Speaker: Fighting racism takes personal effort

Paulette Thomas, associate director of the Campus Crusade for Christ, has observed how our society attempts to remedy the issue of racism. Like many others, she has listened to the various debates that link the solution to economic and political restructuring, and feels that they are superficial in their perspective. Speaking before an audience of group members Thursday night, she urged everyone to engage in serious soul-searching regarding their racial attitudes. "Racism is a human condition to be found everywhere, and it is a moral ill," she said. Thomas said our nature inherently leads us to be self-seeking individuals, and thus racist attitudes are not intrinsic to socio-economic status. "How can you tell a system to stop racism?" she said. "You can't, it's people. People are the problem. "The problems are always there? people just need to change." Thomas added that without a reconciliation with God, reconciliation with the rest of the world would be difficult. "Only God can keep the issue in focus," she said. In relating her ideas to the situation on campus, Thomas contrasted the glossy application brochures depicting a harmonious multi-racial community and what is actually seen in the dining halls, classrooms and Locust Walk. The diversity programs, she said, could set a particular tone to the community, but the real changes would result from individual effort. "I suggest infiltrating the other person's heritage to make them feel comfortable," she said. "Start making friends and attend social gatherings where you're clearly the minority." She suggested this open approach, together with personal honesty, as an important step in the forging of solid relations between races. Audience members agreed with the nature of her message and the simplicity and clarity of her argument. "It's refreshing to see it from a Christian standpoint," neuroscience graduate student Brian Sperber said. "This issue really affects everybody now." Thomas, who has been involved with the Campus Crusade for Christ for six years, has planned many talks and activities for University students "in an effort to expose everyone to the claims of Christ." She said she has noticed the increased problems with racism on the University campus and wanted to conduct this lecture for three years.