WE MUST STOP PLAYING THE BLAME GAME: Too often America’s racial debate is sidetracked by a search for racial scapegoats. And more often than not, those scapegoats end up being the people on the other side of the debate. “It’s your fault because you’re a racist.” “No, it’s your fault because you expect something for nothing.” “It’s white skin privilege.” “It’s reverse racism.” And on and on it goes. American culture, with its bellicose talk-show hosts and pugnacious politicians, rewards those who cast aspersions at the top of their lungs. And American law, with its concept of damages and reparations, encouraged he practice of allocating blame. Although denying the past is dishonest and even sometimes maddening, obsessing about past wrongs is ultimately futile.
Certainly, loudmouths will always be among us and will continue to say obnoxious and foolish things, but it would be wonderful if more of those engaged in what passes for public discourse would recognize an obvious reality: It hardly matters who is responsible for things being screwed up; the only relevant question is, “How do we make them better?”
Ellis Cose
November 24, 1996, Newsweek