Plight of Black Dallas Must Be Addressed Before Hosting World Cup
-Dallas leaders ignore black residents’ demands for school choice, safe streets, and Black-owned business support
-DISD Superintendent Elizalde and President Henry say Black students don’t deserve educational freedom
-Blackface-wearing Judge Clay Jenkins and billionaire-backed DA Creuzot have made our streets, schools, and businesses less safe
As Dallas gears up for the momentous occasion of hosting the FIFA 2026 World Cup, there remains a critical need for introspection about whether it is just for the city to be extolling its virtue to the world while remaining a segregated place with separate and unequal treatment for its black residents. A city poised to host one of the largest sporting events in the world should have its house in order - in this case, it means ensuring safety, ownership, and opportunity for all, especially Black people; whose ancestors laid the foundation for what we take for granted today. Our city leaders want to be lauded around the world where they have failed purposefully to deliver Justice to people of color at home.
It is disheartening to observe that the leaders of Dallas often turn a blind eye to the demands of Black residents for school choice, safe streets, and support for Black-owned businesses. With the World Cup on the horizon, are we adequately prepared to leverage such a monumental event to benefit all residents equitably[1]?
Until we harness the power of school choice, education will always be an alarming concern and we will always be at a disadvantage. DISD Superintendent Elizalde and President Henry have controversially suggested that Black students don’t need educational freedom[2]. They have prioritized resources for an experimental student surveillance program deploying AI[3], instead of improving the quality of education. They approved a meager 3% in teachers’ salaries, yet maintain possession of several failing and underperforming schools that are more often than not found in Black neighborhoods. In the face of global scrutiny that the World Cup will bring, can we honestly say our education system is serving all our students effectively? Not just the success stories, but all 150,000 students including the ones that are all but abandoned in failing schools?
The matter of public safety demands urgent attention. Despite the increased vigilance required for an international event like the World Cup, Judge Clay Jenkins and DA Creuzot, backed by billionaires, have unfortunately adopted policies permitting violent felons to roam freely[4]. This creates a risk for our neighborhoods, schools, and businesses. The question we must ask our leaders is - how on Earth can we truly offer a safe experience to our international visitors when our own citizens feel unsafe? Is the plan to give us the same bottom-of-the-bucket service while we watch our wealthy counterparts in Highland Park enjoy themselves free of crime? Why do we have to fill out an online form and then wait for hours on end just to get any kind of support from law enforcement?
Further, we must rally around the cause of Black-owned businesses. These enterprises, often facing hurdles due to a lack of resources and policy support[5], are an integral part of our community and economy. In anticipation of the global market that the World Cup will introduce, it’s imperative that we bolster these businesses to seize the opportunities that arise. Is the Dallas City Council going to stop us from renting out our houses due to the unruly elements that Mayor Johnson, Judge Jenkins, and DA Creuzot choose to ignore in favor of catchphrases and progressive platitudes?
We, as a community, must stand firm, advocating for these changes. It’s time our leaders heed the demands of Black residents, assuring safety, promoting educational freedom, and supporting Black-owned businesses. This is the path to a more robust, Dallas ready to host the World Cup and offer an enriching, safe experience to all.
