When is it appropriate to refer to a person's race?

(1) Everything is 'race' to you.

(2) Why is this a story? EVERY person has a similar story with some truck-driver in a hurry, or practicing road-rage, or bullying people off the road.

"My reader also argues that by calling the truck driver a "brother," I automatically draw attention to race. What is wrong with that? Had I described him as fat or short or bald, would someone have had a problem with that as well?

I understand that there are people who believe we should all be color-blind. I don't. I believe we should appreciate our differences and see them much like one does the pieces of fabric used to make a quilt."

If the above is true, why are you and other minority jounalists so sensitive when the race or ethnicity are mentioned regarding the gangs and dope dealers who are killing our children with bullets and drugs? Why are you so sensitive when the communities involved are mentioned?

Once again you want it both ways. I say put a face to the gangbangers and drug dealers. Smith and Wesson, Colt, or Glock are not killing people. Gang bangers and dope dealers are. Unfortunately most are Black and Hispanic. Their names and pictures should be plastered all over the media.

Well, I don't think we ever need to refer to a person's race as a description. The story can simply be told using the person's gender (i.e. male or female). However, you Mary, are the one that feels it is necessary to always bring race into the mix.

The irony here is amazing from my view...

Your entire reason for writing is talking about race in your columns at every possible angle. How can you not call out someone's race at every possible chance?
Your line "I believe we should appreciate our differences and see them much like one does the pieces of fabric used to make a quilt." - You can't be serious - almost every one of your columns looks to find fault with white people in their treatment of black people.
Most importantly, the idea that black men actually "look out" for black women is preposterous.
70% of black children born without a father...how is that "looking out" for black women?

What you should have done is caught up with that brother and did a positive story about a Black man working and maybe supporting his family. Maybe that guy is a good Dad, "doing the right thing" as you might say. A story like that would seem to me an example of black people taking care of each other.

With all the negativity about black men in this country and CNN's reports "Black In America" says %60 of black kids grow up without a Father. I think you missed an opportunity. Instead you pointed out another example of blacks disrespecting each other again.

I'd say if all he did was cut you off, you ended up doing a lot better than some in your community. You're alive to tell the story.

Berwyn is a racist town anyway...which explains the woman who adversely commented on your "truck driver" incident. God bless you Mary...keep it up!

to middleclassguy: Good points !

Stanley Crouch of the NY DailyNews came out with statistics that will shake you.
...(1) More young African-American males have been murdered by other young African-American males in any ONE year after 1990 in the major-cities of American than Jim Crow/KKK killed in MORE then an ENTIRE century total.

...(2) More young African-Americans have been murdered on the streets of the major-cities of America by other young African-Americans since 9/11 than have ALL serving Americans been killed in Iraq.

Have you ever noticed how 'hushed' the journalists/civil rights leaders/civic leaders are about this?

They, instead, point-fingers at everybody else.

Why is this a story ? This is one time I donot agree with you. It seems you have a penchant for outing Black Men, would you have pointed it out if the driver was white or even a black woman. I am confronted everyday by bad drivers white and black, man and women, there are rude drivers in every race and I bet others reporters have been accosted by them but you donot see them writing articles about them, thank you don't live in New York, you probably be cussed out daily by all diferrent race of drivers including "Brothers"

If a white or black refers to somebody as fat or short or bald, noone would have a problem with that...it would be more humorous than anything. but if a white refers to a black as a 'brother' there is definitely an insult taken. My point is: PLEASE dont act like race related words are equivical like the words 'fat or short'. be honest about race issues, if you think race words are equivocal then dont take the typical black approach and become overly sensitive when whites point out somebody's 'blackness'when telling a story.

Ms. Mitchell, I understand the point you were making. Years ago I worked with a young woman who had an annoying habit of categorizing everyone...she would say things like, "Oh, she's nice, she's doesn't act too black, you know what I mean?" No, I don't, what do you mean? "She talks like us." And that's a good thing, with my bad grammar and all? Wow, I didn't know bad grammar could trump race. You stated that most gangbangers are either Hispanic or Black. Of course that makes sense, in a city where the majority is non-white, you would expect the statistics to point in that direction. FYI, since you brought up race most serial killers, pedophiles, psychopathic killers, stalkers, drunk drivers are white males. I don't think minority journalists are sensitive when it comes to race. I think they develop thick skin based on their experiences and none of us can even remotely relate to what it feels like to be despised, even as children, because of the color of your skin.

"I came up in an age when black people really did look out for each other. As a black woman, I find the disrespect some black people are showing towards other blacks appalling."

I found this statement appalling. People should look out for each other whether they be black, white, brown, etc. Had a white person written that statement he/she would have been "called out". Just as I am doing to you.

"middleclassguy" says, "why are you and other minority jounalists [sic] so sensitive when the race or ethnicity are mentioned regarding the gangs and dope dealers who are killing our children with bullets and drugs?" This is an extremely sensitive issue. I haven't seen Ms. Mitchell or "other minority journalists" make a big deal when race is mentioned in conjunction with crime. Can we have some examples, please rather than gross generalizations about what "minority journalists" as a group feel and write about? These generalizations about what "minority journalists" do comes awfully close to pointing a finger and using that dreaded phrase, "You people..." I'm surprised that middleclassguy didn't see that.

I'm also curious why "middleclassguy" chose to identify himself specifically as "middle class." Following his logic, one's class should not be mentioned either.

In regards to telling a story about an incident, any incident, mentioning race is something that is quite normal and not necessarily indicative of a particular prejudice. The fact is that race exists; as a resident of a large and diverse city population, I am likely to mention race when describing the features of a person. In a homogeneous community, the descriptions of a person involved in an event may not revolve around race. To claim that one is color-blind is to deny the wonderful and rich heritage in the people all around us. I, for one, acknowledge race and ethnicity and celebrate it.

I had no issue with you describing the driver's race - sadly, in this day and age, that seems to be the first thing we look for to describe or identify someone. I think part of the problem, at least for me, is that you imply that this behavior is expected from a white driver - as if a white driver wouldn't think twice about doing that to you. And frankly, shouldn't disrespect of ANY kind to ANY person (of any race, color, ethnicity, etc) be appalling. I wonder if the issue doesn't have more to do with age than race?!

JOHN commented perfectly to describe this wasted space of what some define as a "column".

"Everything is 'race' to you."

Bridget, if there's any implication that I would expect a white driver to be rude to me, it is in your head, not mine, I was appalled by the driver for the reason I said, I don't know what goes on in the white community. I don't live there. But I do know there is too much disrespect in the black community and that was the point of my commentary. It had nothing to do with whites.

Mary Mitchell

John is right, eveything is race to you. It's your bread and butter.

What burns me up about your post is that you mention you "came up in a age when black people really did look out for each other".

Shouldn't all people look out for each other? Why not write a piece like "Wow, the streets today are really crazy?"

Why do you think that respect and decency to others is prioritized by race?

It's the same with terms like "black on black crime" and "hate crime", is not all violent crime fueled by some sort of hatred? Is "black on *insert any skin color here* crime" less of an offense to you? Or is it a shame for you to see two "cooler than another color" brothers involved in crime where one comes out a victim.

I see more sublte, even self projected, racism in your column than most get away with.

Mary - nothing "goes on" in the white community.

I find the comments to this article to be entertaining. The top of Mary Mitchell's column says "Discussions across the racial divide" so what else would she be discussing besides race? It's ludicrous to read a column that states it discusses race and then get enraged because it actually does discuss race. And for the record, I'm so tired of people that don't have to deal with race issues on a daily basis, telling those of us that do have to deal with it how we should feel and how we should conduct ourselves. Please stop commenting on something you have absolutely no experience with.

I want your readers to go to a website www.history.army.mil then click (Metal of Honor) then click (World War 2 A-F), then find the citation for Fox, John R.

What has always impressed me about the man was that he sacrificed his life for a country that in 1944 still considered him less of a man than his white counterpart. Yet, I find his sacrifice almost Christ-like in everyway.

You can also find the same citation under African American World War 2 Medal of Honor Recipients but I think that would call too much attention to one of the thousands of acts of bravery performed during that war.

Too bad that at the end of World War 2, another war continued to be fought as it still does today.

Thank you, Fox, John R. I, a white fellow American, salute you!

Have you ever been in a field of wild flowers there is a rainbow of colors and a array of different scents the lord created them that way to compliment each other instead of trying to hide or ignore the differences we celebrate!!!!

i read the column that day, and frankly, you have yet to learn a life lesson, a real simple one that if you learn, you would not be viewed as the racist you are, an extremist by white people. learn to treat people equally and be responsible for yourself, quit focusing on race, it is horrible.....and remember if it is good for one, it is good for all.....
and i ask you, and you be the judge of your own thoughts being racist or not, should obama lose the election, are you going to say it was because voters are racist (remember black people have come out and voted for obama because he was black and that was the sole reason not knowing issues, or the candidate) or are you going to say, the people spoke and that is the way it is?
frankly after he said "Nobody really thinks that Bush or McCain have a real answer for the challenges we face," Obama said Wednesday in Springfield, Missouri. "So what they're going to try to do is make you scared of me. You know, he's not patriotic enough. He's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know. He's risky."
well, he lost my vote as i don't want a racist punk running my country on my vote.
IT IS NEVER RIGHT TO REFER TO RACE AND NEVER RIGHT THE WAY YOU DO IT....

In Illinois you can turn right on red AFTER a complete stop. You should not stop only if there is a person in the crosswalk but every time in order to determine if the way is clear.

I find some things a bit confusing when it come to 'race' -though I'm neither black nor white. Not so long ago, some racial and derogatory remarks were made about Condi Rice by the Democratic constituency-- there was no out cry. Is that because she is black and REPUBLICAN? I have great respect for Dr. Rice not because she is black but because of her values.

Why the disparity? Is it really about race?

If race ain't no issue, (x-cuse my ebonics and double negatives) tell me, why white educators who work in a predominantly black schools host their own 'end of the school year picnics and parties?" Is it because they are too good to socialize with other professionals or is it that they don't feel comfortable using the "n" word in mixed company? Which?

I can't beleive there are so many people that don't understand why you brought up the driver's race.
A very dear friend of mine, who passed away a few years ago, was an African American woman. I was so impressed that younger black woman showed so much respect for her. I remember once as we walked down a street in Chicago, strangers stepped out of Julia's way because she walked with a limp due to bad knees. Other times in Normal(Julia was a professor at ISU)black students would come up and just gush over Dr. Visor! They were in awe of this wonderful woman.So was I.
Keep up the marvelous work. I really enjoy your column and I almost always agree with you. Almost.
Tony Galati
Lemont

Some of you missed the point of the article. As Ms. Mitchell stated, when has it become okay for drivers to almost run down a pedestrian with a motor vehicle? Then blow up at the pedestrian who has the right of way?

Some of you focused more on the fact she mentioned the ethnic background of the person than the incident.

I recently was called a Nigger by a cowardly white male driver though I had the light to walk across the street. I ignored him because only cowards, regardless of color scream expletives from a passing car.

Also, if speaking of race majority of Black men in previous generations WOULD HAVE NEVER DISREPECTED A BLACK WOMAN PUBLICALLY! Why? That could have been their mother, sister, aunt, daughter or other female relatives and it simply would NOT have been TOLERATED.

Don't compare the lost souls of the Hip-Hop and Gen X or Y generation(s) which behave in a manner where homeless people have more tact than some of them do. Yes, I made that comparison!

Ms. Mitchell know how she felt at that moment, don't degrade her feelings with innuendos of racism!

The BROTHER should have recognize immediately, allow this woman who could be a relative (or any woman of a different ethnic background) to safely get across the street.

CASE CLOSED!!

Some of you need to get a life. Mary's right. There was a time when Black people did watch out for each other if they didnt who would, from one blk to another they new who you were as well as who your mother, father, grandmother etc was, As far as black on black crime stop buying into that garbage when the mob kills do they say Italian on Italian crime, not that all mobster are Italian, I'll continue Irish on Irish crime, Latino on Latino crime, Whites have been killing each other for as long as you can reseach history that they themselves wrote. When this county was built did they say brit on brit crime. This is just another way of tearing us down tell the world your not buying from there stores that's selling garbage.To the blogger that somehow feels that gangbanger/drug dealers are black who and what do you think the Hells Angels, SkinHeads are there are white gangs and drug dealers in some of your neighborhoods that some of you dont want to talk about there are drug users around the corner and in your homes that come and shop on the Westside and Southside of Chgo. and then go back to your homes there your Kids but you dont want to talk about that do you. There are Met house next door to you, most black people dont use met, so when I say get a life, I mean live in the real world stop pretending that your world is different, we all live in this world what affect one affects all, There will alway be race issues as long as there are people, but there can be understanding when people are willing to take the blinders off and tell the truth about themselves and this world.

"I came up in an age when black people really did look out for each other. As a black woman, I find the disrespect some black people are showing towards other blacks appalling."

An inference from this comment is that you do NOT find it apalling when black people disrespect white people. Isn't it apalling when anyone shows disrespect to anyone else, regardless of the race of either party?