Asheville, Buncombe reparations commission Chair Dwight Mullen steps down from role

ASHEVILLE – Dwight Mullen stepped down May 13 from his role as chair of the city and county’s historic reparations commission.  The commission was seated two years ago to make progress toward repairing the damage caused by public and private systemic racism. Mullen was elected to serve as the first chair of the board in April 2022.  “The time and stress has taken its toll. You can hear my voice. That’s not emotion, that’s fatigue,” Mullen said in a May 13 address to the Community Reparations Commission. He said he would stay on the commission as a member.  Mullen is a retired political science and Africana studies professor at UNC Asheville. He founded the State of Black Asheville, which began as an undergraduate research project at UNCA. “I appreciate, first off, the support I see from every single one of you sitting at the table today,” he said as he took to the podium. “However, it is just time for me to step back from being chair. In terms of my health and the welfare of my family, it’s just time for me to step back.” Mullen has a long relationship with the cause, going back to the formation of...