Race relations the topic of discussion in Midtown panel

Posted: Aug 18, 2015 10:10 PM CDT

With the recent spate of incidents across the nation that have ended in death, advocates say there is one factor people should not ignore – race.

On Tuesday night, the Center for the Healing of Racism in midtown held a panel called “Is It in Our Best Interests to Forgive?

“I think that forgiveness is very important, especially in this day and age. I think people have to kind of take a real good look at themselves and find out if that’s something they really want to do,” Oretta Cade, one of the panelists.

These advocates  believe improving race relations starts with being open.

“We are really here to have a safe place where people can explore their true feelings in a community of like-minded people so that they don’t have the aloneness that grieving…can generate inside of you,” said Eileen Hanks, the Director of PR for the Center for the Healing of Racism.

For Jimmy, who volunteers at the center, the issue is as relevant now as it was decades ago.

“I actually left Houston in 1989 because of racism. I was not able to spread my wings here as a young African-American male,” said Jimmy C. Mitchell, a volunteer with the Center for Healing of Racism.

Mitchell found unity in the army where he spent five years. Now, he’s back in Houston, hoping to make it a better place.

“They call Houston the most diverse city in the country. Well, it may very well be the most diverse city in the country but guess what else today? It’s also the most segregated city in the country, and we have to have dialogues like this so everybody’s mindset is reset,” said Mitchell.

The center is now in its 26th year.

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