Maggie,
Your response is uplifting.  As an African-American I am aware of the need for vigilance concerning race relations.  I apprecaite the tone of your response as it conveys the stance ine must take to confront racism in our society.  I think we will always need to speak out against not only racism but against cultural ignorance and insensitivity.  

Thanks
-----Original Message-----
From: maggie mcmahon <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 02:09:19 -0400
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] A Well Kept UTC SECRET

Your Raven communication was eloquent. I am on sabbatical right now but 
decided to post. A lack of response could be interpreted as a lack of 
concern or empathy.

I have lived in the northeast and the southeast – the US is indeed a 
racist society. On more than one occasion the depth and insidiousness of 
racism in the US have been revealed to me. It was overwhelming and I 
can’t imagine how many generations of hard work are left. The last time 
I confronted someone about his use of the “N word” – he shot back with a 
biblical explanation rooted the Old Testament account of Noah. To quote 
Dave Barry: “I am not making this up.”

Gross incidents of discrimination are easier to identify and address, 
but I fear that prejudice will be with us for a long time.

I don’t know what Promised Land Melissa refers to but racial prejudice 
is not geographically specific to any particular region in the US. Folks 
in some regions are more circumspect about expressing their prejudices 
and I guess that does count for something.

I am saddened and discouraged that our institution is not a refuge from 
racism to colleagues and students of color. I would ask that if a 
student or colleague ever comes to you after experiencing my actions as 
racist PLEASE know that it would be totally safe to confront me. 
Sometimes it is a misunderstanding or misinterpretation that can be 
resolved with communication. If such incidents are not discussed, a 
person experiences racism where there was none yet terrible damage is done.

It may be something that needs to be brought to the instructor’s 
attention. Unintentional hurt is no less painful than that which is 
intentional – but my hope is that racial prejudice or insensitivity in 
our classrooms occurs not by design but out of ignorance. This requires 
faith and trust on everyone’s part so that fear (on the part of the 
student/colleague) and defensiveness (on the part of the instructor) can 
be minimized. The process of addressing and eliminating racism in the 
classroom and university needs to be addressed formally and informally.

I’m sure there is a “logical explanation” for the lack of an 
African-American on staff in the counseling center. Unfortunately all of 
these “logical explanations” add up to a lack of role models and 
resources for our African-American students. Thank you for your post to 
Raven-land. maggie

Maggie McMahon
Art Department

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