The key is not compromising either tradition. That was a liberating understanding for me, that we are part of a system of privilege. The first step is to admit that the system of race exists. I am talking about a system of classifying people so that some gain access to opportunity and power while others are denied access. The system of race rewards those called white and penalizes those called black and other people of darker colors.
Black people encounter the system daily.
Ga. Reviews of the book were not entirely favorable. African-American readers panned it because they felt that Stroupe, who is white, had presumed to speak for them. Whites panned it because they thought the volume was unduly severe in describing their racist heritage and hidebound attitudes. Stroupe and Giles say the book and their joint campaign against racism started with their determination to face up to racism and deal with it in their personal relationship. We agreed to take these risks together.