One of the most pressing problems confronting societies worldwide is how to promote better relations among people who are diverse in background, appearance, and culture. Where identifiable groups of people have been denied opportunities to participate fully and equally in mainstream society, human talent and capacity have been wasted and the social fabric has been weakened.
In the United States, we are acutely aware of racism and its frequent companions—inequality and poverty. Nearly a century ago, W.E.B. DuBois foretold that "the problem of the color line" would be a central issue of the 20th century. Today, Gary Orfield, a Harvard University sociologist, incisively cautions that "the whole discussion of desegregation is corrupted by the fact that we mix up race and class."
Racial division is the subject of strident public policy debates. Whether U.S. society can avoid fracturing further along color lines remains a major concern. But these problems do not afflict the United States alone. Conflict over issues of race occurs throughout the world. It is the problem we all live with.
All societies must work to eliminate disparities in participation and opportunities between identifiable groups. Those societies that ignore equity concerns and continue to allocate opportunities in ways that have not served large numbers of people well, including disadvantaged racial groups, invite discord and counterproductive intergroup tensions.
Exchanging Ideas
For a variety of reasons, people of goodwill are striving to enhance the quality of life for all of society's members. Some are driven by a deep respect for the principles of diversity and tolerance. For others, the desire to promote inclusion comes from recognizing the interdependence of groups and countries, and the "value added" that flows from diversity, particularly in today's era of increased technology, communications, and globalization. We need to exchange ideas and information to promote social change—to erode group-based disadvantages and ensure equal opportunity. Collectively, we must intensify our efforts to ensure that the new century does not inherit the racial disjunctions of the past.
To this end, I recently participated in "Beyond Racism: Brazil, South Africa, and the United States Consultation," a three-day meeting sponsored by the Comparative Human Relations Initiative directed by the Southern Education Foundation, Inc., and funded by the Ford Foundation. At this event, held at Emory University, 100 participants from South Africa, Brazil, and the United States met to examine intergroup relations in these three countries and identify ways in which those relations can be improved.
The event provided an opportunity for the strategic exchange of ideas and information between and among Brazilians, South Africans, and Americans who are concerned about the consequences of inequality and racism, and looking for fresh ways to promote better intergroup relations in their respective countries.
Doing important work often means sailing against the prevailing winds. Although we are inclined to catalog the problems of our time, we need to remain optimistic. We must behave as if everything we do to ensure equality matters—because it indeed does. We have different histories but a common future. It is therefore incumbent upon us to transcend ourselves in pursuit of our egalitarian beliefs.
The future depends on each and all of us, and what we are willing to do to make the ideals of equality and justice a reality. We have the capacity to liberate one another or to make others miserable, as we sometimes do. Perhaps by comparing experiences and sharing ideas—and by heightening our resolve—we will find new ways to achieve racial reconciliation and justice for all.