The media is reporting on the fallout of a "black face" racial incident that occurred at a Smith College "celebrity rehab" party last Friday.
Smith College’s Daily Jolt has experienced dozens of entries regarding the incident. Read more here: http://smith.dailyjolt.com/forum/index.html?more=31749
Television station CBS Channel 3 is also covering the story here: http://www.cbs3springfield.com/news/local/11628036.html
The Daily Hampshire Gazette also includes the issue on its front page above the fold in an article by Kristin Palpini entitled, "Costume gaffe prompts Smith to confront racism." Read more here (subscription required): http//www.gazettenet.com/
I’m not an expert on race relations but I have been wed long-time to an Asian American and have learned that it is important to keep an open mind when entering into discussions regarding cross cultural relations. As a Caucasoid I’ve found placing myself into another context helps. Historically I have been misunderstood around the supper table as I fumbled while eating short-grained rice and sashimi (raw fish sliced thinly) with chop-sticks and have misunderstood the actions of others toward my ethnicity and culture. It is a sensitive but necessary conversation to have though, if we are to continue striving for universal peace of mind. If people can look each other in the eyes in an attempt to understand one another, progress and mutual respect are possibilities. I suppose a vital element to success is a willingness to see things from another’s perspective and to empathize with the history behind the beliefs of others. Equality is not a given and we cannot hope as nation of diverse persons to achieve such peace without the prerequisite conciliation of our belief systems.
