RACISM: Here's the cure

This country needs to take a deep breath and calm down for five seconds. Watching national news over the last year, there’s no shortage of self-proclaimed experts rushing to a microphone or keyboard to tell us what another person is thinking or intends; usually without even knowing their target. We’re all being categorized and labeled by race, job, religion, location, sex, etc. I’m never surprised at how quickly those who claim to hate stereotyping immediately stereotype those they disagree with.

Do you want to know how to truly fight racism, or win people over to a cause you feel passionately about? Follow the example of Daryl Davis. Davis is a black blues musician born in Chicago. But his claim to fame is over the last 30 years, he has single-handedly convinced more than 200 white racists to leave the Ku Klux Klan by… wait for it… being their friend. Through friendship, he humanized the Klan’s enemy. He didn’t try to get them fired, or shame them on social media. He didn’t try to pull down their flag; he just acted like a decent human being and friend. Empathy is the key.

Everyone screaming and pointing fingers, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”-style, at those they disagree with are only hamstringing their own efforts. The surest way to turn people against you is to claim you are smarter than them and insult their beliefs. We all need to start acting like neighbors instead of enemies; and that goes double for our leaders and those entrusted to report our news.

ADAM JOHNSON

Harrison