February is black history month. What does Black history mean to Black Teamsters?

[hookabrasi]

There will be a discussion on this topic today at 3pm eastern time. Diversity & inclusion has always lacked in the Teamsters, especially in leadership. If the organization wishes to truly be progressive & move forward, we have to embrace all people. Our local Executive Boards, conference executive boards, joint council executive boards & our IBT executive board all look the same. Our membership is diverse, it should be reflected in our leadership.
All of the pictures of our general presidents hang in the Teamsters headquarters. All of them are white men.
Every General Secretary Treasurer has also been a white male. The Teamsters are more than just white men. We need to show that. Only 3 people of color can vote on our current IBT executive board. People of color, never had a presence on any of our IBT executive boards, why? People of color make up a very large portion of this organization, but it's not reflected. February is black history month but we should also ask, what is our "future" in this organization?

[952 Bulldog]

People should be elected to positions based on merit & qualifications not the color of their skin. The Teamsters represent members of different diversities & backgrounds. To play the race card is petty. Rather than blaming "the system" ask yourself, what is being done to educate & up lift membership of all color. How you carry yourself & represent the union is important. Local 952 has hired BA in every industry who look like "cholos" just to appeal to the members to gain votes while knowing little about their contracts & being a Unionist. Being dressed & appearing like a thug will not get anyone a better contract. Being on the IBT executive board simply because of the color of your skin doesn't help anyone or promote diversity. Disagree, look up Ron Herrera.

[Gimme_Danger]

Personal attacks and profanity? I thought this wasn't one of those other sites?

[Buffalo Soldier]

No one should be put in a position who is not qualified or capable of getting qualified. However, tokenism is destructive to our movement. There are superb leaders in our organization who can help us move forward. We need all hands on deck now. In spite of our feeling left out, we continue to be proactive in the elevation of all working people of all persuasions. Some of us have receipts that document our involvement in the struggle for the advancement of the working class. This is about qualified Blacks being included because they bring a perspective that is important to the advancement of our movement.

[DanaCos]

Personal attacks and profanity? I thought this wasn't one of those other sites?

Personal attacks? I thought once you are an elected official, you become a figure of the union and should always be held up to scrutiny. Same always goes with public figures, New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254. Ask my principal officer. He loves the lime light, just not the truth.

Me personally, I wanted all the Hoffa deviants thrown out of office. That didn't happen, so here we go again.

I agree with about not being "other sites". Like Facebook? There is one page #623LivesMatter AKA Hooker Fan Club, where you can put out anyone's personal life on there and it's all kosher.

I just loved Facebook when I got rumors spread about me under the names of Jesse Smith and Kris Kogan only to find out later (they admitted such) that it was my current Local's Secretary/Treasurer and President, respectively. Never fun to see that it is posted that you rape women when it isn't true.

Anywhos, the cursing I can dig. I will have to limit my adjective selection from this point on.

[Nights]

No one should be put in a position who is not qualified or capable of getting qualified. However, tokenism is destructive to our movement. There are superb leaders in our organization who can help us move forward. We need all hands on deck now. In spite of our feeling left out, we continue to be proactive in the elevation of all working people of all persuasions. Some of us have receipts that document our involvement in the struggle for the advancement of the working class. This is about qualified Blacks being included because they bring a perspective that is important to the advancement of our movement.

I certainly appreciate this thoughtful comment. Clearly what is fair and what we're all looking for is equal opportunity. The nepotism that exists in this union is a huge roadblock to equal opportunity.

Its hard to achieve any semblance of diversity when leadership positions are handed down from father to son or father to daughter. It weakens the union when young teamsters don't see themselves represented in their leaders. It makes them think that they won't advance in the organization. It makes them feel like outsiders in the union.