There have been numerous times in recent years when I have become aware of the different ways in which people think about what it means to be “anti-racist.” The ways in which “anti-racism” is described necessarily stem from one’s view of racism, and since my view is one which is clearly not adopted by many people, I have often found myself in disagreement with what many call “anti-racism.” Read on…
... written in June, 1993 - filed under Identifying Racism.Attacks on affirmative action citing its implementation as reverse racism, and claims that school desegregation orders have resulted in discrimination against whites have dominated much of our news in recent weeks. Read on…
... written in July, 1993 - filed under New Additions.Proliferation is an appropriate word to describe what is happening in many sectors of society under the heading of “managing diversity.” Most weeks bring to my desk a new announcement about another group that is offering to do “diversity training.” Read on…
... written in August, 1993 - filed under Racism and Language.There have been numerous occasions in my work on issues related to racism when I have seen creativity stifled by someone who says, “but,” “but,” “but.”…. It usually comes in response to a suggestion about what a person or group might do programmatically to counter the effects of racism. Read on…
... written in December, 1993 - filed under On Responsibility.In the waning years of the twentieth century it is time to recognize the significance of the Civil Rights Movement as a major contribution to democracy. It was Vincent Harding whom I first heard say that the Civil Rights Movement was about democracy. Read on…
... written in December, 1993 - filed under Historical Perspectives.For a Christmas gift a son and his wife sent me a book which has quickly become a treasure. Speak Now Against the Day by John Egerton bears a subtitle: The Generation Before the Civil Rights Movement in the South. It is the story of men and women of the South who spoke and worked against the development of segregation as a way of life which they knew to be destroying both the South and the idea of equality. Read on…
... written in January, 1995 - filed under Historical Perspectives.Recently I was talking about racism with some people in a corporate setting, and was pleased by a spirited discussion and many comments which affirmed that my contribution had been helpful. In the midst of the verbal evaluation and many accolades, Read on…
... written in February, 1995 - filed under On Responsibility.I am an angry man!
I am an angry white man!
I yearn for another, earlier day in my years!
I pledge to work for a return to the good old days! Read on…
... written in June, 1995 - filed under Miscellaneous Essays.