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My response on another thread this week-

I can’t understand or know what it means to be a black American. I do understand the values my family taught me by example and by talking about race. During the marches in the 60’s a lot of folks in our town went with the minister of our church to march in the South with MLK and others. I remember it clearly- and the discussions we had in school, at church, around the table etc..My family taught me that all races are different- but all are equal. They used the example of ice cream- “ See how many flavors there are...but they’re ALL ICE CREAM”... It was normal for my friends (of different races) and me to think that way, and to behave that way.

I’ve tested those values out in the real world- they’ve never proven false or led me to a mistaken conclusion. My friends and acquaintances are from a variety of backgrounds and skin colors. That seems normal, because this is America and we’re all American. Aren’t we?

This Jeremiah Wright and his sermons has upset and shaken me more than I can express. For the first time in my entire life, I am suddenly looking at people’s skin color, first. I didn’t realize how little attention I’ve paid to skin color, until I suddenly started seeing it, if that makes sense. Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does? Am I hated and reviled for being a white woman by black people? Or just a couple..or a dozen..or all of them?

I’ve lost my bearings.

Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does?

There are exceptions, but unfortunately, that's the conclusion I've come to.

The exceptions, as you may well know, are black conservatives - for they are true in the Christian Spirit, and forgave.

I had the experience of working in a 95% black workforce in Atlanta for a couple of years. Though I never considered myself a racist, I have to admit that I had some stereotyped attitudes that were shattered. Stereotypes such as what kind of music they might like, what kind of books they might read, what they might like to cook and eat, etc. Somehow I never pictured black men listening to Acoustic Alchemy or making pastries or being masters of corporate networking. So I was guilty, and now I know better.

There was, however, a very subtle hint of uneasiness about white America and how we see them. Some were not so subtle. But there were only one or two out of hundreds that might have shared Jeremiah Wright's sentiments, IMHO. The rest have moved on and don't have time to be victims anymore. If anything, most of them were merely annoyed that more whites don't know that they have moved on. And they do their jobs excellently. I may have only been included in the workforce due to affirmative action ;)

do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does?

Wow, this has been eyeopening to me as well. Is it any wonder why black people have heavy chips on their shoulders? This certainly explains to me Michele Obama's disdain for the white man.......I wondered why a woman with so much to be proud of, having gone so far with her brain, an educated, bright, wealthy woman STILL feels the way she does, it's no mystery that young, uneducated blacks jump right up onto the reverend's bandwagon, declaring themselves victims. I have been SO naive.....

Yes.

...Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does? Am I hated and reviled for being a white woman by black people? Or just a couple..or a dozen..or all of them? I’ve lost my bearings.

You've expressed exactly what I feel. Thanks for an excellent post, SE Mom.

This Jeremiah Wright and his sermons has upset and shaken me more than I can express. For the first time in my entire life, I am suddenly looking at people’s skin color, first. I didn’t realize how little attention I’ve paid to skin color, until I suddenly started seeing it, if that makes sense. Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does? Am I hated and reviled for being a white woman by black people? Or just a couple..or a dozen..or all of them?

You speak for me as well. How can I trust any black that I don't know well not to be wearing a mask and seething with hatred for whites that he or she vents in church or among black friends?

Jeremiah Wright has set back race relations in America at least a generation, perhaps as much as 50 years.

Hi SE Mom,

I hope you feel better over time. I won’t speak for others but this conservative American has no issue with you or white people in general. If there is an issue, I’m smart enough to see it for what it is.

As my grandmother taught me, racism reflects a defect in the perpetrator whoever they may be.

" Now I look around, at the store, in my neighborhood, my church and wonder...do these black people I see around me think of me the way Jeremiah Wright does? Am I hated and reviled for being a white woman by black people?"

A few years back my daughter and family went to California for vacation. Coming home they took the wrong turn and ended up in downtown Oakland. Now having lived in California before she knew it was a black community but she had to go to the bathroom real bad so they stopped at a gas station. She found the bathroom locked so asked the attendant if he would unlock it. He asked her; "Do you have any idea where you are?" She said; "Yes, Oakland and I need to go to the bathroom. He said she couldn't use it and that they keep it locked because they find to many dead bodies in it. He told her she better hurry up and get out of there.