Building Bridges

Stevan Augustin, Roberta Medina, Mary Thomas

For three weeks in July, PebbleCreek homeowners gathered to view an award-winning series Race: The Power of an Allusion. This article is an overview of the program. Following each film, the audience engaged in a Q&A with lots of questions and discussion.

The first film, The Difference Between Us, centered on the facts around genetics, DNA and chromosomes, providing proof that people cannot be put into distinct biological groups or races. Much of the film explains why this is so. The PBS website states, “Modern humans – all of us – emerged in Africa about 15,000 to 200,000 years ago. Bands of Athuman beings began migrating out of Africa about 70,000 years ago.” The audience responded with surprise at the 99 percent similarity among all humans, as well as the discovery that the genetic makeup of people is not reflected in the outward appearance of individuals. The desire for more neighbors’ attendance was expressed. The audience seemed to grow each session and people suggested that the series be shown again in the fall.

The second film was The Story We Tell. “It’s true that race has always been with us, right? Wrong! Ancient peoples stigmatized others on the grounds of language, custom and life skill, but not race. It turns out, the concept of race is a recent invention.

At the time this country was established and the founding documents were written, the premise that “all men are created equal” was declared but not instituted. Instead, people were divided into groups based on physical characteristics such as skin color and qualities such as intelligence, levels of refinement and emotional maturity were ascribed to people based on beliefs about race and superiority. These divisions became rooted in the fabric of this country and institutionalized in customs and laws. These customs and laws firmly insured that those with white skin would enjoy benefits and privileges that would be denied to people of color. The installation and evolution of white privilege are deeply tied to the development of this country. The institutionalization of white privilege continues to persist today, contributing to the current race and class divisions in our society.

The third film, The House We live In, focused on the large government programs that were supposed to benefit every citizen, the G.I. Bill, Social Security and the Fair Housing Act. However, class separation and racial segregation persisted, leaving many Americans without access to the benefits of such policies and programs. In fact, housing policy was designed to protect the property interests of white people while excluding people of color from obtaining property in certain areas. Furthermore, individual attitudes and behavior among whites spilled over into every aspect of existence. Hence the common phrase “that’s just the way it’s always been”. The film focused on the subject of the ‘unmarked race’ race: white people. The film laid out how benefits quietly and often invisibly have accrued to white people, not necessarily because of merit or hard work, but because of the racialized nature of our laws, courts, customs and, perhaps most pertinently, housing.”

During discussions the concern about “preaching to the choir” was repeatedly raised. In response, Dr Whitaker noted that “we’ve educated, enlightened, motivated and established new allies in struggle and this is extremely important. Without apostles of love and peace to spread the word and build bridges, there can be no progress. If we define success by the number of people who don’t attend, rather than who do, we might never be successful.”

We are inviting everyone that reads this article and wishes to get involved, to please contact Roberta Medina at [email protected].