Letter to the editor

Whenever the subject of racism comes up, it is usually accompanied by examples of inequality, social injustice, prejudiced courts and, all too often, pure hatred spawned and handed down from one generation to another. No fair minded person can exempt himself or herself from having had bigotted and racially profiling thoughts at one time or another. It may be politically incorrect for me to say this, but racism is often a two way street and it isn't always directed at a minority target. It can be argued that if whites were in the minority, they would be the ones demanding affirmative action and social justice. I would like to cite one example of such a scenario. When I was a child in the 1930's I attended a mostly black elementary school In Waterbury, Conn. Most of the Black kids were brought north by their parents who were seeking work in a growing industrialized area. During the five years I attended this school I was constantly harassed and often beaten. I had to quit bringing lunch money to school because it was stolen from me and when I resorted to bagged lunches, they were either taken from me or destroyed. Ironically I was not particularly disliked by these kids, but I was a white boy and I was a minority, someone unlike themselves. Sound familiar? Of course it's the same old same old, only in reverse. My point is that it is always a question of who is in charge. Racism is predicated on who holds the power at any given time and you can bet the farm on it. What happened to me back in the 1930's has happened to Black kids then and is happening to them now. The difference is that now there are forces in play to level the playing field and efforts are being made to lessen the power gap and to be more inclusive. Is it enough? I wouldn't bet the farm on THAT. There are good people out there striving to do the right thing. Achieving racial and cultural equality is a lofty ideal and a worthy target. Are we up to it? The clock is running.

George Morin
Auburn, Ga.