Dialogue About Race for Mongrels

Up until two years ago, I did not think about race every day. You may find this a funny statement when you realize that I am a Black woman, married to a White man, with three White stepchildren. In addition, my brother's family is Black and Hispanic. Even my Border Collie mix is black and white.

Race was there, but in the background. It didn't determine what door I entered, what water fountain I drank from, or where I sat on a bus. It didn't determine my wages or limit my ability to attend two of the best universities in the United States. So why now, in 2010, are we speaking of race and race relations as though it is 1950?

Because it takes our eyes off the real issues of our time. Like any good magician, our president knows that if we are looking at his right hand we will not notice what the left is doing. With something as sensitive and heart wrenching as our own attitudes about race in his right hand, we will not notice our country changing with his left. We will not notice the left hand creating positions above the purview of the House, Senate and Judiciary. We will not notice the slow nationalization of our industries through taxes, mandates and oversight. We will not notice the slow closing of our windows into our government's actions through slow repeal of the Freedom of Information Act requirements. We will not notice the redistribution of wealth through increased government employment and benefits. We will not notice the movement to remove the achievement-based character of Americans through increased incentives to accept government control and funding of our lives.

I pray that the speed with which our president is moving his left hand will avert our eyes from his right hand. I pray we will open our mouths and shout, "No more!"

America, you are not racist. We all have racial encoding from past experience, but if we treat each other as we would like to be treated--our humanity will always overcome any indoctrination that others try to instill in us. So trust your heart, America. Stop trying to prove that you are not something, and go back to being comfortable in your kindness and generosity. Don't let government make you question who you are. And don't let this administration distract you with meaningless arguments. Focus on being Constitution-based Americans!

We are of one race--we are Americans!