When was the last time you discussed race and racism face-to-face with a person of another race?

[Hekate]

75. I was in my County Affirmative Action Commission for 13 years. Does that count?

I was on my way to the monthly meeting when the Rodney King riots broke out. My car was tuned to a Los Angeles station and I remember the litany of streets and blocks, until the signal broke up in the mountains. After I arrived at our mid-county meeting place, one of our African American members said: "I don't want my son to grow up in a world like this!" and I retorted "I don't want my son to grow up in a world like this either!"

Does that count?

I left the Commission about 2001, when I had to concentrate on finishing my doctoral dissertation (done and defended in February 2002), but it was clear that the AAC was not going to last much longer anyway, because the people of California had voted to end affirmative action. During its 30 years, though, the Commission transformed the face of the employee roster of the County of Santa Barbara into something resembling the population of the County itself, which is heavily Latino, along with much other solid work.

Does that count?

Effie, not all of us live next door to or share a cublcle with people of other races. Even when we do -- Most people don't want to pick scabs at their place of employment, nor rock the boat with their neighbors. Lunchrooms segregate themselves by both class and race. Class bites, by the way. When was the last time you tried to find something in common with a secretary or other clerical worker at your place of employment? Hint: I was that secretary.