This should come as a shock to no one, but a hallmark characteristic of this place we call home is the ability to avoid tough conversations.
Oh, people here have strong opinions. It’s just that most are loath to express them anywhere but in the most private of environments. [The great exceptions to this, of course, involve matters related to Tiger football and developers wanting to build anything in or near a homeowner’s neighborhood.]
Maybe it’s our Southern gentility.
Maybe we think Baton Rouge is French for the Greek utopia.
Perhaps we simply go with the tree-falling-in-the-forest theory: If there’s a problem and no one is around to discuss it, is it really a problem?
Regardless, the consequence of our “silence is golden” attitude is progress is painfully slow to come by, especially when the bulk of our elected officials are skilled in the art of politics, but not leadership.
No topic is more taboo than race.
I submit race relations is the greatest challenge facing the Capital Region. Many others—and they are mostly white—don’t think we have a problem.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying the issue of race is never discussed. Just that it’s almost always done in small, private settings with people of the same color. Which, truthfully, is about as helpful as not having the discussion at all.
The Baton Rouge modus operandi is that blacks live north of Florida Boulevard [or Government Street; it’s a moving demarcation line] and whites live to the south. And never the two shall meet.
That m.o. is why our public schools crumbled in the 1970s. It’s why gated, single-entrance subdivisions are almost a requirement for a successful development. And it’s why, despite all the feel-good attempts to say otherwise, we’re far from one Baton Rouge.
I guess we shouldn’t feel too bad; most of America finds abortion to be an easier topic to discuss than race.
There is, thankfully, at least one group in town working to drag the topic of race out of the closet. The YWCA of Greater Baton Rouge has been hosting dialogues on race for more than 30 years. What began as living room meetings during the turbulent late-1960s has evolved into structured, multi-week discussions in boardrooms, public centers and at dinner tables across the Baton Rouge area.
Recently, I was fortunate enough to participate in the YWCA’s Dialogue on Race program. It was fascinating to hear whites, blacks and people in mixed-race relationships spend two hours over lunch each week discussing racism—not bigotry—and what, if anything, can be done to eliminate the greatest pox on our community—and country.
We discussed white privilege, institutional racism, how we deal with racism and those who fight against it, affirmative action and the elimination of racism.
I went into the first meeting with a great deal of skepticism. That feeling was quickly replaced by one of hope some 15 minutes later when it was obvious this group was not shy about expressing themselves.
Remarkably, you learn through honest—and open—dialogue that, while there are significant differences of opinion, there are scores of areas where many blacks in Baton Rouge hold the same view as many whites in Baton Rouge. So close has our group of 13 become that we’ve held one post-dialogue dinner party and plans are in the works for another. There’s also talk of us signing up for the YWCA’s more advanced discussion on race program.
This much is certain: I respect the views of every member of that group. I’ll never know what it’s like to be a black person in Baton Rouge [just as blacks don’t know what it’s like to be white], but I have a better understanding of how black people in Baton Rouge think and feel.
Does that mean I am completely enlightened? Does our group have all the answers? Hardly. Racism isn’t something that’s going to be solved after a six-week program and a few social encounters. But it’s a start.
Whites worry honesty will earn them a “racist” tag and blacks are wary of how issues of personal responsibility are used in conversations on race. The deeper the discussion, the greater the level of discomfort.
Still, unless the dialogue begins somewhere we’ll never begin to solve the problem—and ignoring it won’t make it go away.
Comments
Posted by fourx5 on April 22, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I submit race relations is the greatest challenge facing the Capital Region. Many others—and they are mostly white—don’t think we have a problem."
Of course not. Haven't you been reading the Advocate's letters section? A particularly idiotic person wrote in recently that "poor people" couldn't be hungry because they were all so fat. Lacking the fundamental understanding that hunger is about food quality as well as quantity, or blaming poor people for being fat/having a nice car/living a "thug" lifestyle is just one way Baton Rouge residents get to be racist without actually calling anyone a nasty word.
When I lived in Baton Rouge, all I ever heard about was "those people from New Orleans" - the same people you pilloried in your last column. And frankly, if you don't understand that "those people" is typical southern code for blacks, then you are not paying attention. It's been one of the lynchpins of the tension between Baton Rouge and New Orleans for years.
Baton Rouge is a city with a small town's mentality. Yes, race is a huge problem in Baton Rouge and in cities like Lafayette and Lake Charles. Perhaps the biggest reason racism is still a problem is that folks south of Perkins don't believe it exists while they argue to cut funds for public transit (used mainly by poor blacks) and insist that fat people can't be hungry.
I don't have all the answers either, but starting by treating poor (mostly black) people as though their houses, neighborhoods, schools and diet are just as important as more affluent neighborhoods is a start. (This is why charter schools are such a bad idea; take money from the existing system to give to people who already have plenty of extra money for a paid education? Nice message to send to the working poor.)
Posted by por_deni on April 25, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with the tree-falling theory. The violence, shootings and murders happen in those "other" neighborhoods, and so those of us in the "nice" neighborhoods really don't have to worry, do we? That is, until a serial killer comes around and kills nice white women.
Every murder and other act of violence, no matter where it occurs in this town, affects ALL OF US!
Are folks aware that there have been TWO alleged hate crimes in the area in the last week? The stories are buried in the police briefs and back pages of the Advocate. Where is the outrage? I'm assuming the privileged class write it off as the foibles of the poor and less-educated who don't speak up and don't vote so it is not relative to or representative of the rest of us. But the actions ARE representative of our collective attitude and conscious.
Are there any editors in this town courageous enough to run more than a column on race? I challenge the local press to do in-depth reporting on this issue. Mainstream media has the power to influence public opinion and be the catalyst for change. Inequality is a huge factor in the economic health of this community, much more than brain drain.
I had been skeptical of the One Baton Rouge campaign, then saddened that opposing forces skewed the issue towards gay rights. The city's problem is so much bigger, so I am now in support of 1BR. Race, gender, sexual-orientation, education and lifestyle equality will lead to economic equality and growth. Intolerance and fear are costing Baton Rouge dearly.
Posted by Mrs_Kibby on April 25, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you so very much J.R. for talking about what we went through in our dialogue together. You have a very good understanding of the race relations problem in here Baton Rouge and hit it right on the nail. Please make sure you pursue this issue.
For those of you read this article and posted a comment you seem to have a strong opinion on this issue and I believe it would benefit greatly to join a YWCA Dialogue on Race. Please visit our website www.ywca-br.org for more information on the next upcoming Dialogue on Race.
If we work together we should one day find a solution. And thanks again J.R. All I have to say is awesome; very well written.
Posted by robertamadden on April 25, 2008 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Dialogue on Race is a program of the YWCA, whose mission is "eliminating racism, empowering women." We were delighted that the Business Report hosted the six-week program and that three of your staff members participated actively. We at the YWCA would like to encourage other businesses and organizations to sponsor a Dialogue at your workplace. For information call Roberta Madden at 215-1326 or email maddenR@ywca-br.org.
Posted by BertFife on April 25, 2008 at 7:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a proud member of YWCA Circle of Friends, I encourage anyone who desires to be part of a group that is making a difference to contact them and join in supporting their f. Our community is fortunate to have Robbie Madden's dedication to eliminating racism to lead the way with this insightful program. Together we can change our world one heart at a time.
Posted by lagirl on April 26, 2008 at 8:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree wholeheartedly, JR. Recently my church created a public schools task force and has adopted 2 EBR public schools in an effort to improve what the system clearly cannot. We had a discussion with a facilitator who was gathering information from the community. She was African-American, the committee was all white. Inevitably, the subject of race came up when asked what was the biggest problem our community faced. It was the first honest discussion of race I have ever had in a group setting among different races. What was particularly striking was that we all were good people with well-meaning objectives but I am sure to our facilitator we all seemed very racist without even meaning to be. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days afterward. I felt guilt and relief and vulnerable after letting down my guard and talking about things that are not usually said in front of each other. But I think it was an important discussion to have. I lived in Chicago for many years and no one even says the word "black" for fear of being labeled racist...if you think it's swept under the rug down here, it is absolutely a "non-existent" subject up there...all in the effort to be fair and unbiased and "un" racist...seems to me stifling the discussion only makes things worse.
Posted by fourx5 on April 30, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this the kind of dialogue you were talking about?
"Two white men accused of hurling racial slurs and firing a shotgun in the direction of black city-parish workers in 2007 received suspended prison sentences, probation and were ordered to apologize to the workers after pleading guilty to reduced charges on Wednesday."
The last time I checked, that sort of thing was called attempted murder, and a $300 fine with two years probation was called "looking the other way".
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)