Well Shawn, should only hmong write of hmong issues,or natives write of native issues? I read in your post about folks of color but only see one color discussed. We have had a black mayor who robbed affordable housing and built upper class housing is this representing a community? We have had a black school superintendent but test scores keep falling for african american kids is this representation? We must break the old ideas that only this race or this culture can and should fix the problems of their respective community. Problems are ours to fix and we must come togeather as a community to address them. The only questions should be are a more conservative approach or a more liberal approach the direction to take. Dain Lyngstad phillips/edina --- Shawn Lewis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Erika Thorne: Paper could use more voices of color > Erika Thorne > > Published November 15, 2003 > > > The Star Tribune has had opportunities lately, such > as the David Jennings superintendent appointment > issue, to play a useful role in building > cross-cultural dialogue. I contend that you have > failed, for two reasons: > > � You have too few columnists and editorial writers > of color. This means you have little authentic voice > > from which to write the perspectives and nuances > of communities of color. This really comes through > on > issues that, because of historical and present-day > abuses, have a racial component. > > � Some white writers at the Star Tribune act as if > they have authenticity in commenting upon the > African-American community, or as if they can get > it through a few interviews and barbershop visits. > I've seen this in Doug Grow (Oct. 19), and also > Jim Boyd (Oct. 12). For such writers to attack > African-American leaders is offensive and wrong. > > The principle at stake is larger than certain > community leaders' stands, or who is school > superintendent: Will the Star Tribune wield the > power it has to build dialogue genuinely, or to > play out centuries-old racial dynamics between > those who have institutionalized power and those > who don't? > > No matter the issues you try to speak on, or > individuals you attack, as long as you employ these > tactics, you cut off your options for successful > dialogue and building the community environment > you say you want. > > The paper can do differently. For instance, writers > have questioned the credentials of African-American > leaders lately, asking "who do they represent?" > How many must someone represent in order to speak > out? > > I am white. Were you concerned during consideration > of printing this Counterpoint whether I represent > all white people? How many people of any culture do > Grow and Boyd represent? Was that a factor in > printing their columns? > > I may disagree strenuously with a given citizen's > or group's stand on an issue and/or tactics, but > it is counterproductive to denigrate their > credentials > and integrity. And it continues an entrenched > pattern > of racism: The power-holder uses that power to > attack > and destroy those who disagree. Find a leader of > color, listen sometimes, attack when her/his views > are inconvenient. > > On international and national issues, the Star > Tribune > stands on principles, you are not afraid to disagree > > with actions and policies, and you do so in a > respectful > way. I want you to do that with local issues that > include racial tension. Recognize when you don't > have > an authentic voice and stop acting as if you do. > Send > writers to listen to the authentic voices all around > > you, and report them. Get more voices of color on > staff, particularly in columns and editorials. > > Now that would be useful! > > Erika Thorne, Minneapolis, is a diversity workshop > facilitator. > http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/4211079.html > > Shawn Lewis, Field Neighborhood > > > > -- > __________________________________________________________ > Sign-up for your own personalized E-mail at Mail.com > http://www.mail.com/?sr=signup > > Search Smarter - get the new eXact Search Bar for > free! > http://www.exactsearchbar.com/ > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the > list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing > it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: > http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: > http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic > Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
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