The Black and White Cookie

There was a classic episode of Seinfeld in which Jerry goes into a bakery and orders one of those cookies that has half black, half white icing. He then proceeds to get sick to his stomach and blames it on the cookie, saying the black and white were not getting along. In a subtle way, the episode was a reminder that race relations are still a very divisive issue in the United States. For most of our nations history, there were legal obstacles to a racially assimilated society. As a result of the Civil Rights movement, most of these obstacles are gone. Many use this point to argue that issues of racial inequality are dead in the U.S. The legal obstacles though did not exist in a vacuum. They were the result of cultural obstacles. Although the Civil Rights Movement all but eradicated the legal issues, it unfortunately was not as successful with the cultural ones. That should not be surprising. It is practically impossible to legislate someones thoughts and attitudes. In a society built on freedom, it is especially difficult. As a result, we still live in a segregated society. I was born in 1972 in the honeymoon period following the Civil Rights Movement. I grew up believing that America was free of the past and was now an equal society. These ideas have been tempered for me by a bit of an existential awakening. My life is entirely monolithic. I am a white person who lives near, went to school with, works with, shops with, vacations near, and goes to church with (predominantly) other white people. This troubles me. This is not a result for me of any belief concerning race. I probably could be considered a bit progressive in my views on race. I have even used my job as a history teacher to try and effect change in my students' views on racial tension in America. The problem is my own reality does not seem to have been impacted by these views. If progress can ever be made in this area it will be because people decide to value others equally. I do not know that my segregated reality is because of some deep-seeded, hidden racism. I don't know that it is not though. I attended the funeral of my grandmother this week, and at the risk of seeming morbid, I can't help but consider my own. Who would come? I feel that if my life is spent loving others selflessly, it will be attended by black, white, rich, poor, old, young, Christian, non, etc... Youthful optimism maybe, but a personal goal nonetheless. In his "Letters From the Birmingham Jail," Dr. King said "Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear-drenched communities and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty."