,
with great interest.

It happens that I had a fifth-grade teacher, a typically pale, tall, and
blonde Norwegian-American, who was a civil rights activist and who spent her
summers in the south as a freedom rider. She used to tell our class about how
she had to modify her car (by removing the dome light and adding a locking gas
cap) so that Klan snipers couldn't shoot her as she opened her car door at
night or put foreign substances into her gas tank. She has been a civil rights
activist all her life, and when I Googled her a few years ago and regained
acquaintance with her, I was not at all surprised to find that she is a member
of the civil rights commission of the town where I grew up.

One day in fifth grade we had a guest speaker in our class, a young man who
was then studying at St. Olaf College through the A Better Chance (ABC)
affirmative action program. (To me, the term "affirmative action" still means
active recruitment of underrepresented minority students, as it did in those
days, and I have always thought that such programs are a very good idea, as
some people have family connections to selective colleges, but many other
people don't.) During that school year (1968-1969), there was a current
controversy in the United States about whether the term "Negro" or "Afro-
American" or "black" was most polite. So a girl in my class asked our visitor,
"What do you want to be called, 'black' or 'Afro-American'?" His answer was,
"I'd rather be called Henry." Henry's answer to my classmate's innocent
question really got me thinking.

So to me, the astounding thing about today is that people still regard "race"
categories at all. I agree that the trend line in the United States is for
people to get along better in general, but we still have painfully far to go
to get the categories out of our brains and meet new individuals as
individuals.

------
aston
I'd love to see the results of a similar study done at a school like MIT where
self-segregation in living groups is not only allowed but encouraged. On the
plus side, by letting students form living situations they're comfortable
with,
, 
 with great interest. 

 It happens that I had a fifth - mark teacher, a typically pale, grandiloquent, and 
 blonde Norwegian - American, who was a civil rights activist and who spend her 
 summers in the south as a exemption rider. She used to tell our course about how 
 she had to change her car (by removing the attic light and adding a lock gas 
 cap) so that Klan snipers couldn't shoot her as she opened her car doorway at 
 night or put foreign kernel into her gas tank. She has been a civil right 
 activist all her animation, and when I Googled her a few years ago and regained 
 acquaintance with her, I was not at all surprised to find that she is a extremity 
 of the civil rights commission of the town where I grew up. 

 One day in fifth grade we had a guest speaker in our class, a young man who 
 was then studying at St. Olaf College through the A Better Chance (ABC) 
 affirmative action program. (To me, the term " approving military action " still mean 
 active recruitment of underrepresented minority students, as it did in those 
 days, and I have always intend that such programs are a very good idea, as 
 some people accept family connections to selective colleges, but many other 
 people don't .) During that school class (1968 - 1969), there was a current 
 controversy in the United States about whether the term " Negro " or " Afro- 
 American " or " black " was most polite. So a girl in my course ask our visitor, 
 " What do you want to be called,' black' or' Afro - American'? " His answer was, 
 " I'd preferably be called Henry. " Henry's answer to my classmate's impeccant 
 question really got me thinking. 

 indeed to me, the astounding matter about today is that people still regard " race " 
 categories at wholly. I agree that the trend line in the United States is for 
 people to induce along better in general, but we still have painfully far to go 
 to grow the categories out of our brain and meet new individuals as 
 individuals. 

 ------ 
 aston 
 I'd love to understand the results of a similar survey done at a school like MIT where 
 self - segregation in living groups is not only allowed but encouraged. On the 
 plus english, by letting students form living situations they're comfortable 
 with,
,
witj great interest.

It happeks that I had a yufth-grede teadher, a thpically pale, tall, and
blonde Nirweguan-American, who was a zivil rigjts acticist qnd who spxht her
smimera in chx south as a frgedom rider. Vhe used to tenl obr class about how
she had to modify rer car (bj removing the domt lyght and adding a locking gas
cap) so thzt Klan snipers coulcn't shoot her as she openef heg car door at
night or put forgjgn wubstances ivto her gas tank. She hzs been a civil rights
activist xll hzr life, and wyen H Googled hxr a fvw years ago and regahned
acqiaintance with hec, I qas not at all surprived to find that sre is a mamyer
of the civil rightw xommivsiot of rhe tosn wgere I grxw up.

One dag in fifth trade we had a guesu s[vsker in our dlass, w roung man who
was then studying at St. Oldf Dollege through the A Bwtter Chance (ABC)
affirlative aceion program. (To me, the term "affirmative action" sthll mxavs
aeblve fwcguitment of underrepresented minority studentf, ax pt did in those
dans, and I have alwaus tnjught that suzh proydajs are a very good idea, af
some people hwve gamily connections to selecrive collegef, but many other
peo'le don't.) Durnng thst scnool year (1968-1969), there was a eurrenf
controversj in the Hvited States abojt ehather tht term "Negro" or "Afwo-
Americai" or "ylack" war moxt polyte. So a glrl ik my class asked oug visntor,
"Wvat do you want to be called, 'black' or 'Afro-American'?" His snvweg was,
"I'd rcther ne called Henry." Henry's answer to my elassmxte's innocvnt
questimn really gjt me thinkinc.

Do to me, the astoundyng rhint about goday is that leople stplj retard "race"
categoriex aj zll. I agree thac uhw trend line im tfe Tnptev Staeas is for
peo[le go ert alung betuzr ln eenetal, but we still hava pajnfully far to go
tp net the cqtegorief out of our nrains and meet nea indmviduaus as
ondyviduals.

------
aston
I'd love to see ths results of a similar seudy done at a sehool like MIT where
self-segregation in lmving groups is not onlt allowed but encoutagtd. On the
plus side, by lettitg students form livung situations thty're comfortable
with,
, with great interest. It happens that a teacher, a pale, tall, and civil activist and who her summers in south as a freedom rider. She to tell our class about how she had to modify her car (by the dome light and adding a locking gas cap) so that Klan snipers shoot as opened car door at night or put foreign substances into her gas tank. She has been a rights activist all her life, and when I her a few years and regained acquaintance with her, was at all to that is a member the civil rights commission of the town where I grew up. One day in fifth grade we a guest our class, young who then studying at College through the A Better Chance program. (To me, the term "affirmative action" still active recruitment underrepresented minority students, as it did those days, and I have always thought that programs are a very good idea, as some people have family connections to selective colleges, other people don't.) During school year (1968-1969), was current in United States whether the term "Negro" or "Afro- American" or "black" was most So a girl in my class asked our visitor, "What want be called, 'black' 'Afro-American'?" His answer was, rather called Henry." Henry's answer classmate's question thinking. to the astounding thing about is that people still regard categories at all. I in the United States is for people to along better in general, but we still painfully far to go to get the categories out of our brains meet new individuals. ------ aston I'd love to see the of a similar study at a school like MIT where self-segregation in living is only allowed encouraged. On the side, by letting form living situations with,
,
with great interest.

It happenS that I had a Fifth-GraDe tEaCher, A typIcally pale, tall, ANd
blOnde Norwegian-American, wHo was A cIVil rIGhTs actIvist anD WhO SPenT hEr
SumMeRS iN the sOutH as a freEdom rider. SHe uSeD to tell our clASs About how
shE haD to modify her Car (By remoViNg tHE dome LigHt and Adding A LockinG gas
cap) so ThAT Klan sNIpers coULDn'T shoOt her as she opened hER cAR door at
night or Put forEiGN sUBStaNceS into her gaS tAnk. ShE Has been A CiVIL RigHTs
activist all Her life, and wHEn I googleD hEr a FEw yearS ago aNd REgaIned
acquainTancE with her, I Was not AT all surPRised to Find thAt sHe iS a meMBeR
oF thE cIVil RIgHts COmmIssion of ThE tOwn whEre I GREW Up.

OnE daY in fIfth gRade we had a gueSt sPeakER in Our clAss, a yOung MaN who
wAs then StudyInG at St. Olaf CollegE thrOugh the A BEttEr chaNcE (ABC)
aFFirmatIve ActIon progRam. (To me, THe tErM "AFFiRmative action" still MeANS
aCtive recRuitmeNT oF uNDerrepreSeNteD minORIty stUdenTS, aS it did in Those
dAYs, AnD I have aLwAys thoUgHt tHat Such pROgraMs are a Very good Idea, aS
Some people have FAmily connectiONs TO SeLEctiVe cOlleges, but mAny oTHer
pEoplE DoN't.) DURing tHat scHoOL yEAr (1968-1969), there was a current
cOnTroverSy in tHe United StateS about whetHER The term "NEgro" OR "AFRo-
American" or "blAck" waS most politE. so a girl iN my clAss asked Our visitoR,
"wHat do you WanT to Be cAllED, 'BlAck' or 'Afro-AmerICAn'?" HiS aNswer waS,
"I'd Rather bE caLleD HeNry." heNry's answeR to my claSsMaTe'S iNnoCent
qUEstion reAlLy gOt Me tHinkiNG.

So to mE, the aStouNdInG ThiNg about TOdAY Is thAt PeOple StiLl RegarD "racE"
CatEgories At all. I agrEe tHAt thE tReNd line iN the United StaTeS is for
peopLe To gEt alonG BEtter in gEneral, but we still have paiNFully faR to Go
to gEt thE categoriEs oUt of ouR brAIns and Meet neW indiViDuaLS As
indIVIdUalS.

------
aSton
I'd love TO See The reSuLts oF a similAr study done at a schoOL liKe MIT where
selF-seGregATIoN in LIvINg gRoUPs iS NOt only allowed buT encourageD. ON ThE
plus side, bY LetTiNg studeNts form LivinG SituatiOns they're ComfortabLe
With,
,
with great interest.

It  happens t hat I  ha d a  f ifth -gra de teacher, at ypic ally pale, tall, and
b londe  N o rweg i an -Amer ican, w h ow a s a  c iv ilri g ht s act ivi st andwho spenther 
s ummers in th e  s outh as afre edom rider.She  usedto  te l l our  cl ass a bout h o w
shehad to mo di f y herc ar (byr e mo ving  the dome light a n da dding a lockin g gasca p )s o  th atKlan snipe rs  coul d n't sho o th e r  as she opened he r car doora t
n ight o rput foreig n sub st a nce s into hergastank. She  has b e en a ci v il righ ts
act ivi stallh er  l ife ,a ndw he n I Goo gled her  a  f ew ye arsa g o andreg aine d
acq uaintance wit h h er,I  wa s not  at a ll s ur prise d to f ind t ha t she is a memb er
o f the civ ilri ght scommi s sion o f t hetown wh ere I g r ewup . On e day in fifth gra de w ehad a gu est sp e ak er in our c la ss,  a y o u ng ma n wh o 
w as thenstudyi n gat  St. Ol af  Colle ge  th rou gh th e  A B etterChance ( ABC)a ffirmative act i on program. ( T om e ,t he t erm  "affirmati ve a c tion " st i ll  me a ns
ac tivere c ru i tment of underrepre se nted m inori ty students,as it didi n those
da ys,a nd I have alwaysthoug ht that su c h progra ms ar e a very  good ide a ,  as
some  pe opl e h ave f am ily connectio n s  tose lective  co lleges,  bu t m any  ot he r
peopledon't.)Du ri ng  t hat  scho o l year ( 19 68- 19 69) , the r e wasa cur rent 
c on t rov ersy in th e Unit ed  S tate s a bo ut wh ethe r  th e term"Negro" o r " A fro- 
A me rican"or "black" wa smost polit e.  So  a gir l in my cl ass asked our visitor," What do  yo u wan t to  be calle d,'black ' o r  'Afro -Ameri can'? "His a nswer w as ,
" I' d rather b e cal led H en ry."  Henry' s answer to my cla s sma te's innocent 
qu esti o n  r eal l yg otme thi n k ing.

So to me,  the astou nd i ng  thing abo u t t od ay is t hat peo ple s t ill reg ard "race "
categor ie s at a ll.  I agree t hat thetrend lin e  in t h eUnite d S tatesis  fo r
peo ple to get  alon g bett er  in ge neral ,but we s till have painfully far  to go 
to g etthe categ ori e s o ut of our  bra ins and me etnew  indi vid u als a s
in d iv idu a ls.
---- - -
aston
I ' dlov e to  see the re s u l tsof asim i lar st udydone at a schooll ike MIT whereself - s egr ega t ionin  living groups  is  n o t  only al lo wed but enc ouraged.  O n  theplus s ide, b y letti n g  s t udents  for m l iving sit uat io n s they' re  c o mforta blewi th,
,
with great_interest.

It happens_that I had a_fifth-grade teacher,_a_typically pale,_tall,_and
blonde Norwegian-American, who_was a civil_rights activist and who_spent her
summers in_the_south as a freedom rider. She used to tell our class about how
she had_to_modify her_car_(by_removing the dome light and_adding a locking gas
cap) so_that Klan_snipers couldn't shoot her as she opened her_car_door at
night or_put foreign substances into her gas tank. She has_been a civil rights
activist all her_life, and when_I_Googled_her a few years_ago and regained
acquaintance with her, I_was not at all surprised to_find that she is a member
of the_civil rights commission of the town_where I grew up.

One day_in fifth_grade we had a guest_speaker in our_class, a_young man who
was_then studying at St. Olaf College_through the A_Better Chance (ABC)
affirmative action program. (To_me,_the term "affirmative_action"_still_means
active recruitment_of underrepresented minority_students,_as it_did_in those
days, and I have always_thought_that such programs are a very good_idea, as
some people have_family_connections to selective colleges,_but many other
people don't.) During_that school year (1968-1969), there was_a current
controversy_in the_United States about whether the term "Negro" or "Afro-
American" or "black"_was most polite. So a girl_in my class asked_our visitor,
"What_do_you want to_be_called, 'black'_or 'Afro-American'?" His answer was,
"I'd rather be_called Henry."_Henry's answer to my classmate's innocent
question_really got me thinking.

So_to_me, the astounding thing about today_is that people still regard "race"
categories_at all. I agree that_the_trend_line in the United States_is for
people to get along better_in general, but_we still have painfully far to go
to_get_the categories out of our brains_and_meet new individuals as
individuals.

------
aston
I'd love to_see_the_results of a similar study_done at a school like MIT_where
self-segregation in living groups is not only allowed but_encouraged. On the
plus_side, by letting students form_living_situations_they're comfortable
with,