Racism

Many years ago, I started a People of Color Committee at KBOO. The purpose of this was to further race relations within the radio station and to deal with issues of racism as they came up. At first I didn't want to have white folks because I was hoping that people of color could have a space in which to figure out what they wanted. But that was against KBOO's mission so I realized that it would be good if white folks were there so they could understand what it is we need as people of color. I really wanted people to learn to understand each other from the points of view of our races and cultures and the diversity that lies within each race.

We had five meetings, the last two of which I was the only person at the meetings. Jan Schafer did show up for the last one, but about a half hour late, and I had told her I had given up on the idea. If you give someone a tool and they are unwilling to use it, what use is it.

Many of the people of color who came did so just to make sure that I wasn't going after whitey. When they were comfortable with the fact that it wasn't an "attack whitey program," they lost interest and didn't attend again.

I have a theory that white folks don't want to talk about racism because they are afraid to be seen as racist. Racism, like sexism, is what built this society. It is still pervasive and institutional. It still effects peoples lives negatively, just like sexism.

But, most people of color don't want to discuss racism, either. Maybe after facing it all of our lives they just don't want to deal with it anymore, and I don't blame them.

More than anything, I would just LOVE to see us someday, getting together and discussing racism with honesty, without fear, with all the arguments and triumphant commonisms that come along with it.

But, like ending war, I don't think that will happen anytime soon. I don't think sexism will be confronted anytime soon either. But I still have a big fat mouth, and I still have to try to do something.