September 8, 2004

Face of racism more subtle

Workshop aims to educate public on how to spot racism in region

By SCOTT WARTMAN - The Herald-Dispatch

Local civil rights leaders hope a workshop this month will combat racism in the Tri-State.

Those who attend the approximately two hour workshop "The Race is on to Dismantle Racism in Huntington and the Tri-State" will learn how to spot racism and what to do, said Carolyne M. Brown, the Dismantling Racism Program Coordinator for the Commission on Religion in Appalachia, or CORA.

CORA and the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition are organizing the seminar on Sept. 18 at Unlimited Future, Inc. on Eighth Avenue. The seminar falls on the same day as the Huntington chapter of the NAACPs Annual Freedom Fund Banquet at Marshall University.

The workshop will show how racism manifests in the misuse of power and show those who attend the underlying causes of racism, Brown said. The workshop wont solve all the areas racial problems but will make people think about what needs changing, she said.

"At least I hope there can be some self-growth and self awareness to begin to think about the intricacies of the thread and how racism is threaded throughout our society in our systems and institutions, in our lifestyles and in the way we define ourselves," Brown said.

Many people dont understand what racism is and how it has changed over the years, she said.

Some civil rights leaders said racism has become more subtle since the civil rights protests in the 1950s and 1960s. While racism may not be as blatant as in the past, it still exists, said Sylvia Ridgeway, president of the Huntington chapter of the NAACP. Racism today takes the form of minorities getting passed over for jobs, better housing and generally having a harder time getting their foot in the door, she said.

"I think it has taken on a more subtle form. Back in the 1960s, it was more overt," Ridgeway said. "Now it is a sophisticated racism. It is hard to put your finger on it, but you know people are experiencing it."

The workshop can provide a good foundation to start addressing many of the racial issues that are still unresolved, Ridgeway said. People need to ask questions such as why there is a disparity between the education of black and white students, she said.

"We have to assume responsibility. It is up to us as individuals who have influence to speak out and ask why it happens," Ridgeway said.

The workshop is free to the public. Two trainers from CORA will conduct the meeting and discuss issues surrounding racism. Brown said she hopes to recruit five to 10 people willing to become trainers themselves and hold similar seminars in states all over the Appalachian region.

Becoming a trainer requires about 18 months to two years of studying and preparation to become familiar with the topic, she said. Brown said she hopes this will be the first of many workshops in the Tri-State, and she needs more people to make that happen.

The more people who are involved, the more people there are to spread awareness of racial issues, she said. Brown said she hopes this workshop will encourage people to get involved.

"We are only going to touch a small group of people(at the workshop)," Brown said. "There are other organizations and other groups in the community that may be interested in discussing the issue of racism."