Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
One summer evening, a racially diverse group of friends gather for a backyard barbeque. They greet each other with enthusiasm, their words often punctuated with affectionate hugs. Everyone has food to share, and soon, animated conversations focus on a wide variety of issues - both personal and political. Some conversations are light-hearted, others are more serious, but the tone is always respectful and caring. It is clear that these people value one another and enjoy being together.
An ordinary summer event, but this is not an ordinary group of people. In Southwest Michigan, where racial segregation continues to be very much the norm, the diversity and intimacy in this group is noteworthy.
For the past eight years these friends - members of an organization called the Race Relations Council - have come together at least once each month to work for racial equality and healing. The Council was formed soon after the publication of author Alex Kotlowitz’s “The Other Side of the River,” a controversial book that focused a national spotlight on the “twin cities” of Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, Michigan. Benton Harbor is an economically depressed town whose population is more than 90% Black; St. Joseph is middle to upper class, and more than 90% White. For many years, racial inequality and alienation between these adjoining towns have been significant issues; the area residents who formed the Race Relations Council were determined to “do something” to speak to these conditions.
Interracial Collaboration Promotes Mutual Understanding and Trust
Having established the Race Relations Council, we've learned a very important lesson: in any effort to bridge the racial divide, active collaboration between individuals from different racial groups is essential. When people work together to plan and implement projects they all regard as meaningful, a powerful context for positive change is created. The process of sharing ideas, building on each other’s enthusiasm, addressing reservations, resolving disagreements, and celebrating accomplishments fosters the development of group cohesion and group identity. Over time, racial differences become less and less a barrier to collaboration. A “we feeling” emerges as participants share a common vision.Conquering Crisis
Not long after the Race Relations Council formed, the St. Joseph – Benton Harbor community faced a crisis that spoke dramatically to our concerns. The Ku Klux Klan, hoping to enlist significant support in the area, announced their intention to hold a rally in St. Joseph. This disturbing possibility prompted spirited discussion and heated debate regarding the role we might play in helping the community deal with these malignant intruders.Some Council members felt we should do nothing - ignore the event and avoid creating more publicity for the Klan. Others strongly disagreed, arguing that we should confront the Klan directly and hold a counter-rally in the immediate vicinity. A third group proposed partnering with an organization of area ministers who were planning a unity prayer service in Benton Harbor, a service that would be held at the same time that the Klan rally was scheduled in St. Joseph.
After much discussion, the group decided to publish a lengthy letter in the local newspaper, urging area residents to take positive steps to counter the bigotry and hate-mongering of the Klan. We suggested that parents talk with their children about prejudice and intolerance, that families from both sides of the river come together to share social or recreational activities, and that individuals from all racial groups make a commitment to participate in one or more projects designed to improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities. We concluded by urging all residents to attend the unity prayer service and demonstrate a commitment to working together to build a diverse and inclusive community.
On the day of the event, attendance at the Klan rally was sparse. A small group of curious on-lookers, a few vocal supporters, and several hecklers watched as a handful of Klan members shouted their toxic rhetoric.
In dramatic contrast, less than a mile away, the church in Benton Harbor was overflowing. Large numbers of St. Joseph residents joined their Benton Harbor neighbors to create, for that day, an enthusiastic multiracial congregation. The energy in the room was infectious – this group was determined not only to send a clear message to the Klan, but also to build alliances and bridge the racial divisions between the two communities. By the end of the service, participants were energized and hopeful.
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