Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 1 Race Relations OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS® Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 2 Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 3 Race Relations OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS® Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 4 Other Books of Related Interest OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS SERIES Culture Wars Discrimination Education Hate Groups Inequality: Opposing Viewpoints in Social Problems Interracial America Opposing Viewpoints in Social Issues CURRENT CONTROVERSIES SERIES Hate Crimes Minorities Native American Rights Racism AT ISSUE SERIES Affirmative Action Anti-Semitism Interracial Relationships Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 5 Race Relations OPPOSING VIEWPOINTS® Mary E. Williams, Book Editor David L. Bender, Publisher Bruno Leone, Executive Editor Bonnie Szumski, Editorial Director Stuart B. Miller, Managing Editor Greenhaven Press, Inc., San Diego, California Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 6 Cover photo: John Foxx Images; EyeWire Studios Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Race relations : opposing viewpoints / Mary E. Williams, book editor. p. cm. — (Opposing viewpoints series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7377-0519-1 (pbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7377-0520-5 (lib. bdg. : alk. paper) 1. United States—Race relations. 2. United States—Race relations—Government Policy. I. Williams, Mary E., 1960– . II. Series: Opposing viewpoints series (Unnumbered). E184.A1 R316 2001 305.8'00973—dc21 00-037561 CIP Copyright ©2001 by Greenhaven Press, Inc. Printed in the U.S.A. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electrical, mechanical, or otherwise, including, but not limited to, photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the publisher. Every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyrighted material. Greenhaven Press, Inc., P.O. Box 289009 San Diego, CA 92198-9009 Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 7 “Congress shall make no law. .abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution The basic foundation of our democracy is the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of expression. The Opposing Viewpoints Series is dedicated to the concept of this basic freedom and the idea that it is more important to practice it than to enshrine it. Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 8 Contents Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11 Introduction 14 Chapter 1: What Is the State of Race Relations in America? Chapter Preface 18 1. Racial Harmony Prevails 19 Deroy Murdock 2. Racial Harmony Does Not Prevail 26 Leonard Steinhorn and Barbara Diggs-Brown 3. Anti-Semitism Threatens Black-Jewish Relations 35 Henry Louis Gates Jr. 4. Black-Jewish Relations Are Not Deteriorating 42 Clarence Page 5. Blacks Are Losing Jobs to Immigrants 46 Joseph Daleiden 6. Blacks and Immigrants Need Honest Dialogue About Jobs 52 Elizabeth Martinez Periodical Bibliography 59 Chapter 2: Is Racism a Serious Problem? Chapter Preface 61 1. White Racism Harms Blacks 62 David K. Shipler 2. The Harm of White Racism Is Exaggerated 71 Robert Weissberg 3. Racial Bias Influences Law Enforcement Decisions 80 Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor 4. Racial Bias Does Not Influence Most Law Enforcement Decisions 85 Part I: Jared Taylor; Part II: Walter Williams 5. Environmental Racism Endangers Minorities 90 Edward Rush Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 9 6. Claims of Environmental Racism Are Unfounded 96 Christopher H. Foreman Jr. Periodical Bibliography 103 Chapter 3: How Should Policymakers Respond to Minorities’ Concerns? Chapter Preface 105 1. Race Should Be a Consideration in Public Policy 106 Paul Butler, interviewed by Lloyd Eby 2. Race Should Not Be a Consideration in Public Policy 115 Part I: Gerald Reynolds; Part II: Charles T. Canady 3. Colleges Should Use Race-Sensitive Admissions Policies 124 William G. Bowen and Derek Bok 4. Colleges Should Not Use Race-Sensitive Admissions Policies 131 Roger Clegg 5. Schools Should Employ Bilingual Education 139 Jeff MacSwan 6. Schools Should Not Employ Bilingual Education 143 Georgie Anne Geyer Periodical Bibliography 147 Chapter 4: How Can Race Relations Be Improved? Chapter Preface 149 1. Embracing Racial Diversity Can Help to Unify America 150 Advisory Board to the President’s Initiative on Race 2. Embracing Racial Diversity Is Counterproductive 156 Michael S. Berliner and Gary Hull 3. Whites Should Apologize to Blacks for Slavery 160 Naomi Wolf 4. An Apology for Slavery Would Not Advance Race Relations 165 Thomas Sowell Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 10 5. Cross-Cultural Dialogue Can Benefit Race Relations 169 Sanford Cloud Jr. 6. The Benefits of Cross-Cultural Dialogue Are Exaggerated 173 Charles Krauthammer 7. Interethnic Alliances Should Be Formed 177 George Lipsitz 8. Immigration Should Be Restricted 183 Paul Craig Roberts Periodical Bibliography 187 For Further Discussion 188 Organizations to Contact 190 Bibliography of Books 194 Index 197 Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 11 Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? “The only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this.” John Stuart Mill In our media-intensive culture it is not difficult to find dif- fering opinions. Thousands of newspapers and magazines and dozens of radio and television talk shows resound with differing points of view. The difficulty lies in deciding which opinion to agree with and which “experts” seem the most credible. The more inundated we become with differ- ing opinions and claims, the more essential it is to hone critical reading and thinking skills to evaluate these ideas. Opposing Viewpoints books address this problem directly by presenting stimulating debates that can be used to en- hance and teach these skills. The varied opinions contained in each book examine many different aspects of a single is- sue. While examining these conveniently edited opposing views, readers can develop critical thinking skills such as the ability to compare and contrast authors’ credibility, facts, argumentation styles, use of persuasive techniques, and other stylistic tools. In short, the Opposing Viewpoints Se- ries is an ideal way to attain the higher-level thinking and reading skills so essential in a culture of diverse and contra- dictory opinions. In addition to providing a tool for critical thinking, Op- posing Viewpoints books challenge readers to question their own strongly held opinions and assumptions. Most people form their opinions on the basis of upbringing, peer pressure, and personal, cultural, or professional bias. By reading carefully balanced opposing views, readers must directly confront new ideas as well as the opinions of 11 Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 12 those with whom they disagree. This is not to simplisti- cally argue that everyone who reads opposing views will—or should—change his or her opinion. Instead, the series enhances readers’ understanding of their own views by encouraging confrontation with opposing ideas. Care- ful examination of others’ views can lead to the readers’ understanding of the logical inconsistencies in their own opinions, perspective on why they hold an opinion, and the consideration of the possibility that their opinion re- quires further evaluation. Evaluating Other Opinions To ensure that this type of examination occurs, Opposing Viewpoints books present all types of opinions. Prominent spokespeople on different sides of each issue as well as well- known professionals from many disciplines challenge the reader. An additional goal of the series is to provide a forum for other, less known, or even unpopular viewpoints. The opinion of an ordinary person who has had to make the de- cision to cut off life support from a terminally ill relative, for example, may be just as valuable and provide just as much insight as a medical ethicist’s professional opinion. The editors have two additional purposes in including these less known views. One, the editors encourage readers to re- spect others’ opinions—even when not enhanced by profes- sional credibility. It is only by reading or listening to and objectively evaluating others’ ideas that one can determine whether they are worthy of consideration. Two, the inclu- sion of such viewpoints encourages the important critical thinking skill of objectively evaluating an author’s creden- tials and bias. This evaluation will illuminate an author’s reasons for taking a particular stance on an issue and will aid in readers’ evaluation of the author’s ideas. As series editors of the Opposing Viewpoints Series, it is our hope that these books will give readers a deeper under- standing of the issues debated and an appreciation of the complexity of even seemingly simple issues when good and honest people disagree. This awareness is particularly im- portant in a democratic society such as ours in which people enter into public debate to determine the common good. 12 Race Relations Frontmatter 3/1/04 9:28 AM Page 13 Those with whom one disagrees should not be regarded as enemies but rather as people whose views deserve careful examination and may shed light on one’s own. Thomas Jefferson once said that “difference of opinion leads to inquiry, and inquiry to truth.” Jefferson, a broadly educated man, argued that “if a nation expects to be igno- rant and free . it expects what never was and never will be.” As individuals and as a nation, it is imperative that we consider the opinions of others and examine them with skill and discernment.