Last week in Durham, NC three burning crosses were found in different places around the city. One was near St. Luke's Episcopal Church on Hillandale Rd, another was found on South Roxboro St. just off MLK Parkway (is there a city in the nation that doesn't have something named after MLK?), and there was one found downtown on Dillard and Holloway streets.
Everyone with a pulse has been falling all over themselves in condemning the crosses. Gov. Easley offered $10,000 for the culprit(s); the FBI offered $5,000; Durham Crimestoppers offered $1,200; Durham Councilman offered $1,000 and challenged others to match it; and the SBI offered another $5,000. That's $22,200 so far. NC Central has been having racial harmony events throughout the week, and this Saturday there will be a racial harmony rally in downtown Durham.
I think it's nothing more than a prank. First of all, we aren't talking about some hick town in the middle of nowhere, as Durham is one of the most racially diverse cities in the state, and has a very strong black heritage. In other words, the KKK isn't stupid enough to walk into Durham in their sheets, and I doubt they would bring that much attention to themselves by burning crosses downtown. I doubt if this is a legitimate threat.
I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't connected to the racial conflict within the Durham County Board of Education and the City Council. It isn't anything new, although it has heated up with a number of Durham's "concerned citizens" (meaning white) attempting to change the voting districts on the BOE, making them all at-large districts so they can get rid of some of the disruptive (meaning black) board members. One day I'm going to go to take it upon myself to go to one of those BOE or City Council meetings. At the very least, they're quite entertaining. And these crosses will only stir up more drama.
