Few indeed if any, can be found who have not been adversely affected by the “Paralyzing P’s” that continue to run rampant in society, fueling flames of materialism and self-interest, leaving a trail of physical, psychological and spiritual ruin in their wake. As society continues to mature, the chicanery only becomes more acute.
High on the list of “Paralyzing P’s” we find prejudice (of all kinds), personality conflicts, partisan politics and power struggles, any one of which capable of wielding devastating blows to any cause, no matter how meritorious. How much more detrimental when combined to any extent!
This beautiful Roanoke Valley has produced more than its rightful share of classic examples of this potent paralyzing potion which can stunt growth in any arena while selectively promoting individual pet projects without proper consideration of the broader view, long-term effects and return on investment.
A primary example remains the Henry Street project, which still sits in limbo after all these years while the City continues to go through $-Multi-millions in changes in “revitalization” planning and execution. This once business and entertainment mecca of the Black community in particular featured both Black and White famous entertainers especially following loss of the City’s main auditorium by fire, and remains to date a critical entrance, crossing the railroad tracks, to Roanoke’s downtown business area increasingly becoming a ghost town for shoppers with the advent of increasing miles of free parking while shopping in surrounding malls.
The Henry Street link is also strategically located within walking distance of the prestigious Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center that has since been conveniently connected with a covered bridge across the tracks to Roanoke’s Historic City Market area, commonly referred to as “The Heart of the City”–yet badly in need of a soul, that this most crucial strip inevitably becomes, for completion of a perfect whole!
Thus, the once subsequent formation of a Public/Private/Partnership through Roanoke’s City Government, private enterprise and the community-at-large, all well organized and represented through a “Roanoke Neighborhood Development Corp.” under the direction of F.A. Johnson, corp. out of Columbia, SC.
Following years of the perpetual professional planning (and monetary investment) however, Roanoke’s main “Henry Street” remains to date but as Langston Hughes’ “A dream Deferred,”
“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun, or fester like a sore–and then run? Does it stink like rotten meat, or crust and sugar over like a syrupy sweet? Maybe it just sags like a heavy load. . .or does it explode?
