Posing a racial question

  • William Raspberry / Washington Post columnist
  • Tuesday, June 19, 2001 9:00pm
  • Opinion

WASHINGTON — The Virginia gentleman’s views on race were confirmed last month when, on successive weekends, groups of white and black motorcyclists rolled into Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The white bikers — well mostly white — left town with their bills paid, their motel rooms untrashed, and the restaurateurs grateful. The black bikers, not to put too fine a point on it, didn’t.

And so the Virginian (who doesn’t want his name used) found himself reaching the conclusion that … well, let him tell you about it. First, though, he wants to tell you about himself.

"I am white, in my mid-60s, born and schooled in a small-to-medium-sized city in Pennsylvania, graduated from integrated schools. I don’t recall any particular distinctions related to race.

"In my adult life, I have a few black friends, and I’ve had a number of black business associates. I have had blacks work for me, and I have worked for blacks. At the other extreme, for the past 20-25 years I have had a homeless black man as a friend. He comes to the house several times a week for a small gift of money, and on holidays I put him into a cheap motel."

This university-trained, professionally credentialed, middle-aged Virginian is, he wants you to know, a pretty good fellow — not a saint, by any means, but not a racist, either. But listen:

"In one part of my psyche," he boasts, "I have no element of racial consciousness, much less racial prejudice. On the other hand, in a different part of my psyche, I do have a variety of stereotypes that, when I think of the black race as a whole, are pretty negative and not too flattering."

And what does he suppose accounts for this inconsistency? Two things, he thinks. First, the human mind naturally seeks to categorize. It’s the way we make sense of our world. But the predisposition has the perverse effect of making us view both people and events not in individual terms but in large "globs."

The second thing, though, is that we tend not to view our own glob negatively.

"What that means," says the Virginian, "is that as regards my race, I dare not have negative stereotypes that would include me. Hence, when I have negative feelings about white persons, I apply those feelings to a smaller subset that doesn’t include me."

He offers a real-life illustration. He and his wife sometimes eat at a Pennsylvania restaurant where the staff is "lazy, slow, indifferent, almost slovenly" — and 100 percent white. "I never attribute their poor service to their whiteness," he says. "They are just a bunch of lazy SOBs or teen-age misfits."

When they eat at a certain Virginia restaurant, where the service is indifferent and the servers black or brown, he associates the poor service with race.

And it gets worse. "In the Carolinas along I-95, there are several places where the wait staff is all black and the service excellent." But no halo effect spills over onto black people generally. The excellent people he views as individuals, not as exemplars of a race.

And why did he want to talk about Myrtle Beach? The mostly white group of bikers—some 200,000 strong—was part of the annual Harley-Davidson rally. The smaller group that hit town the following week was, says the visiting Virginian, noticeably rowdier and, in some quarters, seemed less welcome.

But: "The Harley-Davidson bikers were mostly white, but they were also mostly old," he says. "No one seemed younger than 55, and most looked much older. The local newspaper says most of them are professionals — not surprising when their bikes are in the $20,000 range.

"The black bikers are young—no one seemed older than 35, and most much younger. Their bikes are cheaper, and they ride them with more, say, exuberance. They also tend to sleep several to a room, and spend less on food and entertainment.

"The point I’m trying to make is that, yes, these two groups of bikers are as different as night and day. But when considered as individuals, the differences are attributable to age, income and attitude — not to race.

"And yet, why does someone like me, who knows better and occasionally even acts better, still have racial prejudices?"

It’s a great question — and not just for the gentleman from Virginia.

William Raspberry can be reached at The Washington Post Writers Group, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071-9200 or willrasp@washpost.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

Everett mayor Cassie Franklin delivers her State of the City address on Friday, March 28 in Everett, Washington. (Will Geschke / The Herald)
Editorial: The state of Everett amid the state of play

In her state of the city speech, Mayor Cassie Franklin makes the case for optimism amid dark clouds.

Comment: An ‘impossible trinity’ of goals for Trump’s tariffs

Trump wants revenue, manufacturing and foreign policy wins; he can’t get all three, if any.

Arrest of Mahmoud Khalil: Protect freedom of speech for all

It’s been weeks since Mahmoud Khalil was abducted from his home in… Continue reading

Trump’s, Musk’s cuts to education are most damaging

In my long life of service to my community, I have never… Continue reading

Property owners abuse Perrinville Creek watershed

This case history of property owners ignoring the law for instant self-gratification… Continue reading

Douthat: Trump’s Signalgate denials not impressing non-MAGA

Even 60 percent of Republicans polled said the scandal was a serious one.

Genna Martin / The Herald
Piles of wires, motherboards and other electronic parts fill boxes at E-Waste Recycling Center, Thursday. 
Photo taken 1204014
Editorial: Right to repair win for consumers, shops, climate

Legislation now in the Senate would make it easier and cheaper to fix smartphones and other devices.

The WA Cares law is designed to give individuals access to a lifetime benefit amount that, should they need it, they can use on a wide range of long-term services and supports. (Washington State Department of Social and Health Services)
Editorial: Changes to WA Cares will honor voters’ confidence

State lawmakers are considering changes to improve the benefit’s access and long-term stability.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Keep journalism vital with state grant program

Legislation proposes a modest tax for some tech companies to help pay salaries of local journalists.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Monday, March 31

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Comment: Hegseth isn’t unholding standards he vowed he would

Veterans are among the most critical of the Defense secretary for his lapse of security and protocol.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.