Don’t Let Up, Racism Rally Told Problem ‘Not Going To Go Away,’ So More Than Lip Service Needed, Nic Speaker Says

Spotlighting the role that parents play in fighting racism, Bwana Johnson noted Monday that everyone enters the world free of prejudices.

“Your child is a blank disk at birth, and you are the computer,” the North Idaho college student said at the United for Human Rights Rally.

The need to battle racism was the theme of the event, which was sponsored by the Associated Students of NIC and the Human Equality Club.

“The lip-service days are over,” Johnson said. “This problem is not going to go away.”

Josh Buehner, equality club president, said the distribution of racist literature this fall was one motivation for bringing students and faculty together Monday. There have been reported incidents of racism around the Panhandle in past weeks, including recent harassment of a Post Falls family.

Buehner sees an increasing interest among students in actively fighting racism. He was delighted by Monday’s turnout of more than 100 in Schuler Auditorium.

Blue jeans and ballcaps predominated; a few ties were visible. Members of the NIC board of trustees and the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations were also present.

So were “a few from the other side,” as trustee Barbara Chamberlain said. She spotted people she believed to be racists taking pictures.

Buehner joked that his photo would probably be showing up on racist fliers. He’s already been targeted. In early October he was spat upon by a stranger who accused him of being a “nigger lover.”

NIC President Ron Bell opened the rally by saying it was a pleasure to be in charge of a college “where the students let people know where they stand.”

He urged students to get to know each other as individuals. “It’s very difficult to hate you when I know you.”

Other speakers were:

Mona Klinger, NIC speech instructor. She recalled that her life has been steeped in diversity, starting with the legacy of her immigrant grandparents. She has befriended, lived among and taught people of many backgrounds.

“I learned how to eat with chopsticks … I learned to do the hula … I learned that grandmas come in all colors and most of them bake cookies.”

Klinger quoted Herman Melville, who wrote in 1850: “You cannot spill a drop of American blood without spilling the blood of the whole world.”

Monte Twin, an American Indian who is NIC’s cultural diversity adviser, reminded the audience that “We can live in fear or we can live in love. When I act out of fear, I usually hurt myself or other people.”

Shaswati Roy, vice president of the Associated Students, was born in India and has friends of “more than 50 nationalities.”

“Now I’m here in North Idaho, and I’ve got to tell you it grows on you,” she said.

She urged students to take the lead in fighting racism. “Make yourself the one that makes a difference, and the rest will follow,” she said.

Pat Johnson said she is often asked why a black woman like herself stays in North Idaho, with its reputation for racism.

“I tell them this is where I work, this is where I live,” said Johnson, who represents the Idaho Education Association.

Racism exists everywhere, she said. It just gets a lot of attention here.

“What we have created here is a comfortable place for racists and bigots to be. They get the publicity,” she said. “They speak out on every issue.”

She encouraged students to respond by creating an atmosphere in which it’s seen as OK to object to prejudiced comments.

“Tell them, ‘I’m uncomfortable with that remark,’ or ‘I know you don’t really believe what you just said to me,”’ she said. “Don’t ignore it.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo