"Race Relations" was the sensitive topic discussed Saturday afternoon in a workshop held here as part of the "Emancipation Day" program.

Saadia Williams, director of the non-profit Center for Race
Relations in Knoxville, served as moderator of the frank, biracial discussion of the seven participants.

She began by saying the workshop should have been more precisely entitled, "Exploring Your Baggage," in that everyone carries with them the "baggage" they have grown up with in terms of the way they generally regard people in society's other groups.

Williams encouraged the workshop participants to discuss the stereotypes many have when speaking generally about those in other groups.

She posted six large sheets of paper on the wall with these words: "women ... white men ... Asians ... Latinos/Latinas ... blacks/African-Americans ... gays/lesbians."

Williams then had the workshop participants list general characterizations, or stereotypes, many people have of others in those six groups, no matter how unfair or inaccurate those characterizations may be.

Without reporting here which stereotypes were suggested often are applied to particular groups, among the terms the participants noted were: "dangerous ....temperamental ... powerful ... need to speak English ... destroying our way of life ... going to Hell ... never satisfied ...think they are always right .. .quiet ... living off our resources ... lazy."

It was noted that most of the descriptions posted by the participants -- like most stereotypes in our society -- were negative ones.

One participant said of the stereotypes the group listed, "I've heard just about every one said -- and by someone in my family."

Williams said that while a particular description may be true about an individual, generalizations are over-statements that unfairly tar all members of a group with the same brush, which is a racist way of thinking.

She said young people "are like sponges" who absorb virtually all the views -- and prejudices -- of those around them as they are being raised.

Williams then asked how racial and other stereotyping can be combated.

One woman said that when people hear racist remarks, they need to challenge those who make them.

She recalled that after she pointed out to a friend that an offhand comment she had made was unfairly dispariging of one entire group of people, her friend later thanked her for causing her to think more sensitively about what she had been saying.

The workshop participants agreed that one of the best ways to combat unfair group stereotypes is to get to know people who are in other groups as individuals.

Williams said one of the dangers of just thinking of people through group stereotypes is that it involves making many assumptions that can result in "self-fulfilling prophecies."

For example, she said, if one assumes all members of a group are greedy or untrustworthy, the members of that group may react in negative ways, increasing inaccurate general stereotypes on both sides.

Williams told the workshop's participants that one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make when reacting to those in other social groups is "to paint everybody with the same brush" in terms of one's thinking.

As far as being accurate or fair, she said, "It just doesn't work."