Obama opens gate to dialogue on race relations

  Sen. Barack Obama's speech on race relations has a lot of people talking about the subject --  and many are grateful for the opportunity.

   The Buffalo News interviewed more than 30 people for this story, from Amherst, Cheektowaga, Hamburg and Orchard Park to Buffalo. They are black and white, men and women. They range in age from 18 to 80. They were people who live in the city and rarely leave it. Some work in the city and live in the suburbs and others  live in the suburbs and know little of the city.

   "That speech was more significant in this day and age than Martin Luther King's  'I have a Dream' speech," said Melvin Watkins, one of more than 30 people  interviewed for this report.

   "King spoke in symbolism," he said. "[Obama] brought it right out where people can understand."

   As Obama explained his relationship with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, he used it as an opportunity to take on the complexities of race relations in the 21st century, tackling issues of black anger and white resentment.

   Have you had a conversation about race in the wake of Obama's speech? Did you take it as an opportunity to rethink your own views about race?

   -- Maki Becker

Comments

[Reader]

I have had many conversations pertaining to Obama if he became president. Everyone I spoke with is under the impression that he would be the first black president. "WRONG". He would be the first "MIXED" president. He should not go down in history as the first black president. Many people need a reality check.

[Danno]

I was disappointed with Obama's speech. I had harbored an audacious hope that he, as a biracial man raised in a white family, really could transcend race. His declaration that Rev. Wright's statements were "disgusting" sounded insincere to me. His longtime association with Trinity Church speaks for itself. His equating Rev. Wright's hateful, ignorant sermons in his church to his grandmother's politically incorrect statements in her own home are ludicrous.

Where was his African father when this white woman gave him her home and her love? Why didn't he publicly thank her, a white woman, and for making him the man he is today? Why didn't he publicly celebrate his white background?

Why didn't he call out the black community in for their toleration of a 70% illegitimacy rate and a host of social pathologies which make whites (and most blacks) cringe? Why didn't he condemn the crippling attitude among black youth that proper English, discipline, and success are signs of "acting white", and to be ridiculed? (Barack himself would have faced such ridicule had he grown up in a black ghetto.)

Instead of transcending race, Barack Obama has now, thanks to Rev. Wright, and to this milquetoast speech, self-identified as the "black candidate"; afraid to challenge the warped values of the dinosaur civil rights crowd. The Clinton camp is already whispering in the ears of the Superdelegates that he's unelectable, and they may be right.

I fear Barack Obama missed a great opportunity last week.

[a grandson]

Maybe schratz, or obama's grandmother, were mugged and robbed by a nergo the way my (white) grandmother was. The negro got $8.00, my grandmother got a black eye, fat lip and a mild concussion.

[Mike Z.]

Ask most teenage white kids today what they want to be when they grow up and they say a rapper or an athelete.

Greaseball!

[The Sicilian]

There are two kinds of white people, those who live in the city, and those who live in the suburbs. The city dwellers see the blight, crime, and poverty on a daily basis. The suburbanites always claim to not harbor any racial thoughts. But I always say to them that every one of them probably does not know their neighbor that lives 5 houses down the street, but they all know where the black family lives in their entire development.

I used to have a clipping from the news that reported that almost 80% of black mothers are single parent homes. That says a lot about black men. Love them and leave them, or pretend not to be living there (for other reasons). I have always wondered why it is very very rare to see a white man with a black woman. Lots of (single) white mothers towing around bi-racial children on the other hand.

The point is we are different, we attend different churches, eat different food by tradition, dance to different music, have different interests. Ask a black child what he wants to be when he grows up. Most common answers a sports athlete or a rap singer. Very few will ever say a doctor, lawyer, farmer, politician, scientist, teacher or anything else. The sad thing is that is what the kids are exposed to throughout their childhood. There are no other role models for the poor children.

[zanna vaida]

Here we go again. Will we ever stop talking about race? No.

Why are we devided? Who makes statistics based on race? Are white realy white? Do you know and indestand the white color?
Personaly, I'm not white. It looks like it's pink after I take a shower. When I use bleach, my skin doesn't become white. Do you know the color of white?

Well, enough of philosophy. Like this field, the talk about race will never stop.

Don't we have anything else to do? For me, it's time to start making money. Chao. Trimaytes.

[Chris]

The fact that there is even a discussion shows that there is problems that exist.

Plus why is it WHITE Chatholics that are always molesting little boys and WHITE men sexually assulting children?

[Drew]

Typical white man does, in fact, voice the opinions of many Americans, perhaps even the opinions of a number of African Americans. (Recent comments by Bill Cosby make a lot more sense to some of us than do Jeremiah Wright's ideas.)
Charity, welfare, victimization, blame shifting, and the constant cry of "discrimination" will never bring about understanding, tolerance, or economic success. Nor will creating ineffective, inefficient, heartless bureaucracies.
What will? A properly regulated market economy, which we do not have in either the Rust Belt or in many other areas where African Americans now represent large portions of the population (along with Labor Democrats).
There's really only one thing that will provide equal justice - an economy that values your work, not your skin color!!

[Texas Longhorn]

Barack Hussein Obama is a phony. Listen to him talk without cuecards/teleprompter or anything rehearsed.

IF elected, he will bring about socialism that we fought against in the Soviet Union. He will allow terrorist nations and the Nicauraguan-ed nations prosper and export their anti=American policies. Sound FAMILIAR = CARTER ADMINISTRATION!

Heck, Hillary looks good right about now.

Hussein Obamas continuous embracing of his pastor is a reflection of his ideology. Why would you allow someone who spews hateful venom remain so close to your heart and mind? My only conclusion is he embraces it alongside the racist, Wright.

If the media stopped being pussies and did their real job by NOT CHAMPIONING any candidate, but reported unbiased, the general public will realize how dangerious Hussein Obama is to this country.

[Hodge]

Sad. The first message posted asked for no name-calling. Oh, well, so much for that.
First: all you white people who claim to speak for other white people...funny how it's always the ones with the nasty comments that start out claiming to speak for all whites. You DON'T speak for me, thanks.
Second, if the news reports weren't showing Rev Wright's screaming rants every five minutes, would this have even been an issue? I can't look at the TV without seeing him literally every few minutes. Repeat something enough and it becomes a huge issue. We are electing a president, not a pastor; Wright is not running. Yes, I know, I've read all about how much influence he has on Obama, etc. etc. etc. Most of what I've read has been from people who didn't like Obama already, so how accurate are their comments? Like the guy on this blog who asked how many unqualified blacks or Hispanics got promoted over more qualified whites..no, pal, how many did? Can you give me actual numbers? Didn't think so. Has it happened? Probably. Has the reverse happened? Hell yeah. Lots of worthy comments on this blog, though, and even venting a little steam is worthwhile. Just wish some people could see past their own personal issues.

[zanna vaida]

Have you had a conversation about race in the wake of Obama's speech? Did you take it as an opportunity to rethink your own views about race?

The "racial"- liberty and justice for all speeches occure anytime and anywhere in order to get more votes. Obama is not a new in this game.
The attention seekers like him position their marketing approaches to anybody who can add an extra vote because "every vote counts".
In reality, we deal with the race issue every minute and every day. Will it ever stop? No. This is the rhetorical reality: psychological prescription to hook voters.

[disgusted again]

Dig deep. Ms. Schratz never said anything about the youth or their manner of dress.But since you keep bringing imaginary scenarios up I will digress.
Baggy pants tell me something that you may not know about MY thoughts regardless of whether a white person or a black person wears them.
1. Your pants are falling down and you don't care if your behind is exposed. I know I don't want to see that.
2. You may be wearing them to hide something. How would I know? Is what you may be hiding going to impact me?
3. It's dark and your pants may make you look larger and more threatening to me since my stature is smaller.

Dont make assumptions on what other people are judging. Unless you actually converse and she shares that information you are just speculating. Looks like you are the one who isn't allowing her to feel comfortable with her discomforts

[paterno]

The defense of Reverend Wright's hate filled speech speaks of the "nuance" of his speech. I am sure that a Harvard educated lawyer appreciates that fact. However I wonder if all of the 8000 members of that congregation get the point. Obviously inflammatory speech such as Rev. Wright's can inflame. I wonder if Timothy McVeigh had also heard such speech with an opposite point of view of course. I wonder if that speech would have any effect on his later actions, especially if he did not appreciate the "nuance" of the speech.

[Bob]

Typical White Person,

Great job cutting and pasting a Pat Buchanan article. Neither he nor you speak for many, possibly even most,white Americans, so please choose a different name. How about, "the condescending, plagiarizing reactionary"?

[Colleen]

Robert: you are correct, I was wrong. Apartheid existed until 1994. i don't know why I wrote that, that was my mistake...as far as racial categories went, it is more a felt sense than an actual census, whereas here Barack is black (even though he's multi-ethnic) and in SA he would be something else. It seemed as though there were more racial categories for black people than there are here. But, you may be right about that point.
However, I will not back down about how apartheid caused the problems that are now plaguing SA. And I'm not even going to say that it is whites and whites alone, bad behavior is bad behavior.
However, under Apartheid rule, blacks, coloreds, malay, etc. were forced from their homes, sent to lands of almost no productive value for agriculture, and lived too far away from where the decent jobs existed. What happened? The collapse of the black and colored family (many were forced from each other...it was part of the system), they were forced into deplorable poverty since most didn't even live on land that they could raise crops to feed themselves, and suddenly had to rely on a white system imposed upon them to survive, and the school system completely failed them. Joburg was once peaceful to whites, and whites alone. It has never been peaceful for the millions of Blacks and coloreds living in Soweto, etc. either because of the gov't violence or violence that comes with the dehumanization of apartheid.
You have clearly personally suffered since Apartheid ended, and I won't even try to tell you that you have no reason to be upset, I'm sure you do. I have heard horror stories from whites and blacks alike since Apartheid ended, and I don't know how i would feel if everything I learned and knew suddenly changed and I felt threatened by an angry majority now in control of the government.
however, please try to separate your feelings of anger in SA to a discussion of race in the US. We have somewhat similar histories, yes, but mostly, they have a very different trajectory due to the involuntary removal of Africans to here to slavery, to Jim Crow laws (similar but not the same as Apartheid), to a different Civil Rights Movement than the black resistence of the ANC in SA, and now to a very different reality in that blacks still aren't part of the power structure in the US whereas blacks in SA are the power structure, and whites are largely left out.

[Typical White Person]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APx2YJ-_jos

[Typical White Person]

Click on my link! This pastor is a bit out of date. Time to go on the defensive?

I made a point on another blogg about the WHITE candiates having to walk on eggshells for fear of being called a racist. Then I was asked what eggshells?? Here is my response:

You seem to be intelligent enough to understand but I will explain what “walking on eggshells” means: It’s an English Idiom, If you have to walk on eggshells when with someone, you have to be very careful because they get angry or offended very easily.
This is EXACTLY how black people in America make white people feel. If they say anything, be it the N word or “Typical Black” person, they are then called a racist. Obama wants all people to see beyond this “stereotype” and change. We are all open to it, but the path always goes in both directions.

Does that clear it up for you? Or do I need to post a video or something?

Obama is going to claim that it is him that needs to walk on eggshells, but let me remind you of the two-way street! He wants to try & put McCain on the defensive as he has Hillary. And I believe this is going to be his ONLY strategy at winning this campaign.

Lets try to break down the barriers and try to understand one another…OK..there are always 2 sides to every story. Blacks feel the same way about walking on eggshells, and I understand that more than you know.

[Typical White Person]

Worth repeating?

The “white community,” said Barack, must start “acknowledging that what ails the African-American community does not just exist in the minds of black people; that the legacy of discrimination — and current incidents of discrimination, while less overt than in the past — are real and must be addressed. Not just with words, but with deeds … .”

And what deeds must we perform to heal ourselves and our country?

The “white community” must invest more money in black schools and communities, enforce civil rights laws, ensure fairness in the criminal justice system and provide this generation of blacks with “ladders of opportunity” that were “unavailable” to Barack’s and the Rev. Wright’s generations.

What is wrong with Barack’s prognosis and Barack’s cure?

Only this. It is the same old con, the same old shakedown that black hustlers have been running since the Kerner Commission blamed the riots in Harlem, Watts, Newark, Detroit and a hundred other cities on, as Nixon put it, “everybody but the rioters themselves.”

Was “white racism” really responsible for those black men looting auto dealerships and liquor stories, and burning down their own communities, as Otto Kerner said — that liberal icon until the feds put him away for bribery.

Barack says we need to have a conversation about race in America.

Fair enough. But this time, it has to be a two-way conversation. White America needs to be heard from, not just lectured to.

This time, the Silent Majority needs to have its convictions, grievances and demands heard. And among them are these:

First, America has been the best country on earth for black folks. It was here that 600,000 black people, brought from Africa in slave ships, grew into a community of 40 million, were introduced to Christian salvation, and reached the greatest levels of freedom and prosperity blacks have ever known.

Wright ought to go down on his knees and thank God he is an American.

Second, no people anywhere has done more to lift up blacks than white Americans. Untold trillions have been spent since the ’60s on welfare, food stamps, rent supplements, Section 8 housing, Pell grants, student loans, legal services, Medicaid, Earned Income Tax Credits and poverty programs designed to bring the African-American community into the mainstream.

Governments, businesses and colleges have engaged in discrimination against white folks — with affirmative action, contract set-asides and quotas — to advance black applicants over white applicants.

Churches, foundations, civic groups, schools and individuals all over America have donated time and money to support soup kitchens, adult education, day care, retirement and nursing homes for blacks.

We hear the grievances. Where is the gratitude?

Barack talks about new “ladders of opportunity” for blacks.

Let him go to Altoona and Johnstown, and ask the white kids in Catholic schools how many were visited lately by Ivy League recruiters handing out scholarships for “deserving” white kids.

Is white America really responsible for the fact that the crime and incarceration rates for African-Americans are seven times those of white America? Is it really white America’s fault that illegitimacy in the African-American community has hit 70 percent and the black dropout rate from high schools in some cities has reached 50 percent?

Is that the fault of white America or, first and foremost, a failure of the black community itself?

As for racism, its ugliest manifestation is in interracial crime, and especially interracial crimes of violence. Is Barack Obama aware that while white criminals choose black victims 3 percent of the time, black criminals choose white victims 45 percent of the time?

Is Barack aware that black-on-white rapes are 100 times more common than the reverse, that black-on-white robberies were 139 times as common in the first three years of this decade as the reverse?

We have all heard ad nauseam from the Rev. Al about Tawana Brawley, the Duke rape case and Jena. And all turned out to be hoaxes. But about the epidemic of black assaults on whites that are real, we hear nothing.

Sorry, Barack, some of us have heard it all before, about 40 years and 40 trillion tax dollars ago

[ricky t]

Its a shame we had to wait so long to learn so little of sen. Obama. This man is a modern day snake oil salesman. He lied when he said he was from a christian church. He lied when he said his church was not controversial. What will it take for liberal democrats to understand what this man stands for. If this man is elected he will take this country back 50 years. Hillary looks like a saint compared to him.

[Regis Philbin]

Perhaps healer Obama can stem the violence in the Thruway lanes bowling alley committed by black wilding youths shooting up the place. It sure wasn't done by old, bald, Polish people drinking Gennys.

Maybe you liberals should ride into the city once to get a reality check.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

I have generally chosen a church based on the quality of the sermons I hear. I go church shopping for the first three or four months when I relocate, and judge for myself whether the priest has a worthy (for me) oratorical style and message.

I am very disappointed in Obama for his choice of "spiritual mentor," as it were...I think most people choose a specific place of worship for the message and inspiration they seek.

And we hear that Barak Obama was raised by his white mother. What message is Obama sending by befriending this ungodly minister?

Is Obama black, or is he white? To be, or not to be...........that is the question.

[Don H]

Obama's close association with Pastor Wright who has also honored the radical Louis Farrakhan, makes it very doubtful that Obama can orate his way to the presidency. I think the Democratic leadership will realize this and the super delegates will vote for Hillary if the nomination falls to their hands.

[James]

Shelly Schratz was appointed by Satish Mohan to be the liaison to the youth in Amherst, it is unfortunate that she is uncomfortable about how the youth in Amherst express themselves through their individual dress.

[Kerri buffalo]

the only thing i can say is Obamas speech opened a can of worms. What is pastor said yes is wrong, does if effect obama who knows, probably not. But all this racism, it will NEVER end. The people of the world will find a reason to hate each other, to discriminate and leave out and belittle eachother. It is never going to end. We can argue and fight all we want about it but unfortunately, if we were all purple and pink with green hair and yellow eyes, had the same address and phone number, we would find a reason to hate.

[Art Klein]

There remains seperate white and black and communities in western New York, and in this nation. Obama’s speech points to the failure of our society to integrate socially and psychologically.

I have always been saddened that this nation required legislative and court remedies to correct wrongs all reasonable folk knew existed.

Our failure points to a sad hollowness of the legacy of MLK. Over a hundred years after the civil war that accentuated the legal presence of black people as American citizens, Dr King brought a peaceful majesty to the question of the racial divide of the nation. But we the people have been slow to rise to his call for justice.

We still have not peacefully ended the long night of the separation of our people. The slow process now frustrates many white young who perceive a correction of ancient wrongs as an anchor to their own progress.

They do not realize it is the refusal by an entire society to acknowledge this fault shackles us to past ignorance. We must recognize and throw aside ancient fears.

Perhaps Obama can guide the way.

[Lydia Bezou-Hojnacki]

I am in the process of obtaining materials to begin a chapter in Buffalo of a wonderful organization, ERACISM. You can read about it at this website:
http://www.eracismneworleans.org

At some point in the future--maybe by June, I will start announcing places for meetings.

Race--what is it, in this age of millions of "mixed race" people? Can we have a choice, one of which is, "I'm a person"? Sometimes, it's impossible to discern one's race, so why should it even cross our minds?

I am a person; I am an American.

[disgusted again]

I am not familiar with Ms. Schratz ability to lead but based upon what her thought process was in deciding how to approach her concerns, I am impressed. She weighs the facts and questions herself. She did not refer to the youth however. She referred to what she saw at 1:30am. in the dark.

[Carl]

After thinking over the pastor disaster something hit me wait a minute'' Damn you Barack Obama for giving this country a lecture on race. My family and I play by the rules. It's you Mr. Obama that has the problem, it's you that took your children to a church that taught anti American and anti white hate.

Perhaps you should of mentioned the high illegitimate rate of babies born and the high black on black and black on white crime rates across this country.
It's not my family or my neighbors that travel to your neighborhood and kill your children or prey on our elderly behind doors with multiple locks praying for sun up.
I have donated my time and money to people of all colors without giving it a second thought. What can be said of judgement when we see the O.J. verdict or Mayor Marian Berry of D.C. caught on tape snorting coke with a hooker only to serve jail time and get re-elected.
No Mr. Obama my moral home is in order I suggest you and your wife work on your own.
I feel Obamas speech missed the mark, why didn't he give it a year ago? It was a desperate attempt to stop his floundering poll numbers.
There is a certain faction in this country that wants to paint us as evil, no Mr. Obama what your selling I,m not buying. Someone show me a land that gave so much to so few, show me another land that gave trillions all across the world to bring food and medical aid to all colors, didn't matter, if someone needed help we were there. Sometimes we were shocked to our core.
Who can forget the pictures of our young marines in Somolia being dragged thru a mob of thousands jeering and spitting on their savaged bodies ? Their crime? Trying to bring food to a ravaged land.
No mister Obama I may be old fashioned but I still remove my hat and place my hand over my heart and still get a tear when I notice others of all ages and colors doing the same when our nations anthem is played.

Mr. Obama we may not be perfect but we are still the envy of the world. A wonderful decent land full of wonderful decent people.

Mr. Obamas church seems to have a problem ,It seems to have a fascination with the likes of Louis Farrakhan, Malcolm X, and its owm pastor Wright.

Mr. Obama needs to get his moral life in order and he can start with finding a new Church.

[Chris]

Shelly Schratz is an elected official who should represent all of the people, her seeming inability to rationally sort information regarding the appearances of young people is very disturbing and probably interferes with her ability to lead.

[disgusted again]

I don't think Ms. Schratz comments were intolerant at all. She said she was afraid and stopped to question that fact to make sure it was NOT motivated by race. That is what a critically thinking person should do.

Reasonable people should be afraid or concerned of any one who is not familiar to them. Lots of pedophiles are white and criminals come in all shapes, colors and sizes too. Heck you should even be more afraid of someone who does NOT look threatening because people like John Bundy seek prey that feel comfortable with people like him.

To tell anyone that they should feel or not feel a certain way is ridiculous. You would have to be a fool to trust anyone and everyone who crosses your way. I think she was courageous to tell the truth and weigh her thoughts as to right and wrong. Good for her.

[i wish i knew robert]

Well Robert you have just shown everyone what your ma and pa taught you. Not much huh ?? Barack the VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Colleen]

Ooops, I mean Robert...sorry Candy.

[Colleen]

Candy: I have actually lived in South Africa, and you are so very wrong about your assertions that we have more racial categories than they did, and that both blacks and whites were better off. Whites were better off. Period. The problems in SA today are a direct result of the apartheid that existed up until 1990, imposed by whites. And, the racial categories for blacks were numerous, as opposed to ours. But thank you for showing your ignorance.

[candy]

Robert you have a lot of hate in you please do not think for one minute that white people do not commit crimes or have crack babies wake up and smell the coffee this is from a proud white lady that think black is just another color candy

[Anne]

I live in Amherst and I'm disgusted by Ms. Shelly Schratz's intolerant comments.

[bobbycat]

Obama's speech was a tremendous bridge to racial understanding - the best in a generation. We all have a crazy uncle or pastor, like Obama.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could continue to have an honest and open dialog on race? But wait -- Not as long as racists like Robert are spewing their venom. I think he's the same guy who continues to give Kaisertown a black eye. Some things don't change.

[bobbycat]

Obama's speech was a tremendous bridge to racial understanding - the best in a generation. We all have a crazy uncle or pastor, like Obama.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could continue to have an honest and open dialog on race? But wait -- Not as long as racists like Robert are spewing their venom. I think he's the same guy who continues to give Kaisertown a black eye. Some things don't change.

[Jayne]

Dear Robert,
Thanks for reminding us that White people don't have any of the problems you listed. It's good to know that we don't do anything wrong. Bottom line for you is: "I'm white and I'm perfect. I don't owe anybody anything--to hell w/the human race." Now that we have your credo down, can we get your opinion on neopolitan ice cream--never mind there's three colors in that flavor, heaven forbid they mix ;-)

[candy]

Where to start oh first of all I was very racists at one time because I was raised to be that way until my daughter married a black man then came grandchildren and after that came great grandchildren so i learned to change my way of beleiveing and one thing i am sure of that there are a lot of people that look at a person not for what they do in life but what their color is for example my grandson never been in trouble on his way to a store got blamed on shooting a gun was in jail for 3 to four weeks never found any dna linking him to the gun or fingerprints on the gun got charged with it why because of his race, never fought in school a quiet boy oh well you talk about being judged on race this is one case it was

[Lanres]

Tough subject - great article ! As a white male - I see racism each and every day . I believe in our area the lack of jobs & racial shifts in Political control have added new hostilities .

As the Political influence changes - those who had a lock on certain "resourses" are forced to share with those historically - subtly denied equal footing.

Open honest debate - will bring about discussion - legal oversight will bring change.

Bravo - Mr.Obama

[Jeff]

We can never have an open, honest discussion about race in this Country, or in Buffalo, NY. The moment a white person starts a discussion about race, if it is not in favor of the black man/woman, then right away they are labeled a racist. I always hear so much about whitey this and whitey that, "shut up cracker". No one cares about the white male anymore, the media focuses on african-americans, hispanics, white females and every other minority but whites. Why? Because it sells papers?

What is happening in this Country is we have become so Politically Correct that everyone is afraid to speak their minds out of fear of retaliation or being labeled unsympathetic toward the(insert minority here) plight or wose a RACIST. Eventually though, we will have a Race War, Whites versus Blacks because nobody can or wants to talk about it.

What happened to equal rights, if in fact, all men were created equal, then we really have no need for affirmative action laws. But the truth of the matter is such that some are more equal then others. Specifically, african americans are more equal than their white counterparts.

How many qualified, educated white males have been passed up for promotion due to the fact that they are too white? How many non qualified black or hispanic males have received promotions simply due to the fact of their race, not what they know, not based on their experience but solely based on their race. Is that fair? Is that even American?

Lets discuss this race problem in America and get to its roots, if I can even use that term without riling someone up. I am a white male american, a minority now. We, the white males of this country have become the minority in almost every single facet of American life. When I walk in the malls, if a group of black men are walking towards me they look at me with disdain, as if I have to be scared of them and cannot look them in their eyes. They try to intimidate the white man with their blackness.

I will not be intimidated, I will not be scared. I believe in America unlike others. We MUST have a discussion on race, it MUST be open, frank and HONEST. And it must be revealing, such that we can close the door on the past as it related to slavery and open the door to the future for understanding.

[John]

Can I add a challenge:

Unlike so many blogs these days, can we make this a venom-free conversation that stays away from name-calling and personal attacks and actually produces a civil discourse?