A conference at the UNT Coliseum last Tuesday introduced me to an artist and activist from Portland, OR: Simon Tam. Leader of a music band "The Slants" (a denigrating name for Asian Americans they have appropriated to give it a whole new meaning) he is also an activist on human rights and specifically the issue of racism and discrimination.

Simon started by showing some slides, among them one that featured a Gallup statistic: 94% of White Americans thought that racism was no longer a problem in the United States. Interestingly, as he pointed out, racism is not an issue for White Americans, but what if we would ask the same questions to a member of any minority? All members of minority group have experienced racism in one form or another.

One of his friends mentioned that there is no more racism since we now have a black President. Tam’s answer to that is “then we don’t need to enact the American Disability Act since we had F.D.R. as President in 1932”.

Discussion about racism often lead to proving the other person is wrong and neither of the parties will change their preconceptions. It is essential according to Tam to provide some context to the discussion. It is also important to let the other person know that we value their opinion and avoid confrontation.

Tam offered some tips that I find very helpful for bringing the issue of racism into a discussion.

      1) Listen softly. To what the other person says and why they say it.

      2) Don’t use labels, but rather learn to say “I disagree”.

      3) Redefine racism. Not as a belief, but as an oppressive system, a social structure 
      that needs to be changed.

      4) Get informed. Not memorizing statistics, which you will probably forget when the 
      discussion arises. But events that are recent and that you and the other person can   
      relate to.

      5)  Share your story. A story is much easier to remember and is more personal than 
      any numbers.

      6) Ask questions. What is the other person definition of racism? What sources do they 
      use?

      7) Body Language is an important way of conveying information and disposition to 
      listen.

      8) Focus on Shared Values: as much as you can differ with the other person on many 
      issues, there is  always a common ground.

      9) Analogies always come handy. Such as the example of Obama being black and 
      FDR being physically challenged.

      10) Doing what is right, taking action. Is not enough to talk about racism, but to 
       change the system that perpetuates it. Participating in local organizations, in politics,  
       or even being a candidate!

I really thought of many occasions where I have judged somebody for their appearance. If someone looked Hispanic, I would immediately talk to him in Spanish. Not realizing that many Hispanics only speak English, and some are third or fourth generation Americans. On the other hand I have noticed how many Spanish speaking Hispanics talk to me in English even though I let them know I speak Spanish, as I do not fit the stereotypical image of a Hispanic and look “Anglo”.

Simon Tam proved to be not only an effective communicator but was able to establish connections with the audience, making us aware of our own prejudices. His 10 point approach to the discussion of racism is very valuable and I intend to follow it and treat others the way I want to be treated.

Getting to know Maxi, a young man who enjoys playing soccer, and works as a sports commentator for the local radio, no one could define him as “disabled” or as a “blind man”. In fact Maximiliano Ruiz Diaz has achieved things that many of us who do not have impediments or challenges could not even dream of. Maxi was part of the “Bats” (Los Murcielagos) the Argentinean blind football team. He works at “La mas deportiva” a popular sports show in Formosa, Argentina. During the recent games of Copa Argentina he had a chance to interview some of his favorite players. He was featured as a guest on several nationally aired shows, and also on newspapers from Argentina and Paraguay.

I met Maxi through a common friend in Facebook. We both share a passion for soccer or "futbol" as we call it, and as I learned we are both “rude defenders”. I must have been 13 or 14 when I saw the first game involving soccer players. Some of the characteristics of blind football are: a) The football contains ball bearings so it can be heard b) a bell behind the goal direct players to shoot c) players talk to each other and their rivals to avoid collisions (which still are common) and d) the goalie is the only sighted player.

Judging by the challenges they have to overcome I consider these players much better players than the average amateur enthusiast including myself.

Christian Pérez writes on an article of ABC Paraguay (08/May/2015): “I heard this guy describing the development of the game as he was reading my mind. It was distracting. I turned around and saw this guy writing in braille, taking notes on everything the narrator said and keeping tracks of all the chances each team had”. While Maxi says that “just because one is blind or has a disability people expect you have to be confined in a room. It is up to you to first accept the challenges and confront them. No one will come and solve all your problems magically". The title of the article is not very fortunate "He comments with his heart" as his commentaries where more products of his feelings than a true analysis of the game.

If anyone had remotely thought of Maxi as the stereotype of a blind person who stays at home reading braille, they would certainly be disappointed. His routine includes playing soccer in the morning, having lunch and going to his job at the radio station. He is very active in Facebook, he has a program that “reads” other people’s comments and he is always quick to reply. In his Facebook wall, Maxi posted a question for all of us who view ourselves as persons, but are quick to define others by just an attribute. "Why do we see someone as a disabled and not as a person? When we see a man walking with a white cane, a lady in a wheelchair, a boy communicating through sign language, or a girl with Down syndrome, do you think first of "a blind man, a disabled lady, a deaf boy, a Down girl, or just of a man, a lady, a boy, a girl that has dreams, desires, opinions, routines, a job, a family?" I think we are all guilty at one point of having defined a person by just one of his or her characteristics. The idea of intersectionality is that "no one is a member of just one social group...we are all a product of a combination of experiences and identities.." (Lind, 6). Maxi is a great example of that.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-10914782

http://www.abc.com.py/especiales/fin-de-semana/ejemplo-de-superacion-querer-es-poder-1364225.html