emphasized the need to fulfill the promises made to the Black citizens of Jacksonville, stating that the city cannot continue to be a "tale of two cities." The Mayor called for change to become a reality and highlighted the interconnectedness of individual destinies in building a safer, wealthier, and happier city.

The Mayor emphasized the importance of learning from the past and doing better in the present. He mentioned the progress made in areas such as marriage equality and the recognition of the value of all individuals, regardless of their race. The Mayor called for working together to stamp out racism, from slavery to segregation to redlining to voter suppression to mass incarceration.

In conclusion, the Mayor urged the people of Jacksonville to remain united against hate in all its forms and to celebrate the diversity that makes the city a beautiful mosaic. He invoked the words of Dr. King, stating that unarmed truth and unconditional love should be the final word in reality. The Mayor expressed his belief that by working together, the city can bend the arc of history toward justice and create new realities and possibilities for Jacksonville.