Racism in America

In his article, “Can African-Americans Be Bigots, Too?” Fred Powledge writes that almost everyone, when asked, “professes a belief in the ideal of racial integration.” While I agree, I also believe that most people mistakenly equate “racial integration” to “minority assimilation.” This equation is dangerous because it implies that we can only achieve racial harmony in this country if minorities somehow change themselves in order to fit in. By asking people to assimilate into American culture, we are really asking them to conform to some mythical ideal of what a “real” American is and should be. Inherently, such thought provides a basis for racism.

Along with perpetuating racism, assimilationist thought also demands that minorities view themselves in dualistic terms: Am I American, or am I black?

I am tired of hearing the white majority demand that minorities achieve racial integration by quietly accepting their neighbors’ racist beliefs. I hope instead that we all realize that racial integration can only be achieved through a respect for and celebration of differentness of all kinds.

JULIE JUNG

Los Angeles