GROUP 4: Moderators - Larry McKenzie, Susan Sherr

Why did you come here tonight?

• Race and diversity an issue underlying others
• Race important in everything and everywhere
• Wants to keep race from being problem for future generation
• Race effected a recent political election
• Daughter in a mixed race relationship
• Race needs more study
• Curious about other citizens' ideas on this
• Responded to invitation
• Problem won't go away, but it's always good to learn more and change is necessary
• Let's not dance around this issue, but instead deal with it up front
• Race and class re the two biggest problems for U.S.A. to solve
• Commitment to Citizen Voices' process
• We need to deal with racial issues - this illustrated by debate over flying Confederate flag in S. Carolina capitol
• Diversity in a small business points to need for interracial sensitivity
• Race too often ignored as an issue. A confrontation with southern racism in the 1960's left an indelible mark

Stories:

• Racism is American institution
• Enlightening experiences teach that "white is not always right"
• People try to deny opportunities because of racial differences (being confronted with someone trying to do that to you)
• Mentor to bring you into racial awareness and self-empowerment
• Experience with people convinces people that they can get along
• Job discrimination based on race eliminates opportunities
• Do people seek out comfort zones with people like themselves
• Working as the only white person in a political context led to friendships and long term associations
• Awareness of race (own and other people's) comes only when you come in contact with people of other races
• Experience of society's racial injustice at young age for being with African American boy
• People assume African Americans can't get into college based purely on achievement
• Police called when real estate agent was showing house to woman in Kentucky
• Stopped by police for transporting alcohol. Filmed by news. Victim of racial profiling
• Children, like adults, feel more comfortable disagreeing among their own race. People feel they have to tow line so "other" won't take advantage of disagreement
• Overt racism first experienced when in other parts of country
• Racism can be generational; older generations, more overtly racist
• Racism wrapped up in economics. Groups losing or gaining economic power
• Not served by people in Delaware restaurant as a child - 1st experience with realizing difference due to skin color
• Police brutality exerted along racial lines
• . Intentional closed-mindedness sometimes prevents dialogue and new learning about diversity
• . Nasty incident instigated by retail security officer with racially prejudiced attitude - innocent shoppers harassed, falsely accused of shoplifting
• Only black in a white neighborhood or only white in a black neighborhood feels anxiety, fear
• . Broaden this discussion. Asian and Hispanic voices need to be heard. Consider the changing demographics, Asian and Latino characters on TV are stereotyped
• We tend to segregate ourselves, thus learn too little about others
• People often don't realize their own behavior when it comes to racial issues
• It's so easy to stereotype, over-generalize
• Gatekeepers have economic power may make up elaborate explanations when real criteria are based on racism, class-ism, etc.

Observations (surprises, insights):

• Institutional racism: police, college, banks, employment
• Startling how segregated the city is
• Prejudice pervasive
• This group self-selected - the most isolated racist (?) voices probably aren't here