Prominent anti-racist author and speaker Tim Wise spoke about the continuing reality of racism in the United States to an audience of more than 700 students at Sacramento State University Wednesday. Wise opened his lecture, "Colorblindness and its Consequences: How Ignoring Race Deepens the Racial Divide," with a personal story. He told the audience about when he lived with nine guys in Louisiana and one of his roommates made a pot of gumbo but never cleaned it up. Wise said the gumbo sat on... Stephengillis Cameron Marsh comment-25674 2010-04-26T20:11:21Z 2010-04-26T20:11:21Z Completely off topic but do you know Roberts Family Development Center on Del Paso ? I volunteered there a lot last year and it came to me as a good example of a fairly racially mixed group of Elementary kids for an after school program. It really amazed me how race didn't seem to factor into their playing decisions at all and often saw black,white,latino, asian, etc kids playing together in their little groups. I think after school programs like that help alleviate racial tension and show children just how stupid racism is. =] Cameron Marsh 2010-04-26T20:11:21Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25419 2010-04-22T19:56:33Z 2010-04-22T19:56:33Z TODAY'S WORD from Joel and Victoria Are you determined to forget the past? I know many people don't fully understand what that means. They wonder, "How can I forget something that's happened to me?" But one definition of the word forget is to disregard intentionally or to overlook. In other words, you have to choose to disregard your past so that it doesn't keep you from moving forward. That means the good and the bad. Sometimes our past victories keep us from rising higher as much as past failures. If we don't let go of the old, we'll never be able to embrace the new. It doesn't matter what's happened in your history, it's time to forget what lies behind. Make the choice today to look forward. Trust that God has a better future in store for you. Trust that He's working behind the scenes on your behalf. As you forget what lies behind and press forward, you will see the abundant life the Lord has in store for you! Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-22T19:56:33Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25375 2010-04-22T07:39:13Z 2010-04-22T07:39:13Z Thanks Cameron. I'm not ignoring your post either. I don't know when people reply either. But it won't let you reply to my comment because my comment was a reply to yours. You have to hit reply on your comment and it would post below mines.. I didn't get it at first and wondered why I couldn't reply to someone- lol But I didn't think you were ignoring me. I understand what you're saying and I do agree as an overall trend things have gotten far better. I do agree with you we shouldn't focus on skin tones but the individuals, people themselves... Heck, if I don't like people looking at all black youth as suspects surely I have to understand people not wanting someone to look at racism as a white problem. It's America's problems existing within all ethnic groups and within all ethnic groups their are not racists. It goes beyond white and it is unfair to label or target whites as a whole or any ethnic group....Fair is Fair and people should treat people the way they would want to be treated. Heck, if I were white I would be offended. I try my best to look beyond color heck I don't have to be white to also be offended for people who are white. I think it could have and should have been done differently. Thanks again. Much respect. Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-22T07:39:13Z Cameron Marsh comment-25361 2010-04-21T21:53:06Z 2010-04-21T21:53:06Z You do make a good point Rhonda regarding unemployment here and rising racial tensions as a result of it, I meant more overall as a trend not taking into account the biggest recession in seventy years. That is definitely a contributing factor; I live in the North Natomas area though and from what I've seen (graduating from Inderkum, first class ever in 2007) it has gotten a lot better than when I was in middle school at Leeroy Greene. For some reason my profile isn't telling me you replied to my comment and won't let me reply to you. So don't think I'm ignoring you! Cameron Marsh 2010-04-21T21:53:06Z JoAnn Anglin comment-25214 2010-04-20T17:14:20Z 2010-04-20T17:14:20Z Thank you for writing about this. I didn't know of this talk, and couldn't have made it anyway. Always disappointing when the other media don't cover the seminal thinkers we get at the local colleges & universities. Liked the article and the thoughtfulness of the comments. JoAnn Anglin 2010-04-20T17:14:20Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25167 2010-04-20T01:53:09Z 2010-04-20T01:53:09Z I think we should also focus on how the people themselves act. I agree Sacramento is the most culturally and racial diverse city. When my son-in-law came to visit from New Jersey. He was shocked with all the trees, flat land, houses spread apart… But the most surprising part of Sac he noticed was the different ethnic groups on my street. He said in Jersey it's not like that. People of one race generally live in their own racial neighborhood. He was surprised and enjoyed the cultural differences in the neighborhood. But I disagree that racial tension is at an all time low in Sacramento. With the rise in unemployment...... as well as various other factors-- racial tension is high in Sac. It's often the displaced anger, frustration caused by unemployment which allows racism to float above the surface. If we want to see racial tension at an all time high all we really have to do is read many comments left on the Sac Bee site on various articles written regarding immigration, crime.... With many people loosing their jobs, many who could not get a job before this recession…with the economic,/ unemployment climate we’re facing heck, racism is high and should be discussed.. However I really don't agree with the way Tim Wise goes about addressing/ discussing it. Heck we should look at things as good vs evil, right vs wrong, love vs hate.... instead of black vs white... Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-20T01:53:09Z Cameron Marsh comment-25145 2010-04-19T20:15:07Z 2010-04-19T20:15:07Z Did he talk about racism commited against white people as well? I don't like the tone of this article as it doesn't address that his constant comparisons that people are only affraid of black people is missing the point. How many people are scared of the white guy in the broken down Ford wth the NRA sticker on it? The point is not to focus on skintones but how the people themselves act. Sacramento is one THE most cutlurally and racial diverse city in America and we have very few segregated neighborhoods compared to other towns and cities. Of course we do have some but the majority is mixed and racial tensions are at an all time low here. Cameron Marsh 2010-04-19T20:15:07Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25100 2010-04-19T02:32:47Z 2010-04-19T02:32:47Z Does racism still exist? absolutely. Heck LA just had a supremacist demonstration.... but that's not a reflection of all white Americans racism isn't a reflection of all Americans within any ethnic group. Heck, if a white person from a low income community wore a hoodie.... he would not have gotten away with stealing billions. Heck, prisons aren't just filled with minorities so white people are arrested and charged with crimes other than on wall street. But I won't deny often their appears to be a sentencing disparity but we could look at the man in the mirror-- or the individual sentencing... I think in addressing issues of race too many take the easy road and paint a black and white picture cause it's simple when addressing racism has many shades of gray. We can't or shouldn't 'simply' address a 'complex' issue. Just as with addressing any other issue when addressed on the surface it can and often does cause more division.... I think he should have held the forum at Sac State surely the college students can add and subtract from the division which could be formulated. And the key to the future can sometimes be the same key to unlocking the past where discussions on race can prevent history from repeating itself.... But as with anything we can't fight today's battles with yesterday's weapons for many reasons..... Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-19T02:32:47Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25058 2010-04-19T02:02:53Z 2010-04-19T02:02:53Z John, I also agree with your post. It's very important to look at the man in the mirror. One thing that concerns me when we have this type of discussion is that we lump everyone within a race into the same category. I think if we didn't generalize it appearing all whites or all blacks.... then less would be offended. Because in reality racism doesn't just exist within one race and not everyone in a particular race is racist. So, we should look at the man in the mirror. And I like the we all have barriers to overcome message. Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-19T02:02:53Z Rhonda Erwin comment-25057 2010-04-19T01:54:48Z 2010-04-19T01:54:48Z Stephen: what a good answer, and even better follow-up questions. And to think you are only 22 yrs young wow I am impressed. Rhonda Erwin 2010-04-19T01:54:48Z Lindol French comment-25045 2010-04-18T17:17:46Z 2010-04-18T17:17:46Z Well said Ayotollah. "Ignoring race deepens the racial divide"? The premise is laughable. What happened to judging people by the content of their character, not the color of their skin? Lindol French 2010-04-18T17:17:46Z Davi Rodrigues comment-24915 2010-04-16T06:02:49Z 2010-04-16T06:02:49Z I'm not denying that there is still racism out there. I am rejecting mr Wise's solution to it. You don't stop racism by committing more racism. White people hardly have a corner on the market. I lived with a black woman when I was young, and was treated badly by both blacks and whites. Latino's, blacks, and asians all have exhibited the same racially exclusive/specific characteristics that mr Wise believes are only endemic to caucasians, and they do it in their countries of origin, with no prodding or influence by whites. Mr wise is plying the trade of a race hustler. we've been seeing a rise in that craft lately. People like Wise are not coming to Colleges to solve problems; they come to sieze control of the issues Davi Rodrigues 2010-04-16T06:02:49Z efsacramento comment-24905 2010-04-16T03:36:05Z 2010-04-16T03:36:05Z The expression "Some of my best friends are black" can actually have a literal rather than ironic meaning if white people would start paying attention to the different treatment black people receive from white people. By different I mean worse and that means an experience distinctly less desirable than the experiences of whites which racists often claim are the same with their typival clueless quote of "everybody has hurdles in their life in all races."Slavery ended black people still are treated like shit and by white people. And it is much deeper than economic justice. Just ask wealthier black people to describe some of the crap they/ve had to endure in their own neighborhoods. If stopped without a license then its likely, no matter how expensive the clothing and car might match the area, or even if the cop suspects you do live there, you can expect a very degrading situation and probably a jail visit that might be brief but meant to send a message.. No not all whites and cops are racist but there are alot who are so inclined. This is why we need discussions like the Sac State event. If you think claims of racism are overblown, then you are either racist or you're not paying attention. Once you see it, you see it often. I see it and, as a white person, I think black people have been remarkably patient with ignorance they have had and still do endure. efsacramento 2010-04-16T03:36:05Z Davi Rodrigues comment-24896 2010-04-16T00:03:07Z 2010-04-16T00:03:07Z I didn't know about it until after the fact. I doubt Mr wise would have wanted a different opinion anyway. Lectures are usually a one sided affair as I recall. One person speaking to a bunch of impressionable young minds. I'd be glad to host a lecture with a different message, although it won't revolve around demonizing specific races of people Davi Rodrigues 2010-04-16T00:03:07Z Death Valley comment-24882 2010-04-15T20:46:53Z 2010-04-15T20:46:53Z Did any of the Tea Partiers make it to this last night? Death Valley 2010-04-15T20:46:53Z Davi Rodrigues comment-24865 2010-04-15T17:28:45Z 2010-04-15T17:28:45Z His message does not seem to be aimed at stopping racism, but rather avenging it. The swinging pendulum approach. Just push it back rather than stop it. It's just the same practice with a different race at the helm. Davi Rodrigues 2010-04-15T17:28:45Z John Boyer comment-24862 2010-04-15T17:10:09Z 2010-04-15T17:10:09Z We all have barriers to overcome. Should be the message. Personal responsibility is a better message if we are all are to reach a point in history where we all get along and trust each other. MJs "man in the mirror" undercuts all the racism rhetoric. Otherwise you just fan the flames when going round and round on the subject of race. John Boyer 2010-04-15T17:10:09Z Stephen Gillis comment-24837 2010-04-15T16:12:22Z 2010-04-15T16:12:22Z Sure it is. But does one type of racism negate another? Does it mean anything if the consequences to those types of racism are different? If so, should we treat them differently? Stephen Gillis 2010-04-15T16:12:22Z Davi Rodrigues comment-24835 2010-04-15T15:02:39Z 2010-04-15T15:02:39Z To indict Whites only by virtue of race is also racism. Davi Rodrigues 2010-04-15T15:02:39Z