By ROD ZOOK
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Interim Human Relations Officer David Sotelo knows that dealing with racism and discrimination is a difficult road to travel in Hutchinson.
Sotelo replaced Datjaeda Moore after she resigned following her suspension. Sotelo, who was most recently chairperson of the Human Relations Commission, remembers the fight to get the Human Relations Officer position to a full-time job within the city and hopes that can continue.
“I hope this position continues to be funded,” Sotelo said. “Not just because I’m the interim officer, but because I think this is a crucial thing for our community.”
Sotelo says the position is needed so the city adheres to its own policy and ordinance regarding discrimination, saying the city’s ordinance has not been followed.
“A lot of people think of it (the Human Relations Officer) as controversial,” Sotelo said. “It’s not controversial to have a person in place that takes care of his work and is able to be there as the placeholder to protect the dignity of every human being.”
Sotelo says the public perception of racism for some is still stuck in the 1960s.
“We think of people in the '60s that were spitting in the faces of black people sitting in the restaurants,” Sotelo said. “There are awful horrible human beings that are racist, but there are also good people. I’m a brown person, that doesn’t disqualify me or give me a free pass to say things to an African American just because I’m brown.”
Sotelo says the main battle in racism and discrimination is eliminating perception that often happens in various cases.
“A lot of times it’s, 'OK here’s what happened, but here’s what it looks like has happened,'” Sotelo said. “And even what looks like has happened, we got to get rid of that.”
Sotelo adds that what has actually happened is what people need to see when it comes to dealing with the social issues in the community.
As of now, the city is still planning to keep the Human Relations position full time.