“Race in America: We Would Like to Believe We are Over the Problem”

Mary Ann Cusimano Love wrote “Race in America: We Would Like to Believe We are Over the Problem.”  Her title captures the essence of her essay very well- “would like to believe” suggests that although it may be comfortable to be unconscious that way is wrong.  It makes the focus of her essay clear, but still leaves readers curious for more knowledge about her topic.

Love’s essay is centered on refuting a comment.  She shares Delegate Frank D. Hargrove Sr.’s statement that “‘blacks need to get over’ slavery” (451).  Her credibility is somewhat questionable by her quote use- she quotes “blacks need to get over,” and that could leave curiosity as to the reason(s) why she did not simply use the whole quote.  A reader might then wonder if she is taking something he said out of context, or if she changed the language to be more concise.  She hurts Delegate Hargrove’s credibility by sharing the context of his statement- it was made on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Virginia, where, historically, slavery began.  By stating that context, it could leave readers wondering if he has a prejudice against black people, if not only showing his own insensitivity to the issue of racial inequality.  

Love's sharing of the context of Delegate Hargrove's statement, and the fact that he is a Republican, hurts her credibility more.  She does not share Senator Obama or Marsh’s political affiliation, so sharing Hargrove’s in this context suggests that she is either trying to appeal to anti-Republicans, or is trying to hurt the image of the Republican party by paving the way for schemas about them.  In addition, stating the context of the statement seems irrelevant to her argument- she should not need to hurt the reputation of the man who said the statement to further her argument because the truth in the ideas matters, and whoever said them should be, essentially, irrelevant.

Love counters the argument that the currently living are not responsible for slavery, and hence should no action need be taken today to try correct any effects of it.  Love leads by example- she shares her own background, and faces the sad fact that she could very likely have had ancestors who owned slaves, as could be suggested by blacks and whites alike sharing her last name.  Rather than in an ignorant bliss absolve herself of the “moral responsibility” (450) owed to African-Americans today, Love follows this recognition with proof of current, unacceptable racial inequities to demonstrate America’s continued responsibility in the aftermath of slavery.

Love makes a strong argument for the need to make efforts directed at ending, or at least lessening, racial inequalities.  The first step to lessening racial inequities is recognizing them.  She uses past attorney general’s statistics that illustrate atrocious racial disparities to effectively support her thesis.  Large disparities in infant mortality and poverty rates are emotionally-loaded statistics, but these improve her argument because they are facts and ethically wrong.  This shows the harsh reality of racial inequality and demonstrates a reason recognizing race matters:  as Love concludes, communities must take action to shrink such racial imbalances. 

Love follows the disturbing statistics with evidence about the current existence of hate groups and a study that demonstrated the reality of internalized racism in young African-American children.  This shows that not only are African-Americans statistically disadvantaged in poverty and mortality rates, but there is also a great problem within American attitudes.  Not all Americans are hateful racists, but not nearly enough are taking action against racism, and there is much too much hate.

Love ends her essay with a very valid point.  She refutes the proposed solution of colorblindness as she suggests individuals take a stand against racism, and people make efforts to end social inequality.  Her suggestion for individuals to be intolerant of racism is underdeveloped- Love should define racism to make her argument more effective.  Hatred towards a certain race is obviously bad, so people’s attitudes need to change.  These changes are not only towards race- people need to forget every derogatory, dividing label they have learned or created and view everyone, including themselves, as the diverse beautiful humans that they are.  Forget political parties, forget socioeconomic status, and take it upon oneself to be a more conscious human being that holds unbreakable ties to the rest of the world.  With this comes the responsibility to help those in poverty, those with higher infant mortality, and those who are still unjustly discriminated against. 

Making such progress first requires awareness.  De Anza College Professor Ethan Lee’s class, Race, Ethnicity, and Social Stratification, should be a prerequisite for any people going to positions of power, from managers to police officers to teachers, because it gives people more knowledge on that subject.  The information in that class is highly relevant to solving racial inequality today.  It explores many concepts that could have been included in Love’s essay to make it stronger, like hegemony and racial formation, although it is unfair to expect her essay to provide as much insight and understanding as a class.  Love is right- there are still lots of problems surrounding race in America, and ignorance of such is not the solution.  The solution will be awareness leading to people making change as individuals, communities, and countries.