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Readers respond to "Skinheads in my living room"

 

I expected epithets from the Aryan race after last month's column about Skinheads (October 20th). But instead received support from many of you, with a few questions and comments for the record.

One reader wrote, "I was involved in a racist group for over two years. My path was very much like Derek's (a Skinhead who reformed in 'American History X,' which I discussed in the column). The movie was very honest to me and I cried for a long time after seeing it. I just want people to know that not all Skinheads are racist. If you have any questions email me back." I did.

He offered a personal history of Skinheads which he said began in the1960s and "was all about the working class and the little man. Race wasn't an issue, but money was and most Skins didn't like rich people." Later, racist factions emerged, he told me, and since then the media has lumped all sub-groups together.

I believe him, but I'm worried about those racist factions. From my reading of Internet websites, research articles on prejudice, and that startling piece on white supremacy in The Seattle Times (Sunday, October 31st), I worry about the undercover racism that appears to be growing. The Times article mentioned "free-agent" racists and "hate entrepreneurs" who are pushing racist doctrine over the Net. One leader interviewed said, "Today's white supremacist doesn't always wear a hooded robe, isn't a poorly educated loser and may be a highly motivated woman entering the movement because of her beliefs." My colleagues, neighbors, friends? That's scary.

Maybe this kind of closet racism is growing because the non-white population is rising and white people are losing majority status. Some whites are terrified of losing power, and they can't imagine sharing it.

One person wrote that racism "is creeping back up from the hiding places it took during the bright focused light of the civil rights revolution 30 years ago. The complacency and inaction of blacks and whites with the best intentions has allowed the forces of racism to strengthen and recover."

We see evidence of those forces following news stories with white vs. black characters, like Rodney King, O.J. Simpson, James Byrd. The stories stir up volcanoes of racist feelings that lie below the surface until such incidents cause them to erupt. The public discourse that follows is often vicious and rarely persuades anyone to think differently.

Of course, it's a strident minority that participates in those rude outbursts. Many of you maintain that race relations have improved and continue to. One reader wrote, "I see far more reason to celebrate the progress that has been made … than to despair." Yes, there are certainly more racially mixed friendships and families. More people of color have joined the middle class, entered esteemed professions and become leaders. That's significant progress, and perhaps that's another reason for the growing fear and backlash among some white Americans.

In spite of clear advances, one-third of African Americans remain in an urban underclass culture that perpetuates drugs, unemployment, family instability, and poor school performance. Some argue that since legal barriers to black advancement have been removed, the responsibility for change lies within the black community. Perhaps, but in reality, urban blacks who try to escape the pattern are shadowed by a stereotype that characterizes them as unreliable, undereducated, and dangerous. That's a tough rap to beat when looking for a job or any equal treatment. The research shows that discrimination still abounds.

I'm no expert on race relations and don't pretend to have any right answers. Probably there will always be some people who hate others, and acts of violence will continue to haunt the news. Still, I'm hopeful for the new millennium. While white purists rage over the Internet, there are plenty more young people artfully mixing colors so that by the time they're in charge, color clashing may be rare and insignificant. Maybe.

Whether we like it or not, the race issue is still here today. Like jammed traffic and rogue politics, we want the problem solved and off the page. But the race thing keeps coming back, and it won't disappear until we accept diversity, or until most Americans are kind of whitish-yellowish-brownish and it doesn't matter anyway.

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