[Mpls] 5th Ward: Color based Bias

[David Strand]

I am seeing lots of references in the media to race
being a central part of the conversation in the 5th
ward race when it seems to me the real issue is Don
Samuel's comments(alleged?) which could be intepreted
to disclose a deep bias towards his constituents and
neighbors based on their skin color(and to a lesser
extent class) and not on the basis of their race.

Color and race are both included in nondiscrimiantion
laws for a reason and I find it interesting that much
of the local "mainstream" media seems unable to
distinguish between what are clearly two distinct
issues--race and color.

Biased attitudes based on color are certainly as
undersireable in any community leader as bias based on
race, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, sex,
gender identity, ability, nation of origin, or other
characteristics, common to us all, on the basis of
which people are often subjected to unlawful
discrimination.

I don't know if it is the frame of the rhetoric
employed by some of the critics of these comments or
if it is a lack of awareness of the problem of color
based bias, or both, that has lead so few in the
broader community to find the comments suspect or
problematic.

Or perhaps silence is a sign that people are listening
to or for voices in the communities subject to these
comments to throw futher light on the controversy.

There is rarely something quite so incendiary that so
many voices which speak to such issues with frequency
remain so silent about on this list or in this
community.  Perhaps it is the very controversial
nature of the comments that have caused people to
withhold comment or an uncertaintity relative to
context of the comments and a desire to withhold
judgement that leads to this silence, but I fear,
based on some comments in the media and on this list
that many simply don't understand why the comments
were controversial and I don't want an opportunity for
the  broader community to have a productive
conversation(if one can be had during a pressurer
cooker partisan poitical campaign) about color based
bias which may be revealing and informative for many
who haven't given it much thought before.

So, for the edification of us all, I'd like to hear,
outside of the context of this campaign, what are
listmembers perceptions relative to color based bias
in Minneapolis?  How much of a problem is it and what
can or is being done about it in our community?  


David Strand
Loring Park


	
		
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