There are a few issues in the news that I’ve wanted to touch on but haven’t had the time. Still don’t have the time.

So I’ll present a scenario and a question.

You’ve got a neighborhood of black people in a predominantly black city. Two populations–one rents, the other owns. There is a movement underfoot to give the neighborhood a historic site designation. Doing so would raise the property values, but also the rents.

Black people have a vested interest in building wealth. Black people also have a vested interest in affordable housing.

Both populations can claim to speak for “the black community.” The renters can say that the historic designation would hurt black people in as much as they need affordable housing. The owners can say that the historic designation would help black people in as much as they need wealth.

If there is a shared black interest here how is it to be figured out?