Race questions apply to all

An aspiring young politician asked the Rev. Al Sharpton at his lecture last week what he thought about the fact that in political debates, black politicians face more questions regarding race than their white opponents and that they less often face questions about issues like the war in Iraq, Social Security and international affairs.\nSharpton said questions targeting black issues are important to answer, but he went on to say it's also important to answer all the questions the white candidates are asked as well, whether they were directed to him or not.\nAs a columnist of color, I could relate.\nIt's tough being one of the only black people in a predominately white environment.\nIn a newsroom full of white people, I will always be approached with questions regarding race. If there's a question about whether the phrase "people of color" is socially acceptable, then I'll be the one who's asked. \nAnd quite frankly, I'm happy to be a go-to. \nAs a person of color, I feel it's my responsibility to answer those kinds of questions. \nIf I don't, then who will?\nBut as Sharpton said in his answer to the young lady who wanted to head into politics, it's important to answer the questions nobody else can answer with the same amount of expertise. \nA problem arises only when "black people specific" questions are the only questions one faces.\nAs a columnist, I have the desire to go above and beyond addressing the issues affecting only black folk. \nThe war in Iraq, Social Security and the new pope -- all of these issues also concern me because there are more dimensions to me than my color.\nUnfortunately, it seems that I've worked myself into a box -- analyzing misogyny in hip-hop, stereotypes of blacks on TV, prejudices against black ex-cons.\nAll of these issues need to be discussed, analyzed and resolved. But it seems not much is changing, and I'm left to revisit the issue in a later column.\nI won't speak for the Rev. Sharpton, but I will make a case for other token black folks who are in positions of visibility. \nWe know that if we don't address the issues affecting our communities, no one else will. \nSo we pound our heads against the wall -- repeating the issues to ourselves over and over in hopes that the problems we discuss will be resolved. \nLast semester, I sat down for lunch with black journalist George Curry and a handful of students and faculty. We went around the table telling our majors and after I said "broadcast journalism," he asked, "Are you a journalist or a black journalist first?"\nI said I was the latter. \nSociety won't allow me to forget where I've come from, so of course my perspective regarding any issue will be based on my experiences -- experiences that happen to have roots in the black community.\nI feel responsible for writing about the minority issues -- the so-called marginal ones. \nBlack people in positions of visibility should continue to answer the "race" questions because they're important questions for everyone of every color. \nBut wouldn't it be progressive if non-blacks were required to answer the same questions about race as the blacks are? Doesn't race concern them, too?\nWhat affects blacks today will affect the rest of the world tomorrow. \nSo while black columnists and black politicians will continue to answer the questions affecting "home," the challenge is for non-blacks to recognize that the roof black folks live under is one we all live under.