Chattanooga Urban League President and CEO Warren E. Logan Jr. said history is repeating.

“We are repeating the ‘60s and 70s — that was my generation,” he said. “From the standpoint of social issues, in the 60s and 70s, we had the same thing. We had riots, civil disobedience, dissatisfaction with society.”

It’s not violent now in Chattanooga like it was then, he said. And there’s another difference he sees. It’s one that he said gives him comfort.

“The beauty now in comparison with the past is that you see a larger diversity of people [protesting],” he said. “There’s a great diversity of people who are sensitive to these issues. They are saying, ‘We are all concerned. We all want to see this improve.’”

Urban League fast facts

○ The organization, which Logan has headed up for 25 years, provides a range of services, including free tax assistance, workforce development programs and help for school students.

○ The nonprofit serves about 15,000 people a year.

○ When it started in 1982, it served between 150-300.

○ The org also participates in an inclusion-by-design program that equips women and people of color with the tools they need to rise to senior management positions. That kind of change, Logan said, is what we need nationwide to start making changes to systematic problems.

○ Logan also said that the mission of the organization has expanded to include all minorities and people who are disadvantaged socially or economically.

How do we move forward?

Logan shared his ideas about what it’s going to take to overcome systematic inequality.

He said it’s not only about the police violence + we need to look at the broader picture.

“We need to look at the broader picture — what are the areas that are contributing to inequality? Look at education, healthcare disparities. Look at the pillars of the community — people of color are on the bottom end. How do we come together to form a common agenda targeting what those inequalities are?” – Urban League President and CEO Warren E. Logan Jr.

What are some first steps?

Logan said:

○ Organizing for the common goal of creating equality.

○ Bringing people together with facilitators who can put people at ease to have uncomfortable conversations.

○ Be aware everyone is going to come to the table with a blind spot, but everyone at that table is there for a common cause.

○ Come to the table even if you aren’t sure exactly how to help. Logan said that can be figured out and people shouldn’t be timid or afraid of participating just because they aren’t sure how to start.