Dear Sticky Wicket,
Why is there still so much reluctance and reticence among whites and blacks to have an honest and ongoing dialogue about racial issues? Is it because of some level of fear, mistrust, and bigotry?
~Discouraged from Dallas
Dear Discouraged,
One reason for the reticence among blacks and whites when broaching highly sensitive issues on race could be attributed to an almost desperate attempt to avoid potentially offensive discourse, as well as maintaining a non-threatening status-quo – even if it means sacrificing a degree of honesty. Also, an effort to ‘look forward’ may make both whites and blacks hesitant to discuss historical events that for many still have a hold on present-day attitudes on both sides.
A Mexican immigrant to the United States, and a woman of Asian-Hispanic descent, Shidume Lozada, says, “If there’s a race discussion between whites and blacks who are friends or co-workers, at some point, the conversation will lose objectivity.”
Lozada, who is also the former instructor for the Southern Exposure’s Mission Voices Program, which consisted of entirely minority students during her tenure, points out that there is a double standard when it comes to who can “get away” with expressing anger and frustration.
“It seems that it’s almost always okay for people of color to make derogatory statements about white people, but if a white person were to make a similar statement about blacks – at least publicly – there would be mayhem. Furthermore, I think part of the problem stems from the unspoken fact that minorities are racist toward other minorities. Black people discriminate against Hispanics – and vice versa; Asian people certainly discriminate against black people.
And the list goes on. Minorities are just as much the perpetrators as they are victims of discrimination. Censorship of discussion between blacks and whites keeps issues like that under wraps too. It’s probably much too sensitive and threatening of a topic.”
White people also seem bound by a feeling of obligation to be politically correct (PC), too. “The need to be PC keeps people from saying what they’re thinking. And how can you possibly communicate when you put up a filter that avoids the very topic that needs to be addressed?” Lozada adds.
On a positive note, the sheer number of public conversations about race seems to be on the rise. Race related topics are now discussed in schools, the political arena, and even in relation to sports.
President Clinton’s initiative to increase dialogue about race certainly got the discussion started. However, it is indeed time to take off the politically correct veil and encourage uncensored discussions. It will take some bravery and thick skin, no matter the color.