[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             RACE RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 23, 1997

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert my Washington 
Report for Wednesday, July 23, 1997 into the Congressional Record.

                  A National Dialog on Race Relations

       A Member of Congress from southern Indiana does not very 
     often have to deal with the problem of race. Looking back 
     over several years it is difficult for me to remember many 
     public discussions of the race issue in my public meetings. 
     And that is probably because in southern Indiana blacks and 
     Hispanics are a small percentage of the population.
       Race, nonetheless, is a dominant strain in our national 
     politics, much as it has been since the settlement of America 
     in the 17th Century. This country has long struggled with the 
     meaning of race and the implications of people of different 
     racial backgrounds living and working together. We fought a 
     Civil War over the issue. When I first came to Congress in 
     the middle of the civil rights era in the 1960s, national 
     debate focused on race relations between whites and blacks. 
     Race relations today are more complex, particularly with the 
     large influx of immigrants from Asia and Central America in 
     the last 20 years. Half a century from now, there will be no 
     majority race in America.
       The great challenge of public policy is to lessen historic 
     divisions among the races, to build a country where people of 
     diverse backgrounds can coexist peacefully. Sometimes we 
     confront the issue of race, sometimes we don't. Often it 
     takes a crisis to make us really examine the issue. And even 
     when we do confront it, we have difficulty achieving a 
     national consensus on what exactly to do.


                          Public views on race

       Polls suggest that while Americans view race as a serious 
     problem, only one in 10 believes the country faces a racial 
     crisis. Most people, at least most white people, tend to 
     think that there is no race problem or if there is, it is 
     more a problem of individual moral failure than it is of race 
     or racism. Whites also think that the biggest race problem 
     facing the country is the continuation of racial preference 
     policies.
       Blacks are far more pessimistic about the racial climate 
     than whites. Three in four white Americans said blacks in 
     their community are treated the same as whites. Only 49% of 
     the blacks agreed. Whites really see very little problem when 
     it comes to opportunities for blacks in jobs, education, and 
     housing. Many blacks see racial discrimination as a fact of 
     life. Most blacks think the government should play a role in 
     addressing the effects of past and present discrimination. 
     Only a minority of whites think that government should make 
     special efforts.
       I find in southern Indiana a distinct lack of urgency about 
     racial issues. Many other things are more important to 
     people, such as balancing the budget, creating good jobs, 
     fighting crime, reducing health care costs, and improving 
     educational opportunities. Hoosiers believe race relations 
     have significantly improved since the 1960s. Nonetheless, 
     when matters of race do arise, they can be sharply 
     polarizing.


                       A national dialog on race

       The challenge is to approach any discussion of racial 
     problems in a manner likely to produce consensus in the 
     country. There has been a trend in recent years toward 
     separation of the races. Blacks and whites may often share a 
     common workplace, but social interaction between the races, 
     whether at school or after work, is limited. The mantra of 
     the civil rights movement used to be integration of the 
     races. Today, there is serious discussion among black and 
     white leaders about the merits of separation and self-help.
       President Clinton recently initiated what he hopes to be a 
     national what he hopes to be a national dialog on race by 
     appointing a commission to study ways to improve race 
     relations. He has said he will host public meetings 
     throughout the country to discuss issues of race. Such a 
     dialog may be painful, but also may ultimately be helpful and 
     healing. How the dialogue is carried out makes all 
     the difference. Honesty is critical. It is also important 
     to frame the issues not in terms of conflict, but rather 
     areas of common interest, such as good schools and safe 
     neighborhoods.
       My own experience is that the best way to improve relations 
     among races is to have people work together at something they 
     believe both to be worthwhile and important. If you get two 
     adult women, for example, of different races together to talk 
     about the future of their children, you can see the making of 
     harmony and consensus. People who may not believe they have 
     very much in common learn that they really do. A dialogue 
     that simply leaves people feeling that we remain far apart 
     doesn't get us very far.


                           Role of Government

       Some will argue that any national effort to improve race 
     relations must include a strong commitment of federal 
     resources to break the cycle of poverty, improve schools, and 
     provide jobs. But in today's budget and political climate, 
     that's just not possible. Public policy is focused on cutting 
     the budget and cutting taxes, not on financing massive new 
     government programs. There is no possibility that Congress 
     would approve a massive new social program.
       Government can nonetheless play an important role. 
     Expanding opportunities, particularly educational 
     opportunities, must be a top priority. The more Americans who 
     have a full opportunity to participate in a growing 
     community, the stronger the community becomes. Obeying and 
     enforcing the law are also fundamental to improving racial 
     relations. We have a long list of civil rights laws on the 
     books today, but also a backlog of discrimination claims. It 
     is also important to recruit and encourage people of all 
     races for political, civic, and business leadership so we can 
     develop common solutions to our problems.


                               Conclusion

       We still have a long way to go before we feel really 
     comfortable working with each other, living with each other, 
     and helping each other solve problems. We have torn down many 
     of the legal barriers in the country. We have not been as 
     successful breaking down the barriers in our hearts and 
     minds.
       I do find that Hoosiers, like most Americans, really would 
     like to talk about the racial problems in their communities, 
     in the state, and in the nation. A national dialogue on race 
     which helps reduce the gaps in knowledge and perception will 
     have merit. The right kind of dialogue can help us move 
     forward in dealing with the challenges of race. The wrong 
     kind of dialogue can hold us back.

     

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