Conversation is just beginning

Re “When haven’t we talked about race?” Opinion, March 25

Jonah Goldberg flippantly dismisses Sen. Barack Obama’s call for a national dialogue about race. As a white criminal defense attorney, I am frequently reminded of the latent anger in the African American community caused by ongoing racial discrimination.

That discrimination is evidenced by disproportionate unemployment, school funding and incarceration rates. The magnitude of racial tension in the African American community was demonstrated by the riots that occurred after Los Angeles police beat Rodney King. Now that Obama has a serious chance of reaching the White House, a new discussion of race will commence whether Goldberg wants it or not.

Jerry Wallingford

San Diego

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Goldberg misses the point completely. This may not be the first time race has been the subject of conversation in America; however, it is the first time a candidate for president -- one who stands with one foot in black and one in white -- has spoken so clearly about the subject. I am 63 years old, and this is the first time I have heard the “white” side of the issue. The anger at affirmative action that Obama expressed is exactly what I heard my white companions express whenever we discussed race.

Phil Boiarski

Columbus, Ohio

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Goldberg is spot on. I find that a majority of those who complain about racism tend to defend their views with racist commentary. I’ve often been told by nonwhites what I think about people of other races. A majority of the time, they are not only way off base but also condescending and insulting. It seems that if you complain about racism, it’s OK to be condescending and insulting toward those you would accuse of being racist.

Racism deserves inclusion in scholastic studies at all grade levels. Personally, I think this supposed new revelation of the importance of a dialogue on race is mostly inspired by the “high” that people are feeling about Obama. It’s nice that more people are engaged in this election campaign, but we should keep a realistic perspective.

Todd Groves

Santa Monica

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There has been a lot of talk about race in this country, and there needs to be a lot more. Where are we? At a point, perhaps, where we can bear each other’s feelings instead of raging about our own individual experience of injustice on our own separate sides of the fence. Inequality takes a long time to talk about, to root out and to heal from. I know because 30 years ago, I was held at knifepoint and driven around in a car by two angry white men because I was white and my boyfriend was black. I thought we would die that night. I only rode in that car one time, but it changed me forever.

I have never wondered for one moment why black Americans might be angry. I still am. Take a ride in someone else’s car sometime, Mr. Goldberg.

Marie Keller

Pacific Palisades