Despite the fact that reporter assigned to cover this story got the initial notice wrong (hey – what can you expect from a staff writer who has only been here since May and covers public safety issues in Virginia Beach?) and then wrote an article that is long on selected quotes and short on substance, not to mention the fact that the photo caption in the printed copy is wrong (so much for those editors, I guess), The Hampton Roads Committee of 200+ Men, Inc. hosted a forum at St. Patrick Catholic School Saturday morning.
L-R: Tom Shields, Suzy Kelly (partially obscured), Beatriz Amberman, Ray Boone, Vivian Paige, Gary McCollum, Rudy Wilson
First, kudos to the 200+ Men for putting together such a diverse and comprehensive panel. I was honored to share the stage with Tom Shields, from the Center for Leadership in Education at the University of Richmond; Suzy Kelly, the self-described conservative from Chesapeake who recently lost her first bid at elected office but who feels like a winner because her positions are being taken up by others; Beatriz Amberman, a member of the Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission; Ray Boone, founder, editor and publisher of The Richmond Free Press; and Rudy Wilson, political science professor from Norfolk State University. Also joining us as a special guest was Rabbi Lawrence Foreman, director of the Institute for Jewish Studies and Interfaith Understanding at ODU.
There is no question in my mind that the issue of race is a topic not discussed openly often enough. Saturday’s gathering did nothing to refute that. The audience of 100 or so people, including Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim and Virginia Beach Delegate Joe Bouchard, listened as the panel offered their opinions on a wide range of topics, including whether America is ready to elect a black as president. While the issue may have appeared to have been about the candidacy of Barack Obama, in truth this forum was much more than that. There was an awful lot of information being exchanged – about the progress of blacks over the last 40 years, about “conservatives” versus “liberals,” about the appropriateness of a colorblind society – that made this forum well worth the time. The panel also took questions from the audience. Some of those “questions” took the form of statements, as has been my experience whenever I’ve participated in a forum like this. People want the opportunity to be heard. By the time we finished, it was not just the members of the panel who wanted to talk more: there were questioners/speakers lined up at both floor microphones who didn’t get a chance to be heard.
I was reading another blog a couple of days ago and someone commented that electing Barack Obama will mean the issue of race is over. I wish that commenter had been present Saturday because Obama as president is not a “get out of jail free” card for the issues of race. They will not magically disappear. That’s why forums such as this are so important. And I was please to hear someone say afterwards that this was “part 1.”
Yeah – let’s continue the conversation.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Wow! Leave Vivian out of a newspaper story and LOOK OUT!
Unlike you, Brian, I’m not a publicity hound. The reporter screwed up the announcement by saying the school was the host, not the 200+ Men and then wrote a pretty poor story about it. The caption in the photo printed in the paper incorrectly indentified moderator Gary McCollum as Dr. Thomas Shields.
Newspapers taking shots at bloggers when they do such shoddy work themselves warrants them being called on it.
I wish I could have been there and am glad you posted. I thought the VP’s coverage was little more than a “fluff” piece.
This is a dialogue that needs to continue and so often gets merely swept under the carpet or glossed over. It’s so easy for many to say that racism does not exist because it’s always there, right under the surface.
Love him or hate him- one of my favorite books on this subject is Cornell West’s “Race Matters”.
uh huh
“It’s so easy for many to say that racism does not exist because it’s always there, right under the surface.”
You just pegged my non-sequitur detector.
Ok, I’m once again of over multi-tasking again at work. I like to peruse the blogs while on long, boring conference calls 🙂
I also have a tendency to “submit” and not proof.
What I meant to say is:
It’s so easy for many to say that racism does not exist because it is below the surface and NOT always visable to everyone.
I have Bell’s Palsy and enjoy your blog very much. First time I’ve commented, but have been reading here and there.
Great blog. I enjoy reading it every chance I get and value your opinions!