From Yolanda

As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday and his work in the civil rights movement, as we reflect on the civil rights that we continue to work toward, and as we prepare for Black History Month, race relations are on my mind. It causes me to think about an aspect of race that we don’t often talk about — reverse discrimination.

Do we (no matter which race you identify with) discriminate, and if so, in what ways do we show our prejudice? Do we communicate our racism through words with blatantly derogatory statements; through our attitudes when we are suspicious of the motives of others based on skin color; even through our agendas where we may fail to include or consider others in specific categories? Do we have a tendency to single out or show favoritism based on our own perceptions of race, culture or class?

What is the value in having this dialogue? I believe that we are faced with an opportunity to develop a better awareness of ourselves. Like “Archie Bunker,” we may not even be aware of some our own racist behavior. Some of it would surprise us, some of it we may recognize and realize that we do these things without conscious thought. We’ll feel justified for our behavior, we’ll be offended by the discussion, and we’ll feel demeaned and smaller for having been guilty of some of it. But, we can have moments of revelation, we can make changes for the better, and most importantly, we can bring another dimension of truth and understanding to all conversations about race.

Please be a part of the dialogue hosted by Northend Agent’s in all of its formats, in print by emailing me at yallen@northendagents.com, through our online blog by visiting www.northendagents.com, or through social media by commenting at FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001405295853 or Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/NEAnewspaper.

Publication Schedule for 2012 – February 1 & 15, March 7 & 21, April 4 & 18, May 2 & 16, June 6 & 20, July 4 & 18, August 1 & 15, September 5 & 19, October 3 17, November 7 & 21, December 5 & 19, 2012

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May God’s Love, Peace, Health and Prosperity Be Yours

Yolanda Allen