COVINGTON — Actor Danny Glover said Tuesday that Cincinnati is not alone in its struggle over racial tensions brought on by disparities in economics and justice.

        “The crisis in Cincinnati is a crisis being felt in other cities across the country,” Mr. Glover said. “I'm confident that the stakeholders in this community can come together and bring a resolution to the problem.”

Actor Danny Glover says he can understand the frustration of Cincinnati residents left out of the economic boom of the '90s. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Mr. Glover was in town for the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati's 2002 annual meeting at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center. The actor was emcee and keynote speaker at the event, which drew an estimated 1,200 guests. Mr. Glover is a national advocate for the YMCA.

        In an interview before the meeting, Mr. Glover said he had not been contacted by boycotters or asked to avoid the city. The boycott promoters have been successful in convincing other artists — including actor-comedian Bill Cosby, jazz musician Wynton Marsalis, R&B singer Smokey Robinson and actress Whoopi Goldberg — to cancel performances in recent weeks.

        “My coming here is not about the boycott,” Mr. Glover said. “My coming here is about supporting the YMCA as an organization. I'm not here to hype anything but the YMCA.”

        Mr. Glover said he would not condemn or make judgments about those who have chosen not to come to Cincinnati.

        Without knowing the city's entire history, Mr. Glover said, he could still imagine some of the factors that have contributed to racial tensions here.

        “All you heard about for the last decade is how we were experiencing an economic boon, the wealth people were accumulating and that everybody was making money,” Mr. Glover said.

        “You look at a city like Cincinnati and you wonder, "Why hasn't that touched here? Why have only certain communities benefited?' That is the real question.

        “You have folks who are saying, "We've gone from desperate to more desperate and we want to know why',” he said. “I think people are entitled to answers to those questions.”

        Mr. Glover began his acting career with a recurring role on the TV series Hill Street Blues. His movie career took off with the film The Color Purple. Other movie credits include four Lethal Weapon movies, Gone Fishin', The Rainmaker and The Prince of Egypt.
       

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