Talk, listen and leave emotion out of it
How do we have an honest conversation about racial problems in this country when there is no ability to listen to genuine concerns without injecting emotions into the mix?
It is hard to watch the latest video of a police officer in Austin, Texas, dragging a black teacher out of her car and slamming her to the ground because she was arguing with him about getting out of the car. While another police officer transported her to jail, she was videoed asking him why cops are afraid of black people and he answered that the perception is that black people are prone to violence. He answered honestly, stating he didn’t know if that was true but it is the perception.
This could have been the beginning of a productive discussion and possible understanding about racism and injustice. Instead it became an indictment of the officer. He is accused of racism. This is what stops people from discussing problems regarding race.
Again, I ask, how will these problems ever be solved if we can’t even discuss and listen to each other’s perceptions and experiences which create this problem?
Joyce Bjerk, Fresno
This story was originally published July 28, 2016 at 2:56 PM with the headline "Talk, listen and leave emotion out of it."