On Race: From a Letter to a Colleague

It’s my belief that the issues which inspire me to put pen to pad involve conversations that aren’t necessarily the ones most people want to have.

As [a former mutual employer] once unashamedly revealed to me in conversation, liberal progressives such as him welcome diversity—just not “too much” diversity.

At a meeting of New York City artists and corporate funders, I related a story from that job to fellow attendees. Our discussion at that point involved the perception that artists were becoming too cautious in their works relative to issues of social importance. My response was that the high cost of living makes it unrealistic to expect individuals whose livelihoods depend upon their creative work to produce provocative works that are met with opposition and indifference.

I related the story of your efforts, while designing a children’s picture book, to use an artist’s illustration showing two innocent young children of different hues and gender playing together on the beach. A major book publisher received this illustration with fear and opposition. I added that although I shared your outrage at the time, I had concluded resignedly that the bigotry revealed was too deep-seated to change.

There were those in attendance who chided me for not vocally opposing this obvious display of racial bigotry, but there were others present—veterans of racial politics—who gave me the knowing nod.

I see a similarity between our shared office experience and what is occurring on the national scene. You as an Asian-American women are able to wage a more effective war against racial bigotry. You are Barack Obama. In appearance, you look and sound similar to privileged whites; unless you choose to adopt an unconventional persona, you will be embraced. Physically, you are quite attractive; barring your choice to voice unpopular social and political views, your presence makes people feel good.

Me, I’m Reverend Wright, Louis Farrakhan, and Al Sharpton—regardless of my politics. I carry with me the greatest potential for white genetic annihilation and therefore I remain a constant threat before I even utter a word. If anyone can look beyond my physical appearance, I may receive praise for individual accomplishments; but the privileged class frowns upon any efforts I make to include or empower the less fortunate. Once again … diversity … but just not too much.