As someone whose memory goes back to the 1960s, I have to say that only changing minds (and not letting idiots bother you) will solve the problem. I live in the district which elected Jim Hill the first black legislator outside Portland, and Rocky Barilla as maybe the first Hispanic state rep (certainly the first in this area).

As I recall, Rocky got more flak than Jim ("Jim was born in Atlanta, where was Rocky born?" sort of thing). But I can recall in 1980 when Jim was first running that my boss called me "delusional" to think a black man could get elected in S. Salem. Since Jim and Rocky, Jackie Winters was elected state rep. than state senator. Perhaps it shows how far we have gone here in Salem that she is considered Jackie and a Republican long-time incumbent more often than her race is discussed (as in "Jackie's an icon, how can that young man think he will defeat her this year?")

Wish I had better news. But in my experience the only solution is for people to stand up to idiotic behavior (esp. white people standing up) and saying remarks are in poor taste or whatever.

If you haven't read Howard Dean's book YOU HAVE THE POWER, I was just re-reading that last night. Interesting section about how he requested African American roommates in college and found himself as the only white face at some social events.

My parents were very prejudice and I remember rebelling against them in the 60s and 70s as a young naive born again hippy. I went to an all white school and lived in an all white neighborhood so the real issues were hidden from me until I joined the Army in 1974. It was at least half black and I learned that many black people didn't like me because I was white, no matter what I thought of them. I've continued to feel hated by blacks to this day, growing in the frustration that only white people are the problem. I think it's very two sided and therefor the answers will also be 2 sided. I've met nice friendly people of all colors. I won't judge anyone before I know them. I don't think it's alright for black people to be racists anymore than it is for white people. It's a dumb game with no winners. I can understand the frustrations of being poor because I live it. I can only imagine the frustrations the world can dish out to black people, but when anyone lets their frustrations turn to hate and anger we all lose. And you know what? Too many people do just that - BUT in the time I've been alive (51 yrs), I can see things slowly changing for the better for black/white relations. Unfortunately I also see the gap between the haves and have nots growing larger too, and as long as they can keep us fighting among ourselves we'll stay stagnant. Change starts within ourselves and moves outward. Your article has done good for the world today. Thanks.

What we need is more smart educated people to speak out like you have. Don't ignore it- confront it.

I am not color blind, but I also do not pre-judge people, anyone gets the fair chance to show me who they are.

I also am not Black, I cannot know what it is to live in a country run by people of another race, or to be the minority in most situations of general population.

While I may understand Black racism, I have no more tolerance for it than any other form, so prejudicial hostility is met with dismissal. Too bad.

How to get past it? There are idiots in any race and any class so dismiss it and move on, without fear or prejudice. Prejudice feeds on fear and reaction, it dies in the face of dismissal. Good luck to you. Chuck

Could it possibly be that your young friend was speaking from experience rather than mouthing what some racist person in his life taught him?

At risk of sounding racist, what if in his school experience it so happens that the black kids he has observed were indeed "angry and full of fight?"

Given how much our popular culture constantly tells them they are victims, who wouldn't be angry?

Don't be so quick to play the race card every time someone makes an observation about race. That observation just might be based on empirical experience rather than a racism.

Of course, there are many who will tell us that a simple observation of empirical reality, if it provides a contrast between racial groups, is racist.

For instance, the pointing out that black high school seniors score, on average, 20% below whites on the SAT, or that the crime rate among black youth is far higher than any other demographic group, or that 70% of black children are born out of wedlock......

ALL of these empirical realities can be the basis for a generalization in conversation that would immediately be branded by some as racist. They are not. They are realities.

When is the civil rights crowd going to wake up and stop decrying observations of reality and start trying to solve the problems that make those realities true?

When are they going to support things like school choice, getting rid of the inherently anti family welfare policies, and stop supporting poverty pimps like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton?

At risk of sounding racist, what if in his school experience it so happens that the black kids he has observed were indeed "angry and full of fight?"

Or maybe he just listens to the radio. The dominant form of music with teens today is "hip-hop" or whatever they are calling it now. Just listen to a song or two of the more dominant artists and you can come this kid's conclusion pretty easily.

Oh please! Wonderer and Jon, you both need to think a little more before you type. There is simply no rational, empirical way for any person to come to the conclusion that "Black people are angry and they like to fight".

Even given your statistics on the performance of African Americans on standardized tests, this says nothing whatsoever about aggression or violence, and (at least to some) says a whole lot more about the institutionalized obstacles to achievement for minorities.

And Jon, while a kid may draw misguided conclusions from various art forms I you that you were exaggerating when you say that "you can come [to] this kid's conclusion pretty easily"

Are all Italian men in the mafia? Do all Irish people drink? Are all Jews rolling in money? Gimme a break, you really would attribute things you hear in some forms of hip-hop music to all African Americans? I guess you believe all black people drive Cadillac Escalades and drink Kristal...

Karol - How did you respond to your young friend? (more a curious question than anything else). I'm guessing you took the opportunity for a really good discussion on race.

You ask, how do we fix this?
I'm not sure that the issue of race or any other prejudice or bias will ever go away completely. I remember getting picked on as a kid because I had smaller feet than my classmates. Not the same as race, to be sure but I can tell you, it hurt deeply to be ostracized over something that I had no control over. There are some people that will always be looking for something different in someone else in order to make themselves feel better about themselves. In a room full of thin people, an overweight person might be the target (and vice versa), in a room full of whites, the African-American might become the target (and vice versa). It's wrong and unfair and I don't know how to address those situations but to hope that parents educate their children about how wrong it is to judge. Unfortunately, some parents judge themselves and it's unlikely they will teach their children otherwise.

Your friend learned that idea somewhere or somehow he developed it (perhaps limited experience made broad in his mind) and no one took the time to correct him. I think the best method for teaching kids (and adults but sometimes I have a lot less hope for adults) is exposure and thoughtful discussion. Kids aren't born prejudiced or biased, they learn those things from adults. Sure, a 3 year old might ask an embarrassing question but it is up to adults to use those opportunities to teach the values we want them to grow up with.

I don't have children so maybe this exists, but what about getting a group of children together of many races to play in the sandbox together? A day once a month at a park around town for parents of all races to bring their children to give them exposure to kids of other races. It would be good for the parents too. We all live in our comfortable little neighborhoods, predominantly 1 race with a few individuals mixed in but no real exposure to other races. If I had kids and there was a day each month, when the weather was nice, that a park (locations varied to expose to many neighborhoods as well) sponsored a multi-cultural play day, I'd bring my kids to every one. It wouldn't have to be fancy -- just some swings, a slide and maybe soem balls to throw around. I wouldn't want my child growing up only knowing other whites. I would want her/him to have friends of all races but how does a parent accomplish that? Portland is a pretty white town, the school in my neighborhood is also pretty white, my co-workers, white and so on. Sure, I can say I have black friends but they don't have kids. So here I am, an imaginary parent who wants to expose his children to other races without a lot of options so I talk and I try to teach but really, isn't the best way for kids to move beyond these stereotypes, etc to get to know each other, play together and develop friendships?

btw, I always love your columns - thought provoking and sincere and I hope you do continue to bring up the topic of race, especially outside the month of February. It's not something we should care about just one month out of the year; we should be working on it year round.

Wonderer-

What's a "poverty pimp"?

John writes: "However, I was present when a drunk at a Democratic party function called a friend who is a black woman a racial slur...If it can happen in a group of educated progressives it can happen anywhere."

How do you know it was a Democrat? Maybe it was a Republican in Democrat's clothing, and his/her true colors came out after drinking too much. Democrats who are educated progressives don't spout racial slurs. Only Republicans do that stuff.

Stevie has written some very powerful and pointed songs throughout his career regarding discrimination. "Ebony and Ivory" was not one of them. It was more along the lines of John Lennon's "Imagine", a far off vision, hope, and prayer. I'm not knocking the song(s), but the songs he's written about the reality of discrimination contain more lyrics of what is true, and hasn't changed much since he wrote them.

For example, think about the Republicans and Republican Lites who represent the Democratic party these days. Stevie said; "We are amazed but not amused By all the things you say that you'll do Though much concerned but not involved With decisions that are made by you

But we are sick and tired of hearing your song Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong Cause if you really want to hear our view You haven't done nothing.

It's not too cool to be ridiculed But you brought this upon yourself The world is tired of pacifiers "you haven't done nothing"! We would not care to wake up to the nightmare That's becoming real life But when mislead who knows a person's mind Can turn as cold as ice un hum We want the truth and nothing else

And we are sick and tired of hearing your song Telling how you are gonna change right from wrong 'cause if you really want to hear our views You haven't done nothing.

We would not care to wake up to the nightmare That's becoming real life But when mislead who knows a person's mind Can turn as cold as ice umm humm.

Why do you keep on making us hear your song Telling us how you are changing right from wrong 'cause if you really want to hear our views "you haven't done nothing"!

YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING --Stevie Wonder (Doo Doo Waps repectfully removed)

It's as true today as when it was written back in the 70's.

Mary--

Maybe you're being sarcastic. I've personally heard a lot of people that I know to be progressives who show their racism in overt or subtle ways.

That's one of the reasons that there's a marked difference between the politics of the Congressional Black Caucus and the rest of the congressional Democrats. There are too many white Democrats who are afraid of being associated with "black" issues like affirmative action and workplace discrimination.

They're not afraid of alienating the racists on the right; they're afraid of alienating the racists in their own party.

Are you saying that they are afraid of alienating the racists at the CBC? How can Blacks be racists? Aren't they the victims?

Of course, black people can be racist. They're human beings, not animals, and have all the capabilities of human beings. Black people in America have less means and fewer opportunities to oppress people of other races than do their white compatriots, but that doesn't mean they have less motivation, or are less likely to take advantage of the opportunities they get.

Gordo is saying, however, something quite different: That many white Democratic Congresscritters are afraid of alienating the white racists in the Democratic base. Admittedly, there are fewer of those than before Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, driving many to change their registration, but that doesn't mean there aren't a lot left.

<h2>Are you white? Perhaps it's because I'm a person of color, but I've heard far too many "Democrats who are educated progressives ... spout racial slurs."</h2>