Greg Freeman: Reader Suggests Diverse Neighborhoods Are Fertile Ground For Attitude Change. StL P-D 7/31/2001

Headline: READER SUGGESTS DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE FERTILE GROUND FOR ATTITUDE CHANGE
Reporter: By Greg Freeman

Publication: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Last Printed: Tue., Jul. 31, 2001
Section: METRO, Page: B1, Edition: FIVE STAR LIFT

Over a week ago, I wrote a column here about a new FOCUS St. Louis report on race relations in St. Louis.
The report -- the first wide-ranging report here on race since one done 12 years ago by FOCUS' predecessor -- showed that African-Americans here still lag behind whites in business, education and housing. Hispanic children also receive substandard education, it said.

In the column, I noted that one of the points that the report didn't address -- and probably couldn't address because of the difficulty in quantifying it -- is the issue of attitudes. Attitudes, I argued, make a significant difference in the impressions people have of folks from other racial groups.
   If you are white and attempt to reach out to a black person but are rebuffed, you're less likely to try again, and may come away with a dislike for black people.
   Similarly, a black person who tries to reach out to a white person but finds himself unwelcome may falsely believe that all whites dislike blacks.
   No matter how good a restaurant may be, your impressions of it may differ if the waiters are friendly or if they are surly, I said.

The column touched off a flurry of letters from readers, but one letter, from K.J. Kirkpatrick, struck me as eye-opening. With her permission, I share her letter with you today:

"Dear Greg,

"I agree with your July 22 column. Bad attitudes are certainly the major cause behind racism. We're all familiar with how bad attitudes can be created on either side, but I want to tell you my story -- one that has served to greatly alter my attitude.

"I grew up in a small farming community in Iowa with all the standard bad attitudes toward blacks, obtained 100 percent from TV news reports. I graduated from a small Missouri college in 1974 so am of the generation that understands how morally wrong this attitude is and fought to not adopt it.

"After moving to gradually larger communities, I ended up in St. Louis in 1983 due to a job transfer.
   My family was scared for me to live alone since it was 'so black.' Need I say more? At my job, I was met with strong suggestions to move to West County and stay away from North County, because it supposedly was bad.
   I lived in 'plastic' West County with my new husband, who warned me not to attend (a University of Missouri at St. Louis) basketball game he officiated because it was in Cool Valley in North County, supposedly a bad area.
   "I was fortunate enough to divorce the referee and marry a wonderful man who lived in Bel-Nor. I now shop in Cool Valley weekly and have come to love this area of town. My street is about 50-50, black-white. Not all of us are friends but we are all friendly. I wasn't friends with everyone in my all-white neighborhood in West County.

"My point is I have learned so much about myself, and my attitude has improved so much from this move to a diversified community.
I did have some preconceived notions: walking alone at night and meeting a couple of black teenagers on the street -- I was afraid. But I no longer assume that because they are black I should be afraid. That is the bad attitude that I have observed. So many people make assumptions based solely on race.
My church family is also very diversified, and I am thankful to have the opportunity to make black friends outside of my work environment.

"Maybe that is something that could be more mandated by groups in town aiming to help this situation: More diversified housing. Maybe new communities and developments should encourage diversity based on race.
"While it may be difficult to imagine how it could work -- or if it's even legal for that matter -- if people could open themselves up to the opportunity of living side-by-side with another race, it would certainly provide a fertile atmosphere for attitude change.
It has worked for me!"

Daniel Schesch - Webweaver

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