The Education of a WASP

Author to Reader -1988

AUTHOR TO READER-1988 When this book was first published, I hoped that it would soon become only a history of what racism used to be. I feel profound regret that it has not. The book is the story of my family's education, of the racism I found in my heart and head, how it got there, and what I did about it. Some of the national events and names may be unfamiliar to a new generation, but the emotions, myths, and fears are, tragically, still alive in society today. Last spring, seven northern campuses erupted with racist attacks once seen only in the South; last summer, a white baseball executive proclaimed publicly that black men did not have "the necessities" for front-office jobs; last week, a famous sports commentator revived ancient myths about the" in-bred" athletic abilities of black people. This week, ugly racism was revealed within the FBI. My black friends still experience snubs. Their children are still harassed by police solely because of their color. In rereading this book before its reissue, I felt a personal despair. So little has changed. Must we indeed, I wondered, start all over again? Then I knew I would feel even more despair if we did not start over again at all. So, in 1988, I again share my family's story with you, sadly aware that my education-and yours-is not yet complete. VII ...