Ironically, George W. Bush did more to reach out to blacks than previous Republican presidential candidates. Yet millions of blacks and Hispanics see the election of Bush as Exhibit A of racism in America. Exhibit B are 8,000 hate crimes per year in the U.S., nearly one per hour of every day.
Politicians can do little to change the hearts of people.
That's the job of the church, synagogue or mosque which can help members learn about other races, cultures, and religions and examine stereotypes of others. The uniqueness, dignity and worth of every person derives from creation. People of faith must not allow racism to persist. The statement is the centerpiece of a series of actions promised to President Clinton by NCCJ's Faith Leaders Initiative at a White House summit last April. One church which did that is First Presbyterian Church of Fremont, Ohio.