Citizens Offer Candid Views On Racism, Discrimination West Central Forum First In What May Become Series

A black man expresses frustration at being rejected for jobs he was qualified for.

Next, a white man complains about being passed over for a promotion because a less qualified, minority worker got the job.

They joined 10 other West Central neighborhood residents who spent two hours Wednesday night speaking candidly about racism and discrimination.

The “Community Chat on Racism,” held at the COPS West office, is envisioned as the first in a series of monthly neighborhood forums.

West Central resident Cheryl Steele, who heads Spokane’s community policing efforts, came up with the idea. She hopes the informal discussions will ultimately lead to a productive, citywide dialogue about thorny racial equity issues.

“To not talk about a problem is to not acknowledge its existence,” Steele said. “Society can’t address racism quietly.”

One of those attending Wednesday was a Chinese-American priest. Lincoln Eng said he has been called “banana”- yellow on the outside, white on the inside - by other Asians in Spokane because he is Episcopalian, which has European roots.

“I think the problem is we don’t see enough of each other to get to know each other,” Eng said. “Until we can learn to mix in and share with each other, we’ll always be separated.”

Bruce Dietz, who was raised in the South, spoke of the discrimination he’s faced from other whites in Spokane.

“When I open my mouth, sometimes people’s eyes open wide because they can’t believe I talk the way I do,” Dietz said. “Society’s just caught up in all these superficialities.

“Skin deep isn’t very deep when you think about it,” he added. “We’re all pretty much the same thing inside.”

Steele said she wished people could look at one another through the innocent eyes of children.

When her son Ryan was in second grade, he had a teacher named Debbie Thomas. At the same time, Debbi Thomas was a member of the U.S. Olympic figure skating team.

Steele said she was caught off-guard when her son said the white teacher and black skater bore a resemblance.

“What makes you think they look alike?” she asked him.

Steele said he replied, “They both have brown hair.”

, DataTimes