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Swain, Again

I have pointed with enthusiasm to the work of Carol Swain several times before, such as here and here. Now it?s time to do so again, for her comments in a long Nashville Tennessean article that interviewed several local worthies (she teaches at Vanderbilt) exploring ?how we arrived at White House ?beer summit.??

Asked ?How does race affect your daily life?? she replied:

I am more affected by the perils of being a relatively conservative Christian woman in a secular environment where people of faith are sometimes treated with disrespect and contempt.

Asked ?What's the one thing you most want people of other races to understand?? she replied:

I would like my white, Latino and Asian brothers and sisters to know that most blacks are not filled with hatred. Many of us have a God-given empathy for all human beings, including the much-maligned white male.

Asked ?Has President Obama's election changed the racial dynamics in your workplace or school?? she replied: ?No.?

Asked ?In what ways has your race/ethnicity been a help or hindrance in your work/business/ school?? she replied:

My race, intellect, and faith have operated together as one double-edged sword. Because I am black, I am more likely to be remembered by people. But my accomplishments are more likely to be dismissed. I suspect that my faith and conservatism hurts me far more than my race.

Asked ?Is affirmative action still needed, or do such policies simply need to be retooled for today's society?? she replied:

We still need strong enforcement of anti-discrimination laws. However, racial, ethnic, and gender preferences are no longer needed. In most cases, they do not benefit the most disadvantaged members of our society and they can become a crutch.

Now you don?t need to read the whole thing, but you do need to pay attention to Carol Swain wherever you run across her.

Full post as published by Discriminations on August 02, 2009 (boomark / email).