A Change In Race Relations Is Coming
By Anita M. Bailey, co-host of Inside the Ladies Locker Room
A year ago, I had the honor of serving as a volunteer at the Inauguration of President Obama. I was so proud to be apart of this historical event. A flood of emotions came over me as I considered the magnitude of what I had just witnessed on January 20, 2009 on Capital Hill- the election of the First African American President of the United States of America.
I thought about how sad it was that the matriarchs and patriarchs of my family were not alive to experience this life changing event with me. I thought about how I was a Civil Rights baby born in 1966 and how the stories my mother and father told me about growing up during that era now mean so much more to me. I reflected on how thankful I was for the hardships my ancestors suffered so that I could have a future and live a better life than they did. I thought about my favorite book report I wrote on Dr. Martin Luther King in elementary and how now for the first time, I am actually seeing his “I Have A Dream” speech become a reality. It was so surreal.
But then I felt a piercing in my heart, because I realized even with Obama becoming our First African American President, our country’s history of racism and discrimination was not going to change overnight. Just for a moment I became angry, disillusioned and cynical. Is having an African American President really going to make a difference, now? Needless to say, I came to my senses and concluded, YES! Electing Obama as President does mean “Change I Can Believe In”.
I also saw how certain social norms in our society actually fuel discrimination. So I believe in order for race relations to improve in our country, we need to:
1) Stop judging one another based upon race. When people first meet me, they ask me “What Am I? Or Where Am I From? as if I am some alien. Immediately, my guard goes up, because I know in their mind, they are already stereotyping me. And usually the next comment out of their mouths or mine will determine whether or not our conversation will continue or if it will abruptly come to an end. And of course, the rules of engagement are in full force. We need to learn to judge and accept a person based upon their character, personality, strength, integrity, goals, attitude and abilities. These attributes have nothing to do with one’s race and ethnicity.
2) Stop racial profiling. A person who choices to live a life of crime is a criminal. The crime itself should be the main criteria to bringing the person to justice. A criminal’s race is irrelevant to that family or individual who has been victimized. Racial profiling only fuels discrimination against certain demographics.
3) Stop collecting racial demographic information on housing, education, and employment applications including other government programs to determine eligibility. (The 2010 Census is excluded). The collecting of this demographic information does provide us with interesting statistical and historical information. But hypothetically speaking, knowing that 50% of all African American live below the poverty level is not going to change their economic condition Knowing that Hispanics are not applying for certain jobs will not make an employer hire them any quicker.
The above suggestions may seem idealistic or even unrealistic to some, but if we don’t make the race of a person such a big deal, then it won’t be. I am in agreement with Michael Jackson whose song “Black and White” is even more relevant now. I refuse to live my life being a color.
