Segregated playgrounds and water fountains are history, but can true interracial harmony ever be achieved?

Jan Clark, co-chair of race relations for the Vision Indianapolis Task Force, is helping frustrated but hopeful residents vent their feelings about racial differences and tolerances at forums throughout the city.

Clark fights prejudice because she knows its effect. When she was in the fifth grade in Indianapolis, she was placed in accelerated, or gifted, classes. The school close to her home offered such classes but was not accepting black students. As a result, she was bused to a school far away.

"It made me feel sad," she recalled. "Why did they not want me to come to their school? They don't even know me, so how could they not like me?"

"I felt bad that there were people who were in control to make decisions about my life having no knowledge of me (except) knowing 'This is a black child."'

"Differences are not bad"

Race relations was an issue when Clark was going through school and continues to be a concern today.

"I think as Americans we still haven't learned how to deal successfully with difference," she explained. "Differences are not bad. . . . differences keep us from getting bored. . . ."

"When you're a child I don't think you bring a lot of prejudices or preconceived notions about who somebody is, just based upon the color of their skin," she remarked.

"As we grow up we are taught to have prejudices about people that really have nothing to do with what the individual is and what is important about that person."

Prejudices are often based on differences in color because they're easily noticed.

"I think as people it's very natural for us to want to be with people who are like us," Clark said, "but I don't think that any kind of growth takes place unless you expand a little bit and get to know people who are not like you."

The forums sponsored by Vision Indianapolis Tomorrow project are one way of getting people to vocalize and understand each others' differences.

Clark says the forums, with the media's help, have been a success. "We had 200 people who came to our first forum. We had 300 people who came to the second one," she said.

"This is a project that needs to have the involvement of everybody in the community, and everybody's ideas are welcome."

Work for change, she says

Clark said no one has the right to complain if they won't be part of the solution.

"We're not asking you to come and talk about how bad you feel and how you want the mayor to do this," she said. "Come to the forum and tell us what you are willing to do to change things.

"In order for race relations to improve individuals have to make the decision that they are going to do something about it. It's getting individuals to understand that they are powerful, they do have a voice, and they can make a difference," she explained.

Clark warns that progress will be slow, because we are not yet a colorblind society. In the 1960s, it took legislation to attempt to ensure whites would treat blacks civilly.

"We have tried to legislate equality. We've got laws that talk in terms of you can not be discriminated against because of your race, color, age, religion or national origin," she said.

"I think that (law making) is certainly a step in the right direction. When we begin living that (equality), rather than having to have it legislated. . . . when we just treat each other equally, I think we'll be talking about the kind of society that I want to live in. The kind of society I think was promised that this country would be."

Roots of racism

Clark explained that basic lack of information is the primary source of racism.

"Racism does come out of fear and misunderstanding. It comes out of someone refusing to get to know an individual. You take one example and say this is how they all are.

"I think racism is ignorance. If we don't get a handle on it, I think it will be the death of this society. We have to learn to live together and get along with one another. If we don't well then, let's all just give up this great idea of an American democracy. The promise of this country is one of the last best hopes."

EDITED BY: Leah Kidwell, 18