Conversations on Race (Part 2)
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This week, Elayna Shakur, Henry Darby, and Armand Derfner tell their stories of race relations. An artist, a school administrator (and Charleston County councilman), and a veteran civil rights lawyer bring their perspectives to a cloud of national turmoil and hope around the years we have spent dealing with race.
Viewers will hear the words "hate" and "love" and all the emotions that fall in between. Unlike our first show on race, which editor Mark Duryee spiced with extraordinary historical footage, this one is a collection of "answers only" to questions about race relations.
It feels more like sitting in the homes of these remarkable people and listening to their stories. More footage of the interracial dialogue facilitated by Greg Liotta at the College of Charleston gives a feel for the innovative work being done by young folks today.
Response to our first race show has been encouraging. Thanks to all who have been so kind. We plan to create more of these shows based on the 18 interviews we've done.
Critical to this show is the question of progress. How many black folks are running banks, insurance companies, manufacturing firms, car dealerships, or other businesses? Blacks have made tremendous progress in many fields, but are still boxed out in others. We recently heard Charleston County Council Chair Tim Scott talk about the number of appointments he makes over the telephone only to receive an entirely different reaction when he shows up in person. As Rep. Jim Clyburn said in our most recent show, "Race always matters."
How can this still be true in 2007? How was Dr. King's dream deferred? What do we do now? For those who missed the last show, Linda Ketner offered a place to start--call someone of another race and invite them to lunch in your home, go to the movies with them, invite their children for sleepovers. It's a way to start getting to know each other as individuals.
Charleston writer Stephanie Hunt wrote a moving reflection in a recent edition of Skirt Magazine about one of her children attending a sleepover in the home of an African American child. At one level, she said it was simply no big deal, but at another she realized that in all likelihood her child was the first member of her family on either side for generations back who had ever slept in the home of a black person.
We hope this series will spark a dialogue across SC. Here’s how you can get involved:
Answer 3 questions we asked in our interviews. Send us an email, and we’ll share your answers on the website. If you’d like to be interviewed for our ongoing series, send us your phone number.
1. What is your most painful memory of race?
2. What messages did you get from your parents about race relations?
3. What messages about race do you hope to convey to the next generation?
Click here to view answers from other people affected by racism. |
