Is our racial chasm too wide to bridge?

  • By Bruce W. Burns
  • Friday, February 10, 2006 9:00pm
  • Opinion

In 1971 I was asked by a group of African-American students at Mariner High School to be their adviser for a Black Student Union. I accepted.

Acting as the kids’ adviser was very enjoyable and inspired me to offer several mini-term (six-week) courses of a multicultural nature, including black history and a course on the philosophy of racial conflict. Many of the multicultural additions to our school library were books I had requested. It felt great that students of different ethnic backgrounds were eager to take advantage of these courses and books.

When a Black History Week was recognized nationally, and later a Black History Month, I was ecstatic.

In December, highly respected actor Morgan Freeman told Mike Wallace on “60 Minutes” that this whole concept was “ridiculous”.

“You’re going to relegate my history to a month?” Freeman demanded.

When Wallace asked how else, then, could we combat racism, Freeman said, “Stop talking about it!”

Since this exchange, several leaders of the black community have weighed in on Freeman’s remarks.

Comments include statements that, while not a perfect solution, spending a month focusing on black history was a step up from being omitted and overlooked, as was the case in earlier times. As to the statement about racism, several spokespersons commented that it would be naive to think racism would just go away.

Frankly, the whole conundrum of racial healing as it affects our country today baffles me.

Recently, in reference to the impending execution of Crips founder and multiple murderer Stanley “Tookie” Williams, actor Jamie Foxx, who portrayed Williams in the movie “Redemption,” was quoted as saying “If Tookie Williams had been born in Connecticut in the same situation and was a white man, he would have been running a company. But born a black man who has the capability of brute strength and capability of being smart in the ways of the world, he’s going to get into what he gets into.”

Huh?

According to my standards, that was a racist remark … actually two racist remarks.

Throughout my teaching career, I incorporated multiculturalism into my classes. I tried to reveal the pervasive nature of racism, which permeates all cultures, from within and without.

The word “prejudice,” broken down, finds its birth in the terms “pre” and “judge” … judging before knowing.

Prejudice toward minorities is terribly wrong, as is prejudice practiced by minorities.

One of the least favorite moments of my teaching career took place when the verdict in the O.J. Simpson trial was announced over TV during my contemporary world problems class. Every one of my African-American students responded with unrestrained celebration.

At that moment I saw the divide between the races for what it was, and deep inside I questioned whether my years of effort had accomplished much.

I understood the dismal record of the Los Angeles police involving minorities, but words spoken indicated that this was about a black man beating the “white” system – “us vs. them.”

We discussed the whole situation in class. I tried to explain why their response was so frustrating to me, they related how they felt, and other students shared their thoughts. For the most part, I believe we all left the class with a positive feeling about each other.

But the “us vs. them” mindset keeps re-emerging.

Freeman finds Black History Month ridiculous and demeaning.

Foxx – man, I’m not sure what he’s thinking.

I know this: The majority of African-Americans killed in homicides are killed by other African-Americans. Gang violence, especially, strips the black community of many of its young men. Gangs like the Crips, which was founded by Tookie Williams.

These gangs also make prostitutes of the black community’s young women and hopeless addicts of both young men and women.

Much of this gang violence is directed at Asians, like the three members of a Taiwanese family who were among Tookie Williams’ victims. Witnesses at his trial said Williams used racial epithets in referring to his victims.

So much hate, and it seems to only get worse.

A very good friend of mine, an educator who is African-American, voiced his personal frustration recently. He says that, when he tries to impress on black students how important their education is, he is asked, “Why are you trying to make me act white?”

How do you answer a question like that?

America’s racist history is well-documented, but a solution must transcend old wounds.

Anger, hate and blaming will not provide this solution.

Sadly, at this point, we have more questions than answers.

Is the chasm between the races too wide to bridge?

Have we waited too long?

Will this situation be with us forever?

Freelance writer Bruce W. Burns, a retired teacher and coach, lives in Marysville. He can be contacted at crookedelbow1@msn.com.

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