On Election Day this week, local Black residents, and indeed, all city residents, witnessed another opportunity lost. In a city where Black residents make up nearly 30 % of the general population, we must wait four more years before there’s another chance for voters to consider electing a Black mayoral candidate. Most American cities of Indianapolis’ size or larger have elected a Black mayor – or a person of color or a woman – at least once, and in many cities more than once.
New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Atlanta have all had Black mayors. So has Dallas; San Francisco; Newark, New Jersey; St. Paul, Minnesota; St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri; and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Even in Boston, whose politics since the turn of the 20th century have been dominated by a power struggle between WASPish Boston Brahmins, Irish-Americans and, lastly, Italian- Americans, has had a Black mayor. And its current mayor is a woman of Asian descendent.
But never in Indianapolis. Once again, come November, the choice for Indianapolis voters will come down to two white male candidates. But regardless of who is elected in November, holding them accountable will be key to the city’s future.
It’s not that there weren’t viable Black candidates in this election cycle.
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, a Republican, and state Rep. Robin Shackleford certainly offered a chance to break the mold. Shackleford, in particular, put up a stout challenge to incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett in the Democratic primary. But, with a war chest that reportedly numbered in the millions, Hogsett soundly defeated Shackleford’s insurgent campaign, in much the same way he swept aside his Republican general election challengers in 2015 and 2019 – by massive margins.
We are not saying that mere skin color should be the reason to vote for the candidate for the highest executive office in the city. Not at all. We need strong leadership, regardless of gender or skin color. But the question remains, is Indianapolis open to more inclusive options, and when?
This should be a call to action for the city and for the new administration. Residents should insist that the next mayor include greater diversity in his senior staff, and that the mayor listen to communities that are suffering the most, investing more in the economic development of Black businesses. Uplifting downtown is important, particularly when it comes to attracting investments and new residents. But such focus cannot come at the expense of the suffering of those who are already here.
It is difficult to balance but mayoral candidates with more diverse backgrounds might be more in tuned with how to maintain that balance, especially given the city’s shifting demographics. U.S. Census data shows Blacks represented 18 % of the city population in 1970 and an estimated 29.4 % today. The change is largely due to an increase in the number of Black residents, as opposed to a dramatic decline in the white population.
Candidates with more varied socioeconomic and racial backgrounds could bring new perspectives to the problems facing the city, such as the local economy, infrastructure, homelessness, policing and public safety. And big city mayors increasingly face issues stretching far beyond city limits, such as gun violence, immigration and climate change.
A city the size of Indianapolis will need a broader political and economic perspective to not just survive, but to flourish, in the future. Opening up the city’s politics would be a step in the right direction.
In an interview earlier this year on the CBS Good Morning program, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said he was “determined not to be the mayor of two cities – one of the haves and one of the have nots.” His background helped bridge the gap.
Clearly that perspective would be helpful here. And the next mayor, and all future mayors, regardless of race or gender, would do well to keep that perspective in mind.
Noting the increasing number of Black mayors in America, Houston Mayor Turner also said, “Progress has been made but it hasn’t been easy.”
It won’t be easy here, either. But accountability will be key, particularly in commitments made to the Black community – both now and in the future.
Contact Newsroom Manager Michael Dabney at MichaelD@indyrecorder. com
