Ms. Steinwender introduced a video of Barbara Hacker, also a cofounder of the center, who was unable to attend the seminar because of an illness. They don't know how to attract a diverse group. She said that divisions are a result of wrong thinking and misinformation. Most people say they are not prejudiced and underevaluate the problem. They don't know how big and how powerful racism is.
Racism is a disease.
It is not our fault for getting sick, but it is our responsibility to get well. Ms. Steinwender introduced a second film, Racial Stereotypes, that showed how depictions of blacks through history fostered racism and prejudice. She said that those images created fear in whites and destructive self-perceptions in people of color. Ms. Steinwender and Mr. Beam asked each to express his or her feelings about racism. Ms. Steinwender asked Remonia Lewis how she wanted to identify herself.