Teshima Walker here.

Raise your hands high if you think President Barack Obama is glad his meeting with Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, and Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley is over.

Yeah, I'm throwing my hands up, too.

But, I've learned a few things about myself. I haven't invited anyone outside of my race/ethnicity into my home. What's up with that? I'm not going to lie. I don't think about it. I've gone to other folks homes. I had a wonderful time. I always bring something to drink or some flowers. But, I've never said to Luis, the planning editor for Tell Me More. He's Cuban. "Hey Luis, you, the wife and kids want to come by for some catfish, mustard greens and cornbread?"

I grew up on the south side of Chicago in a segregated community. My parents kept my sister and I very close to them. We didn't have friends coming by our apartment to hang out and no sleep-overs. In other words, I didn't develop an urge or inclination to entertain others. But, I never turn down an invitation to go into someone's home, sit, eat, drink and talk.

Who else is wasting an opportunity to invite good people into their homes. And, Baby, I've learned that before you can have difficult conversations about race, class, gender, you know the hard topics - you've got to like the person you're talking to ... alot.

Anyway, I went to my Facebook page and said the following to my people: "President Obama isn't the only one opening his house up for a conversation about race and reconciliation today. Or, is he? When is the last time you had someone of another race or culture in your home? Did you talk about race? Was it awkward? How awkward was it? What kind of beer did you serve?"

The comments were interesting, funny and some made me scratch my head and say - what in the world? Here's what I've learned:

Karen G. Bates:

No beer (unless they ask) but plenty of wine (and food to soak it up) and everybody sits on the floor (even though there is furniture) and we ALWAYS talk about race!

Matsimela Mapfumo:

Does different culture include Black Republicans? :)

Teshima Walker

Matsimela, quit playing.


Tiffany Alease Jones Williams:
LOL @ the Black Republican comment... I am having an ongoing culture / race / religion discussion with a Jewish coworker. I am planning to invite myself over for Passover (I guess I should let her know, huh?). Would rather have the "discussion" with her than my Black Republican friends, actually! LOL....

Greg Cosey:

Everyday at work. Unfortunately its the unspoken conversations that say the most.

Teshima Walker:

Greg, tell me more. What do you mean the unspoken conversations say the most - is this you? What would you like to say or what would you like to hear?

Taylor Chaplin Orci:

One time a guy I was dating who was half Japanese came over for Thanksgiving and my grama drank when she usually doesn't and asked what he did to manage his "fiery temper" that was "common in his race"

Taylor Chaplin Orci:

One time I was dating a black guy and my mom said she was happy we lived in different times because when she was younger she was discouraged from dating black men because her parents thought they "smelled like tar." wow!

Taylor Chaplin Orci:

One time a guy I was dating a guy who was Jewish and his mother asked what my thoughts were about converting.

Ileo Lott:

wow. tar? Wow.

Taylor Chaplin Orci:

I know. It's real.

Crystal Durr Porter:

Good question. I just attended a scientific meeting earlier this week where I was the only female and was one out of 3 Americans (out of about 20 total). We got to talking about the Obama situation over dinner and drinks and we had a very civilized discussion about race. It was the next best thing to conversing in my home.

Nichelle Rivers:

Teshima, my neighbors are Vietnamese and Dutch. They come over all the time, plus we play tennis on the weekend. Yes, race comes up quite often. They actually feel that Amsterdam is more racist than the US, if you can believe that. As for the beer, I serve Grolsch all day long. Hope all is well with you.

... And that's what I learned from a few of my personal friends and co-workers. Now, I want to hear from you but my question is different - if you have never invited a person of color into your home for a meal or a drink can you commit to doing it before the month (August) is over? Tell me about your moment and I'll tell you about mine. And, if you don't know anyone and you live in the Maryland/DC/Virginia area, call a Sister (that's me). You may get an invitation.

Keep listening. Keep blogging it out.

categories: More on Race

9:14 - July 31, 2009

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