The wife of a North Carolina mayor is under fire after she blamed the city’s problems on its Black citizens.
Yvonne Doughtie is the wife of five-term Mayor Emery G. Doughtie. She posted a lengthy rant on her Facebook, ripping into the Black residents of Roanoke Rapids.
Doughtie deleted the original post from her account, but social media users snapped a screenshot before she removed it.
“I have observed that Black Citizens have moved into the City of Roanoke Rapids and RRHS, and there has been a lot of problems with their housing area and in the schools,” she wrote. “I am not saying all Black Citizens but a lot of them just don’t take care of their houses, especially if they are renting.”
What Prompted the Statement?
The comment came from a Facebook discussion started by local rental property owner Jim Garrett, according to RRSpin. In the thread, Garrett discussed what he sees as economic differences between the city’s east and west sides.
“On the east side of town, we generally see more prosperity, more people working and paying taxes, better-maintained houses, and neighborhoods that appear more stable,” Garrett wrote, according to RRSpin. “Cross into some neighborhoods on the west side, and the picture changes dramatically.”
“There is more poverty and greater dependence on government assistance, such as Section 8 and food benefits. There are deteriorating houses, abandoned buildings, drugs, fires, homelessness, and violent crime.”
Doughtie replied, describing her old neighborhood of Chaloner Park as a place full of hardworking middle-class families.
“The people that lived in Chaloner Park were businessmen and Women, Lawyers, Teachers, Principal, Police Officers, Nurses, Bookkeepers, Truck Drivers, Gas Station Owners etc.,” she wrote. “My Point is these were people with all kinds of employment, and everybody worked for what they had…no handouts of government giveaways!”
She also said the “BackBone” of the city is gone and that today’s residents “just do not care and are not willing to work.”
“We have what I call a lot of Slum Lord Rental people that do not keep their properties fixed,” Doughtie wrote, after blaming Black people for ruining the city.
Public and Local Leaders React
Many people online were shocked by Doughtie’s rant.
“That has lawsuit written all over it,” MB Bowen commented on Facebook.“Brave post,” Linda Allen added.
“Hold on, isn’t it your job as a landlord to fix or call someone to fix the problems of the renters’ homes?! If they don’t tell you, it’s one thing, I guess, but if you do check-ins and you see it, shouldn’t you call someone?” Makayla Neamon asked.
“You gotta be sick in yo f—king head, lady!! You think Black people ain’t up on game, then you already lost a losing battle,” Desiree Thomas commented.
The city of Roanoke Rapids issued a public statement on Friday, distancing itself from Doughtie’s comments:
“The City of Roanoke Rapids is aware of comments posted on social media circulating online that appear to have originated from an account bearing the name of the spouse of an elected official. The individual is a private citizen and does not speak on behalf of the City of Roanoke Rapids.
While the City has not independently verified the authorship or authenticity of the comments and regardless of their origin, the comments do not reflect the values, policies, or position of the City of Roanoke Rapids.
The City of Roanoke Rapids rejects attributing community challenges related to racial, political, or other socioeconomic stereotypes and remains committed to serving every resident fairly, respectfully, and without discrimination.”
Atlanta Black Star reached out to the mayor and city for further comment but did not hear back.
