Blacks and whites 'have issues that need to be honestly aired'

Editor:

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Attorney General Eric Holder recently stated that we are a "nation of cowards." I agree, because I fail to hear any real or meaningful dialogue between blacks and whites, and I'm not referring to topics as the recently elected African-American president.

I attribute his election to progressive young whites and very few others. This perception, of course, depends on who bears it. As an African-American, I've rarely found a white who was really willing to discuss those issues that were meaningful to us. I can look you or anyone in the eye and say it.

As far as I'm concerned both blacks and whites have issues that need to be honestly and entirely aired. One of the challenges in dealing with blacks is that more often than not they become defensive and consequently become accusatory rather then hear what needs to be heard.

Here's my challenge: We should be very willing to have open, bi-racial (or poly-racial) dialogue - not monologues. I like spirited, albeit adversarial, conversation of varying perspectives, an arena without name-calling where people are free to say what they feel needs to be said.

Who among you is willing to come out of the closet and do just that? If you're not willing to do so, stop puffing and posturing and making statements that sound good on paper.

Sameera V. Thurmond

Augusta