As a conservative agreeing with President Trump on many issues, I am not automatically a racist. I don’t have to be defensive. My life speaks for itself, and those casting racist aspersions toward folks like me do not know me and my life or yours. It is blind condemnation similar to the type that forms the heart of racism itself.
Below you will find my latest effort to help us improve race relations. I invite fellow conservatives to resist defensiveness and find more motivation to do something to improve race relations in our great country!
Ten questions (and subs) to ponder and answer — or not:
1. Has “racist” become a political term? If so, how did that happen?
2. Is there a blurring of the line between “racism” and “prejudice”? Does it matter? How?
3. Do you live in an “integrated” neighborhood? What tells you that?
4. If you are white, do you know one or more black person you can talk with about racially charged issues? If not, should you?
5. If you are black, do you know a white person you can talk with about such issues? If not, should you?
6. If the person in front of you in a checkout line is of a race other than yours, is your patience level with their delay any different than it would be with a similar delay caused by someone of your own race? If so, how is it different and why?
7. Do you think you are carrying any racial luggage from your childhood? Is there any reason why you have not unloaded that luggage?
8. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest score, how colorblind are you when it comes to attitudes about race? Is the score you gave yourself something you feel good about?
9. Per your results from #8, is there something you think you need to do that might help you change your score for the good?
10. If there is something you need to change, who would the change help? Name those people, and pray for them to get the help!
By the way, if you don’t need any constructive change, you can make the next list of questions.
S. McEachin “Mac” Otts is the author of “Better Than Them, The Unmaking of an Alabama Racist”
Don’t miss out! Subscribe today to have Alabama’s leading headlines delivered to your inbox.