No real change will come about without close associations, dialogue and friendship. In order to grow and create meaningful change, we must establish more and frequent opportunities to discuss the value of racial unity, and get beyond event-driven activity like Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Race Unity Day and Black History Month.

It cannot suffice to offer educational opportunities and employment opportunities, all of which include the tagline of “equal opportunity,” while simultaneously shutting people of color out of these opportunities through the continuation of systemic racist practices within our social institutions.

We need to become aware of and become sensitive to responses such as “We have always taught these children this way,” which frequently represent systemic racial biases and practices in our public school systems. We need to develop a thirst for justice and equality for all people, and rid ourselves of racial stereotypes that attach the responsibility and blame for lack of achievement to the victims, without addressing the ineffectiveness of the systems in which they function.

We need to be open to education of ourselves, because ignorance and blind imitation are the root causes of prejudice.

Kenley Wade is co-chair of the Springfield Coalition on Dismantling Racism, vice-chair of the Coalition to Promote Human Dignity and Diversity and a management consultant who performs extensive volunteer work in the Springfield community.