Editor's Note: Al Vivian is president & CEO of BASIC Diversity, Inc., a 35-year-old consultancy that specializes in diminishing cross-cultural biases that has worked with clients such as Coca-Cola, Ford, Kroger, McDonald's, the National Security Agency and CNN. He is also an adviser to the United States Army for diversity and cultural affairs.



Al Vivian says Eric Holder was right to urge Americans to confront diversity issues now.



FAYETTEVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- Privilege can be a dangerous thing. It releases you from the task of thinking about things that others must. I am an African-American male and I am privileged. Not on race; but on gender, education, religion, income and many other areas.



As a man, my authority and intellect are not second-guessed. As a Christian, my moral code is not questioned, nor am I subject to post-September 11 profiling. I have privilege in these areas, and I realize that this privilege creates blind spots. An advantage to any group creates a corresponding disadvantage to all others



Recently Attorney General Eric Holder made some statements concerning America's need to confront its racial history, and the need for Americans to engage in cross-racial dialogue. Holder's comments offended some and motivated others, not uncommon when dealing with the touchy issue of race. On confronting our history he said:



"To get to the heart of this country, one must examine its racial soul. ... in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards. "



Concerning cross-racial dialogue he opined: "If we are to make progress in this area, we must ... have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us."



In a recent interview, President Obama responded by saying, America has made "enormous progress, and we shouldn't lose sight of that ... I think it's fair to say that if I had been advising my attorney general, we would have used different language."



The president went on to say, "I think what solves racial tensions is fixing the economy, putting people to work, making sure people have health care, ensuring that every kid is learning out here."



They were both right; but they were addressing two different things. Obama was talking about fixing the economy to ease racial tensions. Holder was talking about overcoming our fears to dialogue and confronting racial privilege so that we can eliminate inequities that cause the racial tensions.



Additionally, Holder was not saying that progress had not been made. He was saying that there is much yet to be done in order to fully engage and leverage the abilities of all of the nation's human capital.



Elaborating on history, we must acknowledge that whites have been the benefactors of centuries of history that included half-truths that socially affirmed them to the detriment of all others. Addressing this privilege will take extreme courage, for there will be many loud dissenting voices.



For example, there has never been a discussion in America about whether we should or should not celebrate a White History Month. That would be an irrelevant waste of time, because white history has been the basis of practically all that we have been taught. Being able to sit in a classroom and open history books that positively portray a plethora of people that resemble you has been, and continues to be, the exclusive historical privilege of whites.



This privilege psychologically and economically benefits every member at every level of the advantaged category so profoundly that its members never have to question their place in society. And that place is on top: the expected and accepted norm.



If you are white, consider how different life might be for you now if you had grown up from meager beginnings, while simultaneously being denigrated by a society that had denied equal access to you, your parents and every member of your race during every prior generation. This is the history of black America that Holder is saying we must understand to truly know the heart of America.



History is history, and
Editor 's Note : Al Vivian is president & CEO of BASIC Diversity , Inc. , a 35-year - old consultancy that specializes in diminishing cross - cultural biases that has worked with clients such as Coca - Cola , Ford , Kroger , McDonald 's , the National Security Agency and CNN . He is also an adviser to the United States Army for diversity and cultural affairs . Al Vivian says Eric Holder was right to urge Americans to confront diversity issues now . FAYETTEVILLE , Georgia ( CNN ) -- Privilege can be a dangerous thing . It releases you from the task of thinking about things that others must . I am an African - American male and I am privileged . Not on race ; but on gender , education , religion , income and many other areas . As a man , my authority and intellect are not second - guessed . As a Christian , my moral code is not questioned , nor am I subject to post - September 11 profiling . I have privilege in these areas , and I realize that this privilege creates blind spots . An advantage to any group creates a corresponding disadvantage to all others Recently Attorney General Eric Holder made some statements concerning America 's need to confront its racial history , and the need for Americans to engage in cross - racial dialogue . Holder 's comments offended some and motivated others , not uncommon when dealing with the touchy issue of race . On confronting our history he said : " To get to the heart of this country , one must examine its racial soul . ... in things racial we have always been and continue to be , in too many ways , essentially a nation of cowards . " Concerning cross - racial dialogue he opined : " If we are to make progress in this area , we must ... have frank conversations about the racial matters that continue to divide us . " In a recent interview , President Obama responded by saying , America has made " enormous progress , and we should n't lose sight of that ... I think it 's fair to say that if I had been advising my attorney general , we would have used different language . " The president went on to say , " I think what solves racial tensions is fixing the economy , putting people to work , making sure people have health care , ensuring that every kid is learning out here . " They were both right ; but they were addressing two different things . Obama was talking about fixing the economy to ease racial tensions . Holder was talking about overcoming our fears to dialogue and confronting racial privilege so that we can eliminate inequities that cause the racial tensions . Additionally , Holder was not saying that progress had not been made . He was saying that there is much yet to be done in order to fully engage and leverage the abilities of all of the nation 's human capital . Elaborating on history , we must acknowledge that whites have been the benefactors of centuries of history that included half - truths that socially affirmed them to the detriment of all others . Addressing this privilege will take extreme courage , for there will be many loud dissenting voices . For example , there has never been a discussion in America about whether we should or should not celebrate a White History Month . That would be an irrelevant waste of time , because white history has been the basis of practically all that we have been taught . Being able to sit in a classroom and open history books that positively portray a plethora of people that resemble you has been , and continues to be , the exclusive historical privilege of whites . This privilege psychologically and economically benefits every member at every level of the advantaged category so profoundly that its members never have to question their place in society . And that place is on top : the expected and accepted norm . If you are white , consider how different life might be for you now if you had grown up from meager beginnings , while simultaneously being denigrated by a society that had denied equal access to you , your parents and every member of your race during every prior generation . This is the history of black America that Holder is saying we must understand to truly know the heart of America . History is history , and
Who is Al Vivian?
Who is Al Vivian ?
is president & CEO of BASIC Diversity, Inc.,
is president & CEO of BASIC Diversity, Inc.,