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Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen came under attack recently for writing a column in which he expressed some controversial views regarding the acceptance, by "conventional" people, of mixed race couples and their multiracial off spring.  Specifically, he said, " People with conventional views must repress a gag reflex when considering the mayor-elect of New York — a white man married to a black woman and with two biracial children. (Should I mention that Bill de Blasio’s wife, Chirlane McCray, used to be a lesbian?) This family represents the cultural changes that have enveloped parts — but not all — of America. To cultural conservatives, this doesn’t look like their country at all."

Now, I admit that when read that statement my first thought was, "oh, boy...he is going to get fired for that."  My second thought was, " He shouldn't be fired, he is speaking the truth."  The truth.  Isn't that what journalism is all about?  Now, I am almost certain that given Mr. Cohen's body of work, he wrote that statement with the intent of stirring controversy and driving traffic to his blog. He has put his foot in his mouth too many times to claim being misunderstood at this point.  He knew what he was doing so I really don't hold him up as any sort of hero.  But I do think he represents what is too frequently lacking in our society.  The truth.  Just to be clear, I am not advocating the race-baiting, hate and fear mongering speech of people like Rush Limbaugh.  But putting pen to paper and expressing an opinion that a lot of people share? I think that has to start being acceptable again.

You see, we have decided that we are a post-racial society.  And therefore, we have decided that we are beyond racial bigotry and prejudice. Anyone, who stands up and says " Not so fast, I am not there yet." is not welcome in the arena of public discourse.  So, we have effectively thrown a blanket over all of the ugly that exists in our society and joined hands in one beautiful "I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony" moment.  We hold our heads high and point to our first visibly ethnic president and say "Yea Us!  We did it!"  But if you look closely at the blanket, you will see that wriggling underneath is the same racial animosity and hatred that has existed since the first white people landed here and declared it "my country."  We prance merrily along, while "Stop and Frisk" is common practice by police forces all over the country not just in New York.  We turn a blind eye when Stand Your Ground Laws are used as an excuse to stalk and murder a black teenager because he dared to walk in the wrong neighborhood wearing a Hoodie.  The Supreme Court struck down voting rights laws and before the ink was dry the state of Texas enacted laws that officials openly admitted were designed to suppress minority voters.  In October of this year, a young black college football player was murdered by police, because after a car accident he knocked on the door of a white woman and asked her for help.  She was so terrified that she called the police and told them he was trying to break into her house.  I could go on and on here, but I think I've made my point. 

Just because we want something to be doesn't make it so.  We want to be an open tolerant society, but wanting it and being it are two completely different things.  I lived in Oakland County, Michigan for three years.  I was shocked at the number of times I was subjected to racially offensive remarks and actions by the people living in that area. It was so bad that I actually began to have physical symptoms of stress and anxiety.  But every time I would try to convey one of these incidents to my co-workers I would get the same patronizing response.  " Are you sure that is what they meant?  Are you sure this happens all the time?  Are you just being sensitive?"  And then they would go on to tell me in their polyana sing-song voices about how diverse their neighborhood is, and how they just love it!  The problem is, the more we deny the inherent racism in our society, we will never truly be able to address it and correct it.  The more we silence the Richard Cohen's of the world and force them to stop speaking the truth, the longer we will stunt our growth into a fully inclusive society.  There are people blocking true progress in this country and we need to acknowledge them and the continued need for education and awareness in our society.

We can all pretend that racism and the subsequent discrimination that comes along with it do not exist in our.  Or, we can acknowledge the progress that has been made, and determine to make even more progress in our lifetime.  The choice is ours.

Inclusion365 mission#10
I will not be so blinded by the vision of an inclusive society that I ignore the work that is still to be done.

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