Easing Racial Anxieties
There has been a lot of talk about the issue of race in the presidential campaigns, especially after Obama’s recent speech on race in Philadelphia (video). Race relationships are a complicated issue today. A new study from Northwestern University suggests that many people feel anxious during interracial interactions whether race is mentioned or not. Although the study was only conducted with 15 white college students, I feel that I can identify with the conclusion that “standards to create a diverse yet harmonious society may unwittingly be encouraging anxious responses toward blacks.” I am a firm believer that all people are equal, yet living in a very diverse neighborhood I experience anxiety in my every day life. I tend to avoid a lot of interracial interactions for fear of “acting wrong” and being interpreted as a racist. The study points to the fact that our communities “need to start thinking about creating opportunities to undermine anxieties about [interracial interactions]“. According to the study, something as simple as a smile can instantly ease anxieties. I have experienced for myself a smile or a “hello” that has eliminated very tense situations of passing strangers on the street. After reading this article I have decided to face my anxieties head-on with a smile or a friendly gesture instead of avoiding the situation altogether. Like the community around me, I have a long way to go in developing perfect relationships with people that are different than myself, but I am making progress, and I encourage you to join me.
Hey, this sounds like it’s a big issue in other parts of the world. I know that here in Melbourne, Australia, multiculturalism is fairly accepted. That’s not to say that there isn’t tension… my home church of several thousand members had, at last count, just over 100 different nationalities represented in the congregation. While I am basic average white Australian, the majority of my friends are overseas-born and from multiple cultural backgrounds, especially Asian but also African, Indian, American, Latino and more. My husband is of European descent, which I jokingly refer to as my inter-racial marriage!
However, at the fundamental level we are all humans, so it makes sense that a smile can do a world of wonder!! Keep up the good work and let’s fight the lie of racism! 