Metro published my response on February 25, 2009 to a letter printed the previous day. The author of that letter, Jeff Stone, is a co-chair of the Greater Boston Civil Rights Coalition. He contacted me via email - " Thanks for adding this good point to the conversation. You promoted civil, productive dialogue by commenting on my letter without trashing it. We can set an example of good discussion, even on the pages of Metro!"

Re Jeff Stone's letter (Metro 2/24) examining AG Eric Holder's remarks concerning race dialogue in America. Mr. Stone was hoping for more of a road map from Holder and recommended skilled facilitators to help guide productive race discussions. However, the core of Holder's message was that the social worlds of blacks and whites have remained largely segregated even as we have seen great advances in civil rights legislation and integrated workplaces. While race discourse can be thorny, friends may not need the aid of professionals to talk, listen and learn from each other. Gaining awareness through social interaction is the challenge AG Holder has placed before the country.