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Panel discusses bridging racial divide in Louisville: '2021 is going to tell us a lot'

Panel discusses bridging racial divide in Louisville: '2021 is going to tell us a lot'
WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. >> HOW BIG OF A PROBLEM IS RACISM? 57% SAY A BIG PROBLEM WITHOUT MUCH PROGRESS. 42%, THINGS HAVE GOTTEN BETTER BUT THERE IS STILL WORK TO DO. REPORTER: MONTHS OF UNREST SURROUNDING THE DEATH OF BREONNA TAYLOR HAS PUT MORE OF A SPOTLIGHT ON THE RACIAL DIVIDE HERE IN LOUISVILLE. A PANEL OF LEADERS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING MAYOR GREG FISCHER WHO RECENTL DECLARED RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, TOOK PART IN A DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT DIVIDE MAYOR FISCHER: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LIFE EXPECTANCY BETWEEN THE AVERAGE BLACK CITIZEN A WHITE CITIZEN FROM LOW INCOME TO HIGH INCOME HOW CAN THAT NOT BE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS? REPORTER: TOPICS WENT FROM HEALTH CARE TO EDUCATION TO JOB OPPORTUNITIES. DR. RICKY JONES SAYS AFTER MONTHS OF UNREST, THE ACTIONS OF THOSE WHO ARE AT THE HEAD OF COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS WILL SHOW WHO WAS REALLY PAYING ATTENTION. >> I THI 2021 WILL TELL US A LOT. THIS IS THE YEAR OF WALKING. IN 2028 THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK ABOUT WE SEE YOU. THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK. REPORTER: DURING PROTESTS LAST YEAR, THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE PLEDGED TO BE THE PREMIER ANTI-RACIST METROPOLITAN RESEARCH UNIVERSITY IN THE COUNTRY. SIMPLY PUT, CLOSELY EXAMINING POLICIES AND MUCH MORE THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR YEARS. >> IT IS NOT GOING TO BE DONE IN DAY BUT WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR POLICIES, ADMINISTRATORS, FACULTY, STAFF, STUDENTS TO STATE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO BRIDGE THE GAPS? REPORTER: BUT ARE INITIATIVES LIKE THAT ENOUGH IN THE CITY TO TRULY BRIDGE THE GAP? MAYOR GREG FISCHER SAYS IT’S A START. MAYOR FISCHER: WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS FOR OU CITY WITH THE FUEL THAT HAS COME OUT OF BREONN TAYLOR'
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Panel discusses bridging racial divide in Louisville: '2021 is going to tell us a lot'
Finding answers to bridge the racial divide in Louisville.A diverse panel held a discussion Thursday as part of the Frazier Museum's program called "Reckoning with Race.""How big of a problem is racism? Fifty-seven percent say a big problem without much progress, 42% say things have gotten better but there's still work to do," said Rachel Platt with the Frazier Museum.Months of unrest surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor has put more of a spotlight on the racial divide here in Louisville. A panel of leaders throughout the community, including Mayor Greg Fischer who recently declared racism a public health crisis, took part in a discussion about that divide."When you look at just the life expectancy gap between the average Black citizen and white citizen from low income to high income, albeit 12 years, how can that not be a public health crisis," said Fischer.Topics went from health care to education to job opportunities.Dr. Ricky Jones says after months of unrest, the actions of those who are at the head of companies and institutions will show who was really paying attention."I think that 2021 is going to tell us a lot. I think this is the year of walking it. 2020 there was a lot of talk about we hear you, we see you and this stuff, there was a lot of talk," said Dr. Ricky Jones.During protests last year, the University of Louisville pledged to be the premier anti-racist metropolitan research university in the country. Simply put, closely examining policies and much more that have been in place for years."It's not going to be done in a day but we're looking at all of our policies, administrators, faculty, staff, students to say what are we going to do to bridge the gap," said Dr. Neeli Bendipudi.But are initiatives like that enough in the city to truly bridge the gap? Fischer says it's a start."What I would like to see is for our city with the fuel that has come out of Breonna Taylor's tragedy to accelerate our ability to show what transformation looks like," said Fischer.At the end of this month, the Frazier will have an online event focused on telling the stories of history-making Black Kentuckians.

Finding answers to bridge the racial divide in Louisville.

A diverse panel held a discussion Thursday as part of the Frazier Museum's program called "Reckoning with Race."

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"How big of a problem is racism? Fifty-seven percent say a big problem without much progress, 42% say things have gotten better but there's still work to do," said Rachel Platt with the Frazier Museum.

Months of unrest surrounding the death of Breonna Taylor has put more of a spotlight on the racial divide here in Louisville. A panel of leaders throughout the community, including Mayor Greg Fischer who recently declared racism a public health crisis, took part in a discussion about that divide.

"When you look at just the life expectancy gap between the average Black citizen and white citizen from low income to high income, albeit 12 years, how can that not be a public health crisis," said Fischer.

Topics went from health care to education to job opportunities.

Dr. Ricky Jones says after months of unrest, the actions of those who are at the head of companies and institutions will show who was really paying attention.

"I think that 2021 is going to tell us a lot. I think this is the year of walking it. 2020 there was a lot of talk about we hear you, we see you and this stuff, there was a lot of talk," said Dr. Ricky Jones.

During protests last year, the University of Louisville pledged to be the premier anti-racist metropolitan research university in the country. Simply put, closely examining policies and much more that have been in place for years.

"It's not going to be done in a day but we're looking at all of our policies, administrators, faculty, staff, students to say what are we going to do to bridge the gap," said Dr. Neeli Bendipudi.

But are initiatives like that enough in the city to truly bridge the gap? Fischer says it's a start.

"What I would like to see is for our city with the fuel that has come out of Breonna Taylor's tragedy to accelerate our ability to show what transformation looks like," said Fischer.

At the end of this month, the Frazier will have an online event focused on telling the stories of history-making Black Kentuckians.