Talking About Race: A Workbook

Saturday, July 25, 2009

LTAR

I have been away from LTAR but not for long. As always, there is so much going on. The incident with Prof. Gates coupled with Pres. Obama's comment, which I believe was misconstrued, is getting sorted
out by the President as I write. Hopefully President Obama will prevent even greater manipulations of race from taking place this week. Good luck President Obama!

But I have noticed something else which is bothering me and wonder if you have too? Many journalist's are referring to President Obama as Mr. Obama. Once chosen to comment or ask their press questions during a televised conference, they often say, "Yes, sir?" Is that the appropriate protocal? Isn't President Obama the way - the only way the President of the United States should be addressed?

On many news programs reporters are also doing this, especially those in the local news stations. I find this deeply disturbing and wonder at how one can make the same mistake several times over with no one in these stations stepping up and correcting them? Is it a conscious or subconscious omission on their part? Is it too hard for them to say "President Obama"?

I just wonder as I do not remember that being the case with other presidents.

You may know more about it than I do. I'd like to know what you think.

Racially-speaking my blog is about day-to-day experiences with racism and how we deal with them. It may be time to record who says what, when and where and start to send emails to the stations asking for a review of the proper greeting the President of the U.S.A is supposed to be getting. Exactly how one in the business and on the air is supposed to be referencing the President
while discussing the President with their associates needs to be corrected.

On another note , this week I came to the realization that empathy in intimate relations with one another is key in my relationships. But it is as important to receive empathy as it is to give it away, otherwise what is the point?

What do we have to offer one another as we struggle for racial equality together, if we do so without being empathetic to one another's experiences? We all know that relationships often dissolve when there is no equality within them. But what constitutes equality in your relationships? I had begun re-evaluating what I believe constitutes equality in mine these past few weeks, and have made the necessary changes in my life to be sure there is a balance in my relationships, a give and take I can rely upon.

Let me know what you consider to be most important to you regarding the issues I have presented here today and thanks so much for your time.

Kaolin

Saturday, July 11, 2009

LTAR

Welcome to LTAR which stands for Let's Talk About Race.

On the LTAR blog site we will discuss our experiences with racism and what we are doing to foster racial equality in our lives today.

For example Liza, a white friend of mine, recently noticed that on the page of her business website she had very few photos of families of color. It happened to have many photos of European white families instead. Liza realized that this misrepresented her intent as her clients are more diversified and she wanted to keep it that way.

So, what did she do about it? Liza contacted her website host and had more photos of families of color added on it. Once they were added on the photos represented families as Liza had wanted it to, it also let those who visit her site and explore her business know that her clients are of color and white.

This is just one of many examples of the steps one can take to be sure they are promoting their own desire for racial equality in their life. It happened to be a business example but of course in our private lives there are many things one can do to ensure racial equality within our own families, schools, churches and communities. The LTAR blog invites you to share your own stories about this subject.

There are many of us who come across experiences like Liza's every day. We may have an opportunity to speak up when we experience racism and yet remain silent. We may have an opportunity to take an action that fosters racial equality yet remain neutral or even passive letting an opportunity go by that would match our ideals when the subject is race/ism.

Why? There are many reasons why and LTAR will examine them.

How? LTAR invites you to talk about what your experiences with racism have been and may be today.

The LTAR blog is for those of you who would like to find solutions to problems regarding race/ism in your life today.

LTAR is a place where we can share our concerns and present options so those problems might be solved.

I look forward to hearing from you about your own experiences, concerns and solutions regarding this subject. If you have any questions about this blog include them too!

Kaolin