THE QUESTION: R570: I am the only African American in a department of about 150 people. It’s been this way for 18 months. I work in the data processing field as a computer programmer. My organization seems to have a problem with hiring minorities. Why don’t they realize they have a problem? How do I reconcile my internal feelings when …

THE QUESTION: R580: Why is it that if a black person says that they only want to date black people, they are showing racial pride, but if a white person says they only want to date white people, they are racist? POSTED JAN. 14, 1999 Hayley, 28, white, straight, Chicago, IL ANSWER 1: For the same reason that if whites …

THE QUESTION: R590: I’ve noticed that while white children often have black sports heroes, and certainly black children have black sports heroes, I’ve never seen or heard of black children having white sports heroes. Is it considered “uncool” for them to do so? Would they be thought of as a “traitor” to their race? POSTED FEB. 1, 1999 Ken M., …

THE QUESTION: R600: To our users, from the Director of Y?: What is your reaction to the following post, which we received yesterday? “Y? Forum sucks! It’s nothing more than dumb-ass white people asking stupid questions about other people (mostly blacks). The answers are obvious if these white people would just scratch below the surface and elevate themselves beyond their …

THE QUESTION: R610: Why can’t white people have Pride days or marches, when every other racial, ethnic, religious or sexually-oriented group can? POSTED FEB. 18, 1999 Gail, white female, 37, <bubba5737@aol.com>, Arden, NY ANSWER 1: They do! Here in New York City, the following “whites” have parades: Italians (Columbus Day), the Irish (St. Patrick’s Day), Greeks (Hellenic Day), Germans, Albanians …

THE QUESTION: R620: Is the “rasta” dreadlock hairstyle generally worn as a political statement? POSTED MARCH 1, 1999 Jubu E., Boston , MA ANSWER 1: I think whether dreadlocks are grown for political reasons usually depends on the person and on your definition of a “political statement.” Most African Americans with dreadlocks have them because “natural” hairstyles like locks, twists, …