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Questions answered in this forum: What does the increasing segregation of schools mean for future race relations? Is school the critical place where ideas about race are formed? Do you think continued efforts to desegregate schools will further better economic success? What role do black institutions have in allowing blacks to flourish? NewsHour Coverage August 18, 1997: Does California's ban on affirmative action hurt diversity? July 3, 1997: Online Forum: Ask the President's advisory panel about the national initiative. February 18, 1997: In 1960, 6-year-old Ruby Bridges Hall became the first African American child to desegregate an elementary school. Browse the Online NewsHour's coverage of race relations. Outside Links Central High School's Homepeage.

A question from Heather McConahey of Denver, CO: How can positive relations be established? William Winter, former Governor of Mississippi responds: Positive relations between people of different races can be achieved only as we diminish the stereotypes that feed our prejudices. That means that we have to create more opportunities to know one another not in a superficial way but in a manner that recognizes our differences and at the same time seeks to emphasize our common interests and values. Although frank conversation is vital to this process, more important is the opportunity for shared experiences in pursuit of a common goal. People of different races who come together to build houses for Habitat for Humanity, to create neighborhood associations to combat crime or to maintain a healthful environment more often than not establish personal ties that transcend race. In all of this there is the absolutely essential element of creating an atmosphere in the community that makes racist speech and actions unacceptable. Unless there is a general commitment to accord respect and dignity to everyone regardless of race, we shall never achieve the goal of being One America. This is why all of civil society must be involved in the education of itself to the task at hand. Christopher Edley, Law Professor at Harvard responds: Our race problem dates from the early 1600s, and in that sense is more than 150 years older than our stirring civic traditions of democracy, liberty and equality. So, meeting this challenge is not "rocket science." It is HARDER than rocket science. The first step is recognizing how difficult this is, and deciding to treat it with the seriousness and diligence it demands. It is also important to recognize that our goal should not be good "relations" or reconciliation or harmony. Indeed, sometimes progress begins not with holding hands, but with a protest march, a law suit, or a difficult political battle. The true goal is justice – achieving our vision of a society in which color does not keep us from caring about one another, and in which the social and economic significance of race fades to be no more significant than, say, whether I am a Lutheran or Methodist. We are a long way from that vision, with our hopes in need of replenishing. We won't have the moral and political predicate for bold measures to close the racial justice gap until we bridge the great divides in values and perceptions – divisions that fuel our policy disagreements and many social tensions. These divisions reflect the separateness of our communities, and can't be bridged unless our communities are connected across lines of class and color. Building those connections requires honest conversation, but that must lead to experiences and action that create the bonds of community. That could be a multiracial coalition to create quality schools, or to clean up a toxic site, or to vote a scoundrel out of office. Leaders must offer strategies to redeem our sense of community. Continue to the next question... Questions answered in this forum: What does the increasing segregation of schools mean for future race relations? Is school the critical place where ideas about race are formed? Do you think continued efforts to desegregate schools will further better economic success? What role do black institutions have in allowing blacks to flourish?     REGIONS TOPICS RECENT PROGRAMS ABOUT US FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS / FEEDS:             Support the kind of journalism done by the NewsHour...Become a member of your local PBS station. PBS Online Privacy Policy Copyright ©1996- MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.