Video: Ray Richardson, Glen Cove resident and Ethnic Studies Professor
07/18/11
Ray Richardson, Glen Cove resident and Ethnic Studies Professor Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is Ray Richardson, I'm a professor of Social and Behavioral Sciences. I just retired in the California State System as well as the California Community College system. I chaired the Ethnic Studies department, which included African American, American Indian, Asian, and Mexican/Latin studies. And I've had the opportunity over 30 years to be able to travel to many of those countries, and many sacred sites. I'm confused. And I'm confused because I don't understand how a city like Vallejo, having such a historical site in this city, could even consider the desecration of these grounds. You know, I wonder what would the action be, if we had said that Columbus in 1492 landed at Glen Cove, and had a settlement. I wonder if we would be here today, trying to prevent someone from desecrating that ground. I wonder what would happen, if we had said that in 1619, instead of landing in Jamestown and Williamsburg Virginia, if they had landed in Glen Cove. I wonder if we would be here tonight, trying to determine whether or not we would maintain those grounds. I'm confused because I can't see how we could even consider - and I'm talking about 30 years of experience, 30 years of visiting - I'm confused how we could even consider desecrating sacred grounds where -- not 400 years ago in 1619, not 600 years ago in 1492 when Columbus first settled in America -- here we're talking about a historical site, a thriving civilization, and yes, I have studied that. I came to this council some 10 years ago and we talked about that because I had found broken arrowheads and other artifacts, and they were getting ready to put the condominiums beneath my house. And I'm sorry, I forgot to give you my address, [555] Sand Dollar Drive, Vallejo. I stay right on the crest, about 50 or so yards from where these grounds are. And I have just always thought that it was such a relaxing and beautiful scene, and this was even before, or right at the time they were getting ready to put the condominiums down below us. And one of the things I thought that we as American people had always considered ourselves to be is very sensitive and fair minded people. And I just wonder, I really wonder. And I hate to wonder that. Because if we are sitting here today, [it's] because this is an American Indian...we worship Thanksgiving, and of course they were given a great deal of credit, because the first settlements survived because of that. And let me just say this before I close. I remember having a professor, and it was during the Civil Rights movement and we'd just had a mock trial. And one of the students called Dr. Franz, he was chairman of the Ethnic Studies department at California State University at Hayward where I was doing my Masters work. And he asked Dr. Franz, Dr, Franz, do you really believe and think that history repeats itself? And Dr. Franz looked at him, and without hesitation says, "Only for those who refuse to listen". Only for those who refuse to listen. You know, and I was just thinking about, when I was driving here - Stone Mountain, Georgia. And I don't know if many of you are familiar with Stone Mountain, but Dr. King mentioned that in his "I have a dream" speech. Stone Mountain, GA at that particular time forbade any ethnic minorities from moving in to that neighborhood. Today, that neighborhood, its probably about 70% African American. But it was one thing, when a meeting was held regarding a cemetery there, and whether or not it should be moved because it was a Confederate cemetery. But the state, and even the city, and by the way, even the Black population in Stone Mountain, GA said if it was anything other than a burial ground -- even though its all white, Confederate soldiers, even though they were protecting the right to maintain slavery -- it is still to many people, and to their ancestors, a sacred ground. And so therefore, we will not [allow the desecration] of that ground. [Mayor: Your time is expired] Thank you. And I'm hoping that you, Councillors, take that in to consideration.
