Thoughts on Race in America, as a Backdrop to Ferguson

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Protesters face off with police outside the Ferguson Police Department on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014 in Ferguson, Mo.Credit Whitney Curtis for The New York Times

Updated |  In Nov. 2014, the country saw renewed violence in Ferguson, Mo., after a St. Louis County grand jury’s decided not to bring charges against a police officer, Darren Wilson, who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown.

As the painful debate about race in America has continued, I have used this space to compile articles I’ve written since 2014 that may be useful in this conversation. Here they are:

Is Everyone a Little Bit Racist?,” written after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, looks at the widespread racism and stereotyping young black men face, by all society — including African-Americans themselves.

When Whites Just Don’t Get It,” and the Part 2Part 3 and Part 4 followups as a response to the skepticism and and eye-rolling I encountered from many whites after my initial column.

Later, the Washington Post ran this Q & A with me about the race series.

When Whites Just Don’t Get It, Part 5,” (Nov. 30, 2014), called for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission on race.

I also wrote a column on if whites were in the minority and another about Ian Manuel, a black man who has spent most of his life in prison, and whose white victim thinks he should be released. And check out some reader poems about race, “When Readers Do Get It,” as well as “Straight Talk for White Men.”

When Whites Just Don’t Get It, Part 6,” (April 3, 2016):  I revisited the issue of bias because public attention to racial disparities seemed to be flagging even as the issues were as grave as ever.