By Bill Cooney
Iowa City City Councilor Michelle Payne has released a statement apologizing for her response to a question Sept. 30 at the Social and Economic Justice Forum for City Council candidates.
The questions posed to Payne asked what the causes of racial disparities in Iowa City policies were, and what, besides training, could be done to ensure city members do not act with racial bias.
Payne responded, “Maybe if you were white and had some black friends, you’d get more insight into how colored people … I shouldn’t say it that way; how black people think about our community leaders.”
Payne said she recognized as soon as she said the words “colored people” she immediately attempted to rephrase the comment.
“In making a point about racial disparity, I misspoke in a way that was contrary to the very point I was trying to make regarding open and honest conversations about the very things that divide us, but should not,” she said.
Payne began her term on City Council in January 2012. She is running for the at-large council seat.
