Blatant racism continues to grow in strength during this twentieth century Post-Reconstruction period. The KKK conducts training for a race war, unhindered by our government. Four hundred whites in Philadelphia chant “We want them out,” when they see blacks moving into “their” neighborhood. Read on…
... written in January, 1986 - filed under Prescriptions for Change.For several years I have taught an undergraduate course at Boston College, titled The History and Development of Racism in the United States of America. Teaching is always a mutual exchange, so it is no surprise that each semester students teach me about racism. Read on…
... written in April, 1986 - filed under Racism on Campus.Recently, I saw an editorial in the Boston Globe (September 21, 1986), in which there was comment on a suggestion which Andrew Young evidently made about choosing a new United States Ambassador to South Africa. The editorial says, “A converted racist would be the ideal person to deal with the bigots in Pretoria.” Read on…
... written in October, 1986 - filed under Racism and Language.Early in the decade it was said that those of us who were active during the ‘60’s and still continue the same activities today, are “left-overs,” “hangers-on,” out of touch with present reality, to be pitied more than scorned, because our efforts were futile.
All of that critique was negative stuff to absorb, and then along came Clarence Pendleton to call us “new racists!” Read on…
... written in December, 1986 - filed under Historical Perspectives.Several friends were discussing with me the many recent “incidents” which news media have reported as a resurgence of racism on predominantly white campuses. Read on…
... written in April, 1987 - filed under Racism on Campus.[Editor's Note: This is from a series of articles written for PACE, a journal for Roman Catholic educators. The third article in the series is specific to the Roman Catholic Church and, therefore, is not included here.]
What Needs to be Changed?
As was pointed out in the November PACE, racism is not a high-priority issue among white people generally-even among PACE subscribers. Read on…
... written in February, 1988 - filed under Prescriptions for Change.Many places I turn today I see, hear, and read about an emphasis on multicultural studies, intercultural relationships, and managing diversity. Both my head and my files bulge with the concepts those words represent. Most of what I have heard about, read, and seen has been good; I applaud those who engage multicultural and diversity issues as major foci for the emerging century.
BUT …multicultural/diversity emphases are not enough! Read on…
... written in June, 1989 - filed under Prescriptions for Change.As I have come to see the depth and breadth of racism in our society, I have often found myself reaching for analogies which help me to understand how to break the tenacious grip by which racism holds us in bondage. Read on…
... written in September, 1989 - filed under Racism and Language.Fear has been asserted by many over the years as a dominant dynamic in race relations. It is a truism to say that people often fear what or who they do not know. An attempt to overcome that fear of the unknown is one rationale behind the myriad of programs which are organized to bring people together across racial lines, engaging them in discussion, play and other common pursuits. Read on…
... written in March, 1990 - filed under Historical Perspectives.