The word "plantation" does not divide people and polarize issues. Racism divides people. It creates boundaries that prevent communication, fosters suspicions and inspires fear. Emotions polarize issues. Deep resentments and hatred prevent meaningful interaction and progressive dialogue. If you think one word can do all that, imagine what racism can do.

Some say that describing Duke as a plantation polarizes the race issue on campus, makes people feel uncomfortable and prevents dialogue. But the employees were dialoguing and seemed pretty comfortable using the word, and anyone who thinks race issues weren't already polarized on this campus is either blind or stupid. Ben Chavis discussed the issue publicly; he did not create or polarize any issues. The employees are not upset about a word. They're uncomfortable because they're poor black people serving rich white people. It sounds like a plantation, and if Duke students can't handle that, oh well.

Maybe we're not prepared to deal with reality that racism is alive and well in America. Thirty years of equality for all American citizens has not eliminated the gap in pay, educational level and social status between blacks and whites. The problem has become a social and economic one rather than a legal one. The sources of racism have become less defined, but they have not gone away.

Certain institutions and traditions perpetuate the superior economic and social position of whites in this country. Some of them, like discrimination, are active and require a conscious effort to oppress members of another race. Others, like inheritance, are passive and require no malicious intent. These passive acts are much worse because they are not as obvious. It's even harder to fight racism when it's part of traditions that almost everyone upholds.

Subtle racism is harder to pin down because it is a part of our culture. Stigmatic injury, the subconscious notion that one is inferior, perpetuates racism more than skinheads could ever dream. Barbie, Band-Aids, cartoon characters, television, movies and definitions of beauty form a short list of everyday things that influence what people think about race, actively and subconsciously. For example, definitions of beauty revolve around white standards. Black women defined by society as "beautiful" have typically white features. Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Iman, Beverly Johnson and Whitney Houston have thin lips, narrow noses, small hips and long, silky hair. Beauty in America does not describe people of color, especially African and Asian Americans. White "looks" better, and that can be damaging to people's self-esteem.

Race is not easy to talk about. We're no longer talking about addressing obvious racism. We're talking about privilege, stereotypes, internal racism and lots of other emotional and fuzzy topics. But discussions of race aren't about comfort; they are about challenging your comfort zones, overcoming obstacles, and saying what's really on your mind. Real communication is genuine, not contrived. If someone isn't yelling or crying about their fears, anger, frustration and hatred, chances are nothing much is happening. When everyone tells everyone else exactly what they want to hear, we aren't making any progress. Racism is not about smiley faces and pretty flowers. It's about the kind of pure emotion that calm rational discussions don't convey. If it isn't ugly, it isn't real.

Whites who choose not to act are racist. Ignoring the problem and preventing overt racism is not enough. By refusing to fight actively institutional racism and subtle racism, many white Americans are as racist as members of the KKK. Without legislative and community action working against institutional and subtle racism, the path to equality for minorities in this country will become considerably longer, possibly blocked completely.

The solutions aren't easy or comfortable either. In discussing affirmative action, everyone talks about the qualified white applicant, the angry white male, the less qualified black applicant, reverse discrimination and fairness. Even though the Supreme Court of the United States determined that federal and state governments had violated the constitutional rights of African Americans, there was no class action suit, no civil cases to seek damages. Slavery and its consequences weren't addressed before 1964.

The only compensation blacks have received in this country has been affirmative action. Let's talk about the qualified applicants that were turned away from colleges for 300 years regardless of qualifications. Let's talk about the hundreds of qualified black applicants that don't get jobs. Finally, let's talk about the higher unemployment rates and higher welfare rates in black communities. If you oppose affirmative action, you might as well wear a white sheet to class every day. At least then everyone will know where you stand.

Martin Luther King, Jr. said it best: "Shallow understanding from people of good will is worse than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will."

David Beaning is a Trinity sophomore.