Montclair Times Neighbors and Fences: The divides that bind

Editor's Note: "Neighbors and Fences" is a series The Times is beginning in this edition, which will continue in the coming weeks and months. The series will look at the socioeconomic, racial, educational, recreational and religious components to addressing the township's recent rash of violence and unrest, and will examine the tensions and divides within Montclair.

James Harris

James E. Harris, president of the New Jersey State Conference of the NAACP, sees an interesting dynamic moving through Montclair.

Walking throughout the township he's called home for more than 35 years, Harris will notice a "For Sale" sign go up in front of a house. A few weeks later, the sign will come down, a giant dumpster will be placed outside and contractors will proceed to completely remodel the home.

After the work is done, but before the new family ever moves in, a fence will go up around the house. Harris noted that fences aren't traditionally part of Montclair homes and, as he's spent more than 20 years involved with the Montclair Civil Rights Commission, the practice concerns him.

"The fences don't promote integration. They promote segregation," Harris told The Times. "It's one thing to talk over the hedges. It's another thing to talk over a fence."

In Harris' view, the problem starts at home and it begins with adults. In his estimation, there are fewer examples of cross-racial interaction in the township now than there were when he moved here in 1975. The state NAACP president attributes the decrease, in large part, to the unwillingness of residents of all races to open up their homes and invite other members of the community over for a cup of coffee or a party.

What happens down the line, Harris says, is that parents who tend to associate with parents of the same race have children who grow up closer with children of the same race. Montclair's magnet school program has done well to diversify classrooms across the township; however, there is still work to do, Harris said.

One idea would be to take the same "magnet" concept and actively diversify Montclair's youth sports programs, allowing for children to interact with children of other races and backgrounds outside the classroom and put parents in position to do the same.

"Those conversations take place at the soccer field, at the synagogue, wherever parents congregate - those conversations are informal, but they're very significant," said Harris. "I think there should be a heightened sensitivity. If we don't have racial diversity, we ought to have a conscious effort to make it happen."

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Montclair Times Neighbors and Fences: The divides that bind