Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 3 April 2008 — Page 2

Page 2 • The Muncie Times • April 3, 2008

EDITORIAL Needed: an ongoing discussion on race as country faces debate over diversity, future

In his well-received speech on race, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama touched on a topic that often remains under the radar in political dialogue, but is often the sub-text of much that happens in American life. Obama who had studiously avoided the subject of race was finally forced to face it head on in the wake of the release of sometimes incendiary and controversial rhetoric from his former Chicago pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Those who had previously avoided attacking

him for fear of being labeled racist or insensitive could now do so with impunity because they could claim they were doing so under the guise of attacking Wright and some of his sayings. Others now felt free to vent their racist agendas. There is little doubt that some of Wright's sayings were insensitive, appalling and inflammatory. There is no excusing them. What cannot be denied, however, is that there was a climate in this country, fueled by some racists, which provided a background behind which Wright

could make such comments. Slavery is a fact. Lynchings are a fact. Racial discrimination is a fact in housing, schooling, mortgage loans, employment and other areas of American life. It took the voting, housing and civil rights laws of the 1960s to begin to address some of these race-based problems. So, it is important to acknowledge the progress that has been made in race relations in the past 40 years or so. While there is still racial bias in sentencing, housing and residential patterns, employment and

education, there is no denying the progress that has been made. Racism has become more subtle and sophisticated. More minorities are voting today and being elected to federal, state, county, city and other local offices. More minorities are taking their places as captains of industry. The glass ceiling is increasingly being breached. An African American is battling the odds and could be on the verge of becoming the first nonwhite to win his party's nomination to seek the the presidency in 2008. Those are heady expectations. A year ago today, few people would have taken that prospect seriously. They would not have believed, either, that a woman could seriously challenge for the presidency. Yet that is also happening. Having said that, however, we should also acknowledge that much remains to be done. The races still remain separate and unequal— although the gap is slowly narrowing and will, one day, close. Until that happens and the United States become a truly color-blind society, the struggle for equality will continue. That is why there is still a need for affirmative action. Affirmative action is not a permanent solution.

But it is a stop-gap measure that seeks to narrow the gender, race and ethnic gap, by giving under-served and underrepresented groups a chance to be included. Affirmative action, contrary to the rantings of its opponents, was never meant to be cure all. Affirmative action and diversity seek to practice inclusion. They seek a United States of America that mirrors the country's cultural richness and diversity. The United States has attracted and lured people from all over the world. Census figures show that the country is becoming even more diverse, leading to a future where there may be no single dominant racial or ethnic group, when the country will become a true melting pot. Obama's Philadelphia speech on race is, therefore, a good launch pad for starting the debate and discussion about race and about the kind of America that we want to leave for our children, our grandchildren and the generations that come after them—a time when race and racism will be nothing but sad memories, similar to what they are trying to do in post-apartheid South Africa. That time is yet to come.

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Publisher Bea Moten-Foster Editor John Lambkun Advertising ;... .Cathy Evans Graphics & Design Adrian Barrett Contributors: T.S. Kumbula, Debra Burnett, Jeanine Lee Lake, Hurley C. Goodall, Judy Mays, and Marc H. Morial Photographer Connie Stanton The Muncie Times is published twice monthly at 1304 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Muncie, IN 47303. It covers the communities of Anderson, Marion, New Castle, Richmond, and Muncie. All editorial correspondence should be addressed to: The Editor, The Muncie Times, 1304 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Muncie, IN 47303. Telephone (765) 741-0037. Fax (765) 741-0040 email: themuncietimes @ Comcast, net