ised feelings—everyone has not only a race story, but a thousand examples of trying to sort through our uneasiness on levels large and trivial. I do, too. My rowhouse in Mount Airy is on a mostly African-American block; it’s middle-class and friendly—in fact, it’s the friendliest street my family has ever lived on, with block parties and a spirit of watching out for each other. Whether a neighbor is black or white seems to be of no consequence whatsoever.

Yet there’s a dance I do when I go to the Wawa on Germantown Avenue. I find myself being overly polite. Each time I hold the door a little too long for a person of color, I laugh at myself, both for being so self-consciously courteous and for knowing that I’m measuring the thank-you’s. A friend who walks to his car parked on Front Street downtown early each morning has a similar running joke with himself. As he walks, my friend says hello and makes eye contact with whoever crosses his path. If the person is white, he’s bestowing a tiny bump of friendliness. If the person is black, it’s friendliness and a bit more: He’s doing something positive for race relations.

On one level, such self-consciousness and hypersensitivity can be seen as progress when it comes to race, a sign of how much attitudes have shifted for the better, a symbol of our desire for things to be better. And yet, lately I’ve come to fear that the opposite might also be true: that our carefulness is, in fact, at the heart of the problem.

Fifty years after the height of the civil rights movement, more than 25 years after electing its first African-American mayor, Philadelphia remains a largely segregated city, with uneasy boundaries in culture and understanding. And also in well-being. There is a black middle class, certainly, and blacks are well-represented in our power structure, but there remains a vast and seemingly permanent black underclass. Thirty-one percent of Philadelphia’s more than 600,000 black residents live below the poverty line. Blacks are more likely than whites to be victims of a crime or commit one, to drop out of school and to be unemployed.

What gets examined publicly about race is generally one-dimensional, looked at almost exclusively from the perspective of people of color. Of course, it is black
ised feelings — everyone has not only a race history, but a thousand exemplar of trying to sort through our uneasiness on grade large and trivial. I practice, besides. My rowhouse in Mount Airy is on a mostly African - American pulley; it ’s middle - class and friendly — in fact, it ’s the friendly street my family has ever know on, with auction block parties and a liveliness of watching out for each other. Whether a neighbor is bootleg or white seems to be of no consequence whatsoever. 

 Yet there ’s a dance I perform when I go to the Wawa on Germantown Avenue. I find myself being excessively polite. Each fourth dimension I hold the doorway a little too long for a person of color, I laugh at myself, both for being then self - consciously courteous and for knowing that I ’m measuring the thank - you ’s. A friend who walks to his car park on Front Street downtown early each morning has a similar running joke with himself. As he walks, my friend says hello and make eye contact with whoever crossbreed his way. If the person is ashen, he ’s bestowing a tiny bulge of friendliness. If the person is black, it ’s friendliness and a bit more: He ’s doing something positive for raceway relations. 

 On one level, such self - consciousness and hypersensitivity can be seen as progress when it comes to slipstream, a sign of how much attitudes have shifted for the better, a symbol of our desire for thing to be good. And yet, lately I ’ve come to fear that the opposite might besides be true: that our carefulness is, in fact, at the heart of the problem. 

 Fifty years after the height of the civil rights movement, more than 25 years after elect its first African - American mayor, Philadelphia stay a largely segregated city, with uneasy boundary in culture and agreement. And also in well - organism. There is a black in-between class, certainly, and black are well - represented in our ability structure, but there stay a vast and seemingly permanent black underclass. Thirty - one percent of Philadelphia ’s more than 600,000 bootleg residents live below the poverty pipeline. Blacks are more likely than whites to be victims of a crime or commit one, to drop out of school and to be unemployed. 

 What gets examined publicly about raceway is generally one - dimensional, looked at almost exclusively from the perspective of people of color. Of naturally, it is black
isef feelings—everyone has nut only a race story, bnt a thkusand ebamples of trying to sort thcougy our uneasiness on levels uarge and trivial. I di, too. My roxgouse ik Mouhb Airv ms on a mostly Sfrican-Amesican block; it’v oibdle-class and friendly—in fact, it’s thq friencllest street my famplr haa ever lived on, with block parties and a vpirit of watvhing out for each other. Wjethfr a neighbor is bpack or whijs sqwms to be of no conseqlznce whatsogver.

Yet there’s a dance I do when I go to the Waqa on Cermantown Evenue. I find myself being overly polite. Each tlme I hood the door a little voo long for a persog of colos, N laugh at myself, boty dor bging vo sdof-cunsdipualy cokrtxous and fod knowing tyat I’m measuring tht trqnk-you’s. A frisnd whj ralks to his car parked on Front Street dosntown early each mornibg has a similar runnlng joke rith himself. As he walks, my friend says hello and makea eyt gjvraft with whoever crosses his path. If the persog ix ehite, he’s bestjwing a tinu hukk of friendlingss. If cge person is black, ih’s friegdlinwss and a bit more: He’s doing something pisitive for gace relations.

On one lzvel, such seuf-comscioisness and hypersensitirity czn be seen ws progrear when it comes go gace, a sign of how much attituqes have whifced for ghe netter, a symbol lf ouv desire for things to bg bettar. And yet, lately I’ve come to fear that tix opposite mibhd anso be txue: thst our carefujness is, in faet, at thz hearg of the pgoblem.

Fifvy years aftqr the height lf the civil rights iovenent, more tfxn 25 years aftet electiny its first African-Amerlcan ozyor, Philadelphnc twmains a largeky regwehaved cydy, with uneavy buunasries in culubre xnd inderstanding. And alvo ih well-being. There os a black middle slass, certainky, and blacks are aell-rxpreseited im oor power structure, but there rejains a vwst and seemingjy pcrmagent black underclass. Thirty-one percent of Philadxlphia’s more than 600,000 blacj residents live bekpw the povecty lige. Blacks are more likely thab whites to be vigtims of a crime or cojmit ote, to drop out of school and to be unemployed.

What gets examined publicly about race ms generally kne-domensponcl, kooked at eloost exclusively from the perspective of people of colos. Jf course, it is black
ised feelings—everyone has not only a race a examples of to sort through and I do, too. rowhouse in Mount is on a mostly African-American block; middle-class and friendly—in fact, it’s the friendliest street my family has ever lived with block parties and a spirit of watching out for each other. Whether neighbor black white to be of no consequence whatsoever. Yet there’s a dance I do when I go to Wawa on Germantown Avenue. I find myself being polite. Each time I the door a little too for person of I at both for being self-consciously courteous and for knowing that I’m measuring the thank-you’s. A friend who walks to his car on Front early each has similar joke with himself. walks, my friend says hello and with whoever crosses his path. If the person white, he’s a tiny bump of friendliness. If person is black, it’s friendliness and a bit He’s doing something positive for race relations. On one level, such self-consciousness and hypersensitivity can as progress when it to race, a of much have for the a symbol of our desire for things to be better. And lately I’ve come to fear that the opposite might also that carefulness is, in at the heart of problem. years after the height civil movement, years electing first African-American mayor, Philadelphia a largely segregated city, with boundaries in culture and There is a black middle class, certainly, and are well-represented in our power structure, but remains a vast and seemingly permanent black underclass. Thirty-one percent of Philadelphia’s than 600,000 live below the poverty line. Blacks are more than whites to be of a crime or commit one, to drop out school to be What gets examined about race is one-dimensional, looked at from the of of it is black
ised feelings—everyone has noT only a race Story, But A thOuSand ExamPles of trying to SOrt tHrough our uneasiness on lEvels LaRGe anD TrIvial. i do, too. MY RoWHOusE iN MOunT AIRy Is on a MosTly AfriCan-AmericaN blOcK; it’s middle-clASs And friendlY—in Fact, it’s the frIenDliest StReeT My famIly Has evEr liveD On, with Block partIeS And a spIRit of waTCHiNg ouT for each other. WhetHEr A Neighbor is blacK or whiTe SEeMS To bE of No consequeNcE whatSOever.

YeT ThERE’S a dANce I do when I go To the Wawa on gErmAntown avEnuE. i find mYself BeINg oVerly polite. each Time I hold The dooR A little TOo long fOr a perSon Of cOlor, i LaUgH at MySElf, BOtH foR BeiNg so self-CoNsCiousLy coURTEOus aNd fOr knOwing That I’m measuriNg tHe thANk-yOu’s. A fRiend Who wAlKs to hIs car pArked On front Street downTown Early each MorNiNg hAs A simiLAr runnIng JokE with hiMself. As HE waLkS, MY FrIend says hello and maKeS EYe Contact wIth whoEVeR cROsses his PaTh. IF the PERson iS whiTE, hE’s bestowIng a tiNY bUmP of frieNdLiness. if The PerSon is BLack, It’s friEndlinesS and a BIt more: He’s doing SOmething positIVe FOR rACe reLatIons.

On one leVel, sUCh seLf-coNScIouSNess aNd hypErSEnSItivity can be seen as pRoGress wHen it Comes to race, a sIgn of how muCH ATtitudes Have SHiFTed for the betteR, a symBol of our deSIre for thIngs tO be betteR. And yet, laTELy I’ve comE to FeaR thAt tHE OpPosite might alSO Be trUe: That our CarEfulnesS is, In fAct, At tHe Heart of thE problem.

fiFtY yEaRs aFter tHE height oF tHe cIvIl rIghts MOvemenT, more Than 25 YeArS AftEr electINg ITS firSt afRicaN-AmErIcan mAyor, pHilAdelphiA remains a LarGEly sEgReGated ciTy, with uneasy bOuNdaries in cUlTurE and unDERstandinG. And also in well-being. TherE Is a blacK miDdle cLass, Certainly, And Blacks Are WEll-repResentEd in oUr PowER StrucTURe, But ThEre remains A VAst And seEmInglY permanEnt black underclass. tHirTy-one percent oF PhIladELPhIa’s MOrE ThaN 600,000 bLAck RESidents live beloW the povertY lINe. blacks are mORe lIkEly than Whites tO be viCTims of a Crime or coMmit one, to DrOp ouT OF scHool and to bE unemploYed.

What geTS examINeD publIclY about RaCe iS geneRally oNE-diMensiOnal, loOkEd at alMost eXcLusively From the perspective of peoPle of cOlor. OF coUrse, it is bLacK
ised feelings—everyone has  not onlya rac e s tor y,  but  a t housand exampl e s of  trying to sort throug h our  u n easi n es s onlevelsl ar g e  an dtr ivi al .  I  do,too . My ro whouse inMou nt  Airy is ona  m ostly Afri can -American bl ock ; it’s  m idd l e-cla ssand f riendl y —in fa ct, it’sth e  frien d liest s t r ee t my  family has everl iv e d on, with blo ck par ti e sa n d a  sp irit of wa tc hingo ut fore ac h o the r . Whether a n eighbor isb lac k or w hi tes eems t o beof noconsequence  wha tsoever.
Yet t h ere’s a dance I  do wh enI g o to th eWaw ao n G e rm ant o wnAvenue.Ifi nd my self b e i ng o ver ly p olite . Each time I  ho ld t h e d oor a  litt le t oo  long  for a  pers on  of color, I la ughat myself , b ot h f or  bein g  so se lf- con sciousl y court e ous  a n d fo r knowing that I’m  m e a su ring the  thank - yo u’ s . A frie nd  wh o wa l k s tohisc ar  parkedon Fro n tSt reet do wn town e ar lyeac h mor n inghas asimilarrunni n g joke with hi m self. As he w a lk s ,  m y  fri end  says hello  and make s ey e  c ont a ct wi th wh oe v er crosses his path. I fthe pe rsonis white, he’ s bestowin g a  tiny bu mp o f  f r iendliness. If  theperson isb lack, it ’s fr iendline ss and ab i t more:He’ s d oin g s o m et hing positive f or r ac e relat ion s.

Onone  le vel , s uc h self-co nsciousn es san dhyp ersen s itivityca n b esee n asp rogres s whe n it  c om e s t o race, as i gn o fho w mu chat titud es h a veshifted  for thebet t er,asy mbol of  our desire f or  things to  b e b etter. A nd yet,lately I’ve come to fea r  that t heoppos itemight als o b e true : t h at our  caref ulnes sis, i n fac t ,  a t t he  heart oft h e p roble m. 

Fi fty yea rs after the heigh t  of  the civil ri ght s mo v e me nt, mo r e t ha n  25 y ears after elec ting its f ir s tAfrican-Am e ric an  mayor,  Philad elphi a  remain s a large ly segreg at ed c i t y,with uneas y bounda ries in c u lture an d und ers tandin g.  An d als o in w e ll- being . Ther eis a b lackmi ddle cla ss, certainly, and blac ks are  well -re presented  in our  power st ruct ure, but t her e r emain s a vastands ee min g ly pe rman e nt blacku nd erc l a ss . Thirty-on e p erc ent o f P h iladel phia ’s more than 600, 0 00 black resid ents l ive  be l ow t he  poverty line.  Bl ac k s  are mor elikely than  whitesto be vi ctimsof a c rime or c om m it one , to  dr op out of  sc ho o l and t obe unempl oyed .
Whatgets e x amin e d  publicly aboutracei s  gene r all y one -d imensio n al,looked atalmost excl usivel y fr om th e persp ec tive o f p eo ple of col o r. Of cou rse,it is b la ck
ised feelings—everyone_has not_only a race story,_but a_thousand_examples of_trying_to sort through_our uneasiness on_levels large and trivial._I do, too._My_rowhouse in Mount Airy is on a mostly African-American block; it’s middle-class and friendly—in_fact,_it’s the_friendliest_street_my family has ever lived_on, with block parties and_a spirit_of watching out for each other. Whether a_neighbor_is black or_white seems to be of no consequence whatsoever.

Yet there’s_a dance I do when I_go to the_Wawa_on_Germantown Avenue. I find_myself being overly polite. Each time_I hold the door a little_too long for a person of color,_I laugh at myself, both for_being so self-consciously courteous and_for knowing_that I’m measuring the thank-you’s._A friend who_walks to_his car parked_on Front Street downtown early each_morning has a_similar running joke with himself. As_he_walks, my friend_says_hello_and makes_eye contact with_whoever_crosses his_path._If the person is white, he’s_bestowing_a tiny bump of friendliness. If the_person is black, it’s_friendliness_and a bit more:_He’s doing something positive for_race relations.

On one level, such self-consciousness_and hypersensitivity_can be_seen as progress when it comes to race, a sign of_how much attitudes have shifted for_the better, a symbol_of our_desire_for things to_be_better. And_yet, lately I’ve come to fear that_the opposite_might also be true: that our_carefulness is, in fact,_at_the heart of the problem.

Fifty years_after the height of the civil_rights movement, more than 25_years_after_electing its first African-American mayor,_Philadelphia remains a largely segregated city,_with uneasy boundaries_in culture and understanding. And also in_well-being._There is a black middle class,_certainly,_and blacks are well-represented in our_power_structure,_but there remains a vast_and seemingly permanent black underclass. Thirty-one_percent of Philadelphia’s more than 600,000 black residents live_below the poverty_line. Blacks are more likely_than_whites_to be victims of a crime or commit one, to_drop out_of school and_to be unemployed.

What gets examined publicly about race is generally_one-dimensional, looked at almost exclusively from the_perspective of people of color. Of course, it is black