Three incidents reported this month:
In October, the Southampton Board of Education - Scarecrow Doll Causes Racial Stir (1).
Last week, a figure with a black face, wearing a hat and hanging from a noose in a resident's backyard in Southampton. (2)
Now the noose at Cablevision. (3)
Racism runs deep. It infects the hearts of both White and Black Americans. Without conscious, deliberate, and sustained effort, no one can remain unaffected by its corrosive influence. Both groups must realize that such a problem can neither easily nor immediately be resolved. Let neither think that anything short of genuine love, extreme patience, true humility, consummate tact, sound initiative, mature wisdom, and deliberate, persistent, and prayerful effort, can succeed in blotting out the stain which this patent evil has left on our country.
Blacks and Whites must understand that no real change will come about without close association, fellowship, and friendship among diverse people. Racism is the most challenging issue confronting our country and to ignore the problem is to expose all of us to physical, moral, and spiritual danger.
Diversity of color, nationality, and culture enhances the human experience for all of us.
The responsibility for the achievement of racial peace and unity rests upon all of us! I pray that "2007" will bring all of us together to work for peace!
Cynthia Richardson
East End Director, Urban League
Riverhead Town Anti-Bias Task Force
---------------------------------
(1) Southampton School Board Meeting in October. Reported by Southampton Press -
(2) Indy East End
http://www.indyeastend.com/PicPaperBody.lasso?-token.issue=2006-12-13&-token.page=4
(3) Newsday - Cable Workers Sue:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/ny-lisue1216,0,756689.story?coll=ny-
