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Several years ago I began paying more attention to Rochester’s status as one of the most segregated communities in the country (One aspect of white privilege is that we don’t have to pay attention). Because of where I lived (Penfield) and how I lived, I was complicit in this racial segregation. I hung out with… Continue reading An Antidote to Tribalism

Picture the “Welfare Queen”. I know you can because you’ve absorbed the same images I have, from hundreds of campaign ads, news reports, and the sneering comments from dozens of relatives, co-workers or neighbors.  Some typical components: Black Heavy Several kids by several fathers, all absent The disheveled kids wander the hood while she plants… Continue reading Meeting the “Welfare Queen”

Guest Blog from Howard Eagle: I would like to thank Frank for the opportunity to "speak directly [and somewhat extensively] to all" of you. That is, providing you actually take the time to read this. It is important for us to be completely honest and acknowledge the fact that, part of the critical missing element… Continue reading A Critical Missing Element – Urgency!

A debate often arises about white people who wish to have a positive impact on racism: How much time and energy to spend on self-study vs. action?  Howard Eagle, for one, is often challenging me/us to stop the navel-gazing self-discovery and move into ACTION.  Of course, he's right.  As one Black woman said in a… Continue reading “Why All This Self-Examination?”

I was talking recently with a white acquaintance, a man who has consistently sought to convince me that when it comes to racism, he’s clean: not a racist thought, loves all equally, knows some very nice Black people, etc.. We were talking about the G.I. Bill post-WWII. I mentioned that while white G.I.’s were able… Continue reading Unpacking a White Mind