Speaking of Race

Racial bias is part of the human condition.

Delving into racial tensions and exploring individual feelings about race doesn’t come easily to anyone. Race is a fraught topic. Conversations about race tend to leave people feeling embarrassed or angry, yet everyone harbors some kind of prejudice about other people’s race, religion, where they live or the car they drive.

Celeste Headlee’s grandfather was a prominent African-American composer who married a white woman. Headlee’s skin is so light, she says, that many people assume she’s white, but not the elementary school classmate who referred to her using a racist slur. As a biracial person in racially fraught times, Headlee identifies with her Black and Caucasian relatives. Because she doesn’t immediately appear Black, she notes for example, store employees don’t follow her around, and she has little fear of dealing with the police.

Most Americans don’t know when they are exhibiting bias. For example, Harold Washington, the first Black mayor of Chicago, told Hispanic immigrants they should learn to speak English. Only open discussion can close such a gap.

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