Teaching whites to be sensitive to minorities is critically important, but instructors should also flip to the other side of the coin. Minorities need to understand that the large majority of people in this country are fair-minded but don't like being presumed racist. They don't like being sent on perpetual guilt trips. They don't like people yelling ''race'' over every perceived slight and transgression, and they don't like being extorted by opportunists. I hope these sentiments are conveyed at the Diversity Leadership Academy of Atlanta.
Businesses choose the path of least resistance.
Surrendering is easier than seeing your name in the headlines day after day. There may have been discrimination in The Coca-Cola Company, but I doubt there was a billion dollars' worth. In my view, Pepsi poses a more serious threat to Coca-Cola than its diversity problems. Unfortunately, Coke can't buy off Pepsi. Dick Yarbrough is a retired vice president of BellSouth Corporation and is active in the civic and business community.