DCABP Chairman Antonio Jones Has A Clear Vision For Future of ‘The Committee’

Durham, NC – To combat hate and injustices, the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People (DCABP, also known as The Committee) offers a safe space for not only the Black community to voice their concerns, but other minority groups as well, and take the first steps necessary to combat injustices. The committee recently selected Antonio Jones as the Chairman of DCABP.

Jones is the youngest chair in the 86-year long history of the DCABP. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Jones came to Durham on a job transfer and has remained here ever since. He attended North Carolina Central University, completing his undergraduate and graduate-level degrees in Public Administration. He has since done a lot of work with various groups and committees around the community, serving mostly in the background. When he was asked to become the new chairman he said, “I had to sit and think about being the chair. I thought if I could get a cross-section of support across Durham I would do it.” This thought process alone shows us that he genuinely believes in the DCABP and in helping the community.

Jones went on to say, “As word spread through the community, multiple people from various backgrounds began showing interest in joining the committee. Some very influential people offered their support and some people not connected to the committee also showed their support.” This immense support is what convinced Jones to take the position as the Chairman of the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People.

Moving forward, Jones has a clear vision for the committee. “The main thing is for us to really increase our membership and let people know that The Committee is not an elitist committee, everyone is welcome. We have to be able to offer a space where people feel welcome no matter their economic background, their social background or their gender.” This idea of unification is the driving force for Jones and the committee, “we embrace the diversity just to let them know that there is a safe space for them.”

As chairman, Jones wants The Committee to be able to unify the community by giving the people a safe space where their concerns can be heard. He spoke about the various issues that plague Durham county that need immediate attention. “We still have classism issues, crime, homelessness issues, and a skills gap. The skills gap presents an issue of are the people ready for the increase in high-paying jobs. When we talk about crime, we need to focus on why the crime is present.” Jones continues to mention the importance of solving these issues for the betterment of the community.

“We have to make sure that in this city, in this county, that we are meeting the needs of all the citizens. In the committee, having a space that is knowledgeable and is informed is important to formulate a plan to make those changes.” This space is especially important in the climate the country finds itself in today. By unifying the community and starting up conversations, a change can begin to happen. Jones states, “The Committee has been around for 86 years now, there has been a lot of relationships that have formed in that time. You have to offer a space for healing. At some point, we have to heal this community.”

Finally, Jones spoke more on the importance of diversity and unity within the committee. “We are talking about the hatred against the Asian culture that we have seen in the past few days. The hatred against the Hispanic community with all the things going on with ICE. Those experiences are important because once we have those unified voices, we can move to start changing things.” Jones mentions that The Committee is determined to continue to collaborate with other groups and fight issues plaguing those groups as well. “If we agree on a particular issue, this is how we deal with the issues. If we can be of assistance to other groups, that is of great importance. Conversely, if they can help us, that is also of great importance.” This symbolizes Jones’ central idea for the committee’s future, one of diversity and unity.

Antonio Jones will continue to lead the conversation and will continue to invite people to join the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People. He understands the importance of fixing many of the issues that are affecting people around Durham County. The Committee exists for the benefit of the community and its citizens, no matter who they are.

For more information on the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People and to learn how you can get involved, please visit www.dcabp.org/

Photos by Lawrence Davis, unless otherwise indicated.