The mobs that threatened and taunted the first African American family moving into Levittown have long gone.
Nearly five decades later, Bristol Township is a racially diverse community, much like others in Lower Bucks County.
Traces of racial disharmony remain, including well-publicized incidents at Harry S Truman High School last year that prompted an investigation by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. The commission is to discuss its findings from Truman at its meeting in Harrisburg on Monday.
But this week, parents, students, teachers, school social workers and community leaders took a first step when they gathered in small groups to meet one another, engage in conversation, and brainstorm ways to move the sometimes-fractured community forward as part of Peace Week Bucks County.
"I have a great feeling about this," said Micah Freeman, who is African American and lives in the township's Green Lawn Park section. "It's a work in progress, but it's good that we have the youth involved. We need to hear their opinions."
Daniel Eichelberger, a white senior at Truman High, agreed.
"It was inspirational. I got so much off my chest," he said. "We need to stop looking at other people as different. We have so much in common."
The program, "Call to Build Community: Developing Solutions for Respecting Diversity and Creating Harmony," was one of several events held during Peace Week, which ends today. The week's events, sponsored by the nonprofit Peace Center, of Langhorne, promote conflict resolution and nonviolence, especially in schools.
Tuesday night's session attracted about 75 people to the high school library. It was designed and presented by lawyer and dialogue expert Steven N. Pyser of Bensalem.
Pyser is hoping to implement some of the suggestions from participants, such as block parties and larger forums involving more residents.
"Instead of looking at the deficits, we focus on the strengths of the community and build on the successes," said Pyser, who has facilitated discussions after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and at a public forum at Penn's Landing about redeveloping the waterfront.
The Truman exercises, in large and small groups, allowed people to listen, tell their stories and desires for the community, and suggest ways to improve relationships among residents and among students.
Some suggested that the Bristol Township Police Department be involved in any future discussions. The department came under fire at the Township Council meeting last week for its failure to hire African Americans and other minorities.
On Monday, the State Human Relations Commission will address the use of police dogs at Truman High in October, the incident that sparked the state investigation and revealed racial tension between some black and white students.
The commission convened a March 2 public hearing in the township where residents blasted the Police Department for allowing dogs in the school on the day when a brawl was rumored to be near. They said it evoked images of the South when dogs were used to turn away black students during the civil rights movement.
Since the March hearing, Police Chief James McAndrew and Bucks County NAACP President John Jordan have discussed possible policy changes in the department.
McAndrew said the recommendations were under consideration.
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