In 1987 the late James Baldwin gave a lecture at the University of Puget Sound, where I was in my Sophomore year. At a time when I was often criticized for my association with African Americans and my membership in the Black Student Union, his words left a profound impression on me and at the same time challenged me to continue my efforts. There two things in particular from his message that I have never forgotten. First, “White is a state of mind” and more importantly, “You can’t look into another human’s eyes and see anything other than another human’s eyes. We are all related.”
[Lei, W. (1987, February 24) White is a state of mind. The Trail, pp. 1, 6, 16]