Retired Bishop Gene Robinson writes in the Washington Post about Chris Matthews’ compelling efforts to understand for himself – and advance the understanding of others about – the racial divide that exists in America:
Matthews’ public journey is modeling for white America how we can all learn from the tragedy of Trayvon Martin’s death. Look at what he’s doing, and see in it a way forward for greater racial understanding in this country: 1. He is willing to talk about race, to talk openly about what he knows (and what he does NOT know) about how race works in America. 2. He asks questions of people of color who do know about the experience of racism (without being embarrassed by his need to ask) – and then he listens to them and believes their truth, shaking his head in acknowledgement of the fact that all of this has been going on under his own white radar screen. 3. He begins to make connections and analyze situations he once thought he understood. 4. And then, seemingly coming to the end of what he can absorb, he vulnerably and almost naively, mutters “All I can say right now is, I am so sorry.” 5. And then he says, in a way that makes you think he means it, “We have to keep talking about this, publicly and on TV. I want to have those conversations.”
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