As only he can, the N&R’s Jim Schlosser traces the origins of the system that not only has allowed Dianne Bellamy-Small to sit on Greensboro’s city council, but disallows the majority of citizens to vote her off in the next election.

I find it incredible that four African-American candidates, starting in 1951 with Dr. William Hampton, won city council seats under the at-large system. No, that’s not many, but you have to consider the fact that during many of the years before the 5-3-1 system was installed in 1983, black political involvement was still being repressed by a segregationist society.

So, considering the achievements African-Americans have made in politics and society, is it unreasonable to assume that black candidates with much to offer the entire citizenry would win election to the city council even if we went back to an at-large system?