Enlightenment at last

Arkansas Delta racism has been the subject of observant writers for years and the area is known for its consuming bigotry. You can read about sundown towns and racism in the online Arkansas Encyclopedia of History and Culture.

During the Jim Crow era, racism was more obvious in everyday activities. With the arrival of civil rights legislation, it became more subdued and hidden. Today some citizens of the Arkansas Delta continue to deny the existence of racism.

Coming to the realization that blacks, whites and others are in no meaningful way different is the first important step to take. Does Jesus teach us that color makes us different from our neighbor that we love with compassion and view as equal? The way to overcome racism is to talk about it and commit to its eradication.

Reaching out, talking to one another and changing my attitude is a good and wholesome feeling that is productive. You can say that you are not racist because you have black friends and that is commendable. Please think it through carefully and know for sure that you are having a meaningful relationship with people of another race and that you have shed old generational prejudices.

It is hoped that an awakening will evolve in the understanding of those that cling to past generational beliefs. It is true that I am white and cannot know what it is like to be of another race and culture. Tomorrow I will wake up with all the white privilege that my birth endowed me with.

We look forward to future generations not being influenced by current racist opinions. Our history is a passing on of condemning racial feeling to the succeeding generation. It will require a conscious effort to accept that racism is detrimental to a civilized unprejudiced world. We must want to have an undivided world and see the value in attaining it.

RICHARD BULLARD

Stuttgart