THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 1, 1996 TAG: 9602030283
SECTION: THE AFRICAN AMERICAN TODAYPAGE: 34 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Special section
SOURCE: BY CHARLISE LYLES
LENGTH: Long : 152 lines
``Like life, racial understanding is not something that we find but something that we must create. And so the ability of Negroes and whites to work together, to understand each other, will not be found ready- made; it must be created by the fact of contact.''
- Martin Luther King Jr.
Black women ejected from beauty parlor chairs in jubilation, jumping as if in a holy dance-trance.
Whites froze in shock and disbelief as if numbed mute.
The O.J. verdict.
How could people living in ``one nation under God, indivisible. . . '' see justice through such differing eyes?
It was as if the lurid, protracted trial had a mission: To mirror America unto itself - the deeply divided nation that neither blacks nor whites dare to talk about when their paths cross at the proverbial water fountain. . . and they smile, exchange pleasantries and quietly go separate ways.
But in Hampton Roads, small groups of blacks and whites are defying that silence. In Portsmouth, Norfolk and across city lines, at least three groups have formed to dialogue on the real deal with race relations.
They've talked about affirmative action, O.J. Simpson, the Million Man March, racism in the workplace, Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, alleged racial killings in North Carolina.
Up close and sometimes in each other's faces, participants say they have come to understand one another a little better - something legislation, court and even executive orders can't accomplish.
``There is so little I understand about the African-American,'' said Dr. Barry Einhorn of Norfolk, a member of the African-American/Jewish Coalition. ``It is very complex.''
In October, the coalition took a bus ride to Washington to visit the Holocaust and African American history museums. They argued all the way home, but found harmony in their discord.
Dialogue is crucial for groups to move on to the next step of working together, said Carlos Howard, a Norfolk funeral director and coalition member. The group is now talking action, such as business projects, another bus trip, speakers and book donations to schools.
All agree that to take part in dialogues, you must be willing to listen to things you don't want to hear.
Diversity dialogues are happening across the country.
The federal government is even funding the talk. In 1993, the National Endowment for the Humanities launched the ``National Conversation on American Pluralism and Identity.'' So far, $4.9 million in grants has gotten folks talking about race relations in 224 cities and towns in 41 states.
``Each project is . . . opportunity for individuals to discuss frankly with other Americans of diverse backgrounds the nature of the differences among us as a people, but also the common threads that knit us together as Americans,'' said NEH chairman Sheldon Hackney.
``It is a topic of critical importance, and much is at stake.''
Liberals and conservatives have criticized federal funding for talk. Columnist George Will has said there's already enough talk; why subsidize it?
In Virginia, the United Negro College Fund recently received a $62,000 NEH grant to conduct 24 conversations on African-American and Jewish relations to be held at historically black colleges.
Newspapers are also in on the talk. In 1994, The Akron Beacon Journal received a Pulitzer Prize for a series on race relations, in which the newspaper played a key role in getting the conversation going.
In recent years, The Virginian- Pilot has played host to several focus groups and ``community conversations'' on race. Excerpts were published in the Sunday Commentary section.
Four years ago, when a group of Portsmouth residents and city employees were asked to determine the city's worst problems, race relations ranked No. 1.
``Face to Face With Race'' study circles were the result. Most people are reluctant to talk about race. So, circles have not exactly formed as fast as chat rooms on the Internet.
But about 58 people have taken part so far.
Does talking really do any good?
``I feel persons who have been in the study circles have more appreciation for people they hadn't known, but know now because of the dialogue,'' said Helen Fooshe, volunteer chairwoman of Face to Face with Race. ``And at any particular time, they are willing to be more open to persons that they do not know.''
Below are pointers from Fooshe on starting and conducting your own diversity dialogue.
Get the word out: Write letters to ministers, civic groups, organizations and community leaders asking them to recommend residents who may want to participate.
``We ask people who have been in a study circle to ask other people to call us and be in a circle,'' says Fooshe.
Limit group size to no more than 14: Any larger than that doesn't allow enough time for everyone to participate.
Schedule two-hour sessions for five weeks: Talk for an hour and a half, then start the closure to ensure that people don't leave with issues unaddressed.
Find a trained facilitator or two to guide discussion: ``The facilitator isn't there to give his or her opinion,'' says Fooshe. ``She's there to help others take turns and not let anybody usurp all of the conversation all the time, and to be aware of how others are reacting.
``It's good if there are two. It's easier to watch and listen. They can play off of each other.''
Lay ground rules: No interrupting when someone is talking. No accusatory remarks, finger-pointing or labeling.
``This means no judgment of the person,'' Fooshe says. ``You may not agree with the idea that the person expresses. You're free to say your opinion, but not to judge them as a person for having that opinion.''
Listen to what other people say. ``We're so busy getting ready to say something ourselves that we don't listen,'' she says. ``Listening to what others say enables you to appreciate them more.''
Move beyond superficial dialogue:
In the first session, share and explore experiences growing up, black and white.
Next, move on to issues such as affirmative action, stereotypes, the workplace.
Then discuss what action you can take to improve race relations.
``About that time, the facade seems to disappear and people express genuinely what they really feel,'' says Fooshe. ``Sometimes that's difficult because what they say isn't always what you really want to hear.
``At that time, the facilitator reminds us not to make accusations. And the activity that may have started out on a superficial level becomes more genuine.''
Diversity. . . dialogue - they've practically become buzz words for the 1990s. Is it all just talk? Or will the efforts yield real results?
Want to talk about race relations? Here are some contacts for diversity dialogue.
African-American/Jewish Coalition
Betsy Karotkin at the United Jewish Federation 489-8040
Face to Face With Race study circles
Helen Fooshe 398-9044
Portsmouth city staff liaison Van Johnson
393-8874
Informal ministers group
The Rev. David Slayton
Green Run Baptist Church 427-5087
Rev. Geoffrey V. Guns
Tidewater Metro Baptist Ministers Conference
627-8462
The Virginian-Pilot
Community Conversations
Bill Sizemore 446-2276
The National Endowment for the Humanities/
National Conversation on American Pluralism and Identity
Room 406
1100 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, D.C. 20506
1-800-NEH-1121
KEYWORDS: SPECIAL SECTION SUPPLEMENT AFRICAN-AMERICAN
HISTORY BLACK HISTORY by CNB