The race paradigm
Inside us, we have paradigms sitting, waiting and craving the proof they are dead-on. They usually are not distracted by conflicting evidence.
One of my paradigms is difficult to deal with. I believe we have inner racists lying in wait to become our default position. It makes that ugly thought we get in a racially charged situation. If what you think cause bile to rise in your mouth, you’re fighting your inner racist. Good for you.
Recently, the news was full of story about a brief second in time when Shirley Sherrod of the Georgia USDA had one of these moments. Sitting across from a white farmer, she recalled all the black farmers who didn’t get the help they needed. In that critical moment, she thought she would not give this white farmer her full support. She even said so in a taped video speech to the NAACP this March.
It was just 30 seconds of a 45 minute speech. The USDA did shabby damage control and compelled her to resign before it went viral with the conservative news yakkers. There is not much I can add to this storyline.
Let me do otherwise. I watched Sherrod’s complete speech. She continued her story with a narrative that left me impressed with the high level of service and humane care she gave to this farmer. She saved his farm when others stood by. Today, this farmer praises her for her help.
Shirley Sherrod had her racist thought and did not allow it to cause her to act improperly. That’s the way out of this race mess we find ourselves in.
Sherrod’s speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9NcCa_KjXk