A Wilmington resident since 2007, she is pediatric medical director at MedNorth Health Center.

WILMINGTON -- More than a century after the 1898 Massacre, during which a mob of white supremacists overthrew the biracial government and murdered dozens (perhaps more) of Black residents, some argue the Black community has never fully recovered from the damage it did and the inequality it enshrined in Wilmingtons way of life -- inequality that they say remains in the DNA of the citys institutions and culture.

Dr. Khadijia Tribie Reid was raised in Atlanta and moved to Wilmington in 2007. She is pediatric medical director at MedNorth Health Center. Her husband, Ro-Lyan Reid, is also a physician.

This is what she had to say about where things currently stand for Black residents in Wilmington, and what needs to happen to make Wilmington more inclusive.

You grew up in Atlanta, described as "a center of Black wealth, higher education, political power and culture." Other than the obvious size difference, as a Black professional, what strikes you most about the differences between Atlanta and Wilmington?

In Atlanta, African American professionals are abundant. They are very active in every sector of the city, including government, the arts, medicine, and education. It is a racially diverse city.

Another huge difference is the schools. Although there was some level of racial segregation in Atlanta, it was not as prevalent as it is here. Even in schools that seemed racially segregated, there were ample high-performing schools that were predominately African American. Unfortunately, in Wilmington, the performance of schools also falls along racial lines, to the detriment of African American students.

During my high school years, Atlanta intentionally desegregated schools with programs like M to M (Minority to Majority) and high quality magnet school programs. These initiatives created racially diverse schools by placing a certain percentage of African American students in predominantly white schools or drawing white families to high quality magnet programs.

I believe these intentional practices create a well-rounded citizenry that is very comfortable living and working with one another. Historically, such practices improve educational achievement among African American students while having no impact on the educational achievement of white students. In other words, White students do not fare worse.

Another intentional effort was the transition of public housing complexes into mixed income developments. The concentrated poverty in Wilmington fuels separate but unequal schools and communities.

Like Atlanta today, Wilmington once had a thriving interracial community. The 1898 coup by white supremacists re-established the white power structure. I have no doubt that this history provides insight on where Wilmington is today.

As a physician, you see up close everyday the toll racial and economic disparities can take on communities. Would you elaborate on that issue?

Significant economic and health disparities exist between white and Black people. African Americans suffer disproportionately under the weight of economic and health problems. These disparities result from systemic American structures.

Despite the equal legal rights afforded to all ethnic groups and women as a result of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964, many overt and implicit policies continued to disadvantage women and people of color. Practices such as redlining, restrictive neighborhood covenants, underbounding (city boundaries are limited and the power structure is established in adjacent suburbs), and gentrification favor white people, limiting the ability of African Americans to build wealth through real-estate. Those practices also keep neighborhoods segregated.

The policy of "neighborhood schools" results in de facto racial segregation. Even if minority schools get ample funding, they often have an underrepresentation of highly experienced teachers compared to predominantly white schools. In addition, teacher turnover at predominately African American schools is much higher than at predominately white schools. These unequal systems have helped to maintain economic and health inequities, much of which is driven by the quantity and quality of a persons education.

What are some priorities Wilmington should focus on to improve life/opportunities for minority residents?

Wilmington, like many American cities, has work to do. I think the first thing Wilmington should do is eliminate concentrated poverty. Concentrated public housing is a relic of the past. Concentrated poverty is not in our citys best interest.

Wilmington should be more intentional about creating equal and diverse schools whose racial diversity in teachers and students truly reflects the diversity within this city. This is not just for minority children, its for everyone. So many white people in this city and around the world are struggling to figure out how to interact with African Americans right now. Our persistent segregation has created this feeling of "the other." This moment is not just about improving the lives of African Americans; it is also about making America better.

[Editors note: To read what others had to say about whether Wilmington can again become a place for Black opportunity, click here.]

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Reporter Scott Nunn can be reached at 910-343-2272 or Scott.Nunn@StarNewsOnline.com.

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Khadijia Reid: Economic and health disparities exist between white and Black people - Havelock News