Community Confronts Its Own Racial Prejudice Race Congress Leaves Citizens Determined To Make A Difference

It wasn’t a feel-good event.

There was the usual drumming, dancing and celebrating of diversity, but Tuesday’s Community Congress on Race Relations became a call to action.

“Racism is alive and well,” Jim SiJohn of the Spokane Tribe told thousands of people at the Ag Trade Center. “We’re willing to stand up and fight it - stand up and say, ‘No, no way, not in our community.”’

Members of the community gathered en masse to confront their prejudices and make a commitment to change.

After the opening ceremony, they gathered in small groups to talk about touchy subjects such as institutional racism, affirmative action and multiracial families.

Many left feeling stronger and determined to make a difference. For others, the experience was painful.

“I’ve realized that I have a color called ‘white,”’ said David Dalke of Spokane. “That scares me. … For the first time, I’m beginning to deal with these issues, to change my attitudes and action.”

During a session called “What It Means to Be White,” a mostly Caucasian group of about 30 people huddled in a circle to discuss the “culture of whiteness.”

They spent an hour watching and talking about “True Colors,” a short video that documents how two men with the same background are treated differently because of race.

Consistently, the black man was ignored at stores, treated rudely by prospective landlords and employers, and discriminated against even by cabdrivers and passers-by.

Workshop participants reacted with shock and outrage. A few cried.

“I’ve done that in my own life,” said Dalke, referring to the concept of “white privilege” and to how people treated the African American in the video. “I used to walk around and disregard people. My attitude was that people of other races were not as powerful as I was.”

According to 1990 statistics from the Census Bureau, Spokane County is 92 percent white.

Other workshops weren’t as emotional, but still offered practical advice and insights to people wishing to learn more about race relations.

Jim Rundle, general manager for Hewlett-Packard in Spokane, talked about the benefits of a diverse work force and provided strategies on how to recruit and retain women and people of color.

Instead of simply diversifying a company and getting rid of problems such as harassment, the ultimate goal should be to create an “inclusive environment,” Rundle told about 20 people.

“What is good for diverse employees is good for everybody,” he said.

Changing corporate culture doesn’t happen overnight, he emphasized. There’s lots of backlash, frustration and cynicism. To fight that, a company must have a long-term commitment, as well as have a plan that may include training classes and management retreats.

Tuesday’s congress was put together by the Spokane Task Force on Race Relations, a 150-member group that started three years ago after African American law students at Gonzaga University became the target of racist letters and phone calls.

The task force was headed by Mayor Jack Geraghty and former Gonzaga president Ed Glynn, who was noticeably absent at Tuesday’s opening ceremony just four days after he lost his job. John Clute, dean of Gonzaga Law School, spoke in Glynn’s place.

Those who attended the congress came for a variety of reasons. Many were sent to represent their businesses. Some showed up simply to educate themselves.

“We came because we have grandchildren in school,” said Scott Roher, 41, who attended the event with his wife, Bobbie. “We know that racial diversity is important and we hope to teach that to them. We were young once, too, but we were not young during these times. We have much to learn.”

For others, the congress became an impetus for change.

Dozens of local businesses were asked to back their rhetoric Tuesday by taking part in the “Wall of Commitment,” a 20-foot-wide board with signed proposals outlining plans to improve race relations within various companies.

“Racism is a silent killer,” SiJohn said during opening ceremonies. “It eats up your heart, it eats up your mind, it eats up your soul. But it makes you strong. … You have to stand up and … fight for what you believe in.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo