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KathyM · Mar 17, 2010, 02:06 PM

Why is it so difficult for people to discuss the issue of race?

I'm sick and tired of the overt and covert hatred, oppression and discrimination - and all the excuses and euphemisms infuriate me. I'm a white woman. When people know nothing about me behind closed doors, they assume it's okay to insult my family and call them derogatory names. I can't tell you how many times I've been forced to listen to their disgusting jokes. If they do know about my family, they use euphemisms and skirt around the subject. I still hear the jokes, but they assure me it was "just a joke" - why do I never find them funny?

http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/20100315-raciially-charged-yard-art-investigation-urged

I volunteered years ago with the Chgo. Commission on Human Relations, Unity in Diversity Task Force. I sat in on town hall meetings in Mt. Greenwood hosted and moderated by the commission to specifically address the hate crimes and rampant racism.

They absolutely refused to discuss race. They only discussed the need for more lighting and security. It was getting ridiculous and we were running out of time, so I opened my mouth and said "I think hatred and racism is based on fear."

You should have seen the glares I received. Every single one of them whipped their heads around with fire in their eyes. One man had the courage to speak to me. He gave me his meanest look and yelled "WHO ARE YOU, WHY ARE YOU HERE, AND WHERE DO YOU COME FROM!?!"

At the Oscars recently, a black man got "Kanyed" by his fellow producer after the two won an award for a documentary.

I watched the woman defend herself on the Joy Behar Show. She said she hogged the microphone because he was rude for making it all about himself when it should have been about the film. She wasn't rude for snatching that mic out of his hand and underhandedly scolding him?? She couldn't have worked it out ahead of time with him on how to share their time on stage??

She went on to say she had many supporters. She said so many people came up to her afterwards to thank her for putting that "rude boy" in his place. I can almost guarantee you they did not call that man a "RUDE BOY" - they used another well-known term for black people.

She never mentioned the film or the star of the documentary on the Joy Behar Show - it was all about HER that night - so who is the RUDE one here?

I'm watching the new breed of Tea Party/anti-government protesters. They are all white - or pass for white. They have a million excuses, but they can't seem to draw any black (or other color) support - much less any support from the Muslim community. Why is that?

It's not just a Chicago problem - it's nationwide.

I would greatly appreciate your open and honest input - and please be respectful of each other's opinions.

How do we heal this massive racial wound and move forward in a truthful way?