In a speech marking Black History Month, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Wednesday labeled the United States “essentially a nation of cowards” when it comes to race relations.
Mr. Holder, the first black attorney general, told
In a speech marking Black History Month, Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Wednesday labeled the United States “essentially a nation of cowards” when it comes to race relations.
Mr. Holder, the first black attorney general, told Justice Department employees that “this nation has still not come to grips with its racial past” and suggested Black History Month could be used to spark more candid discussion of racial issues.
“This will be, at first, a process that is both awkward and painful, but the rewards are, I believe, potentially great,” Mr. Holder said. “The alternative is to allow to continue the polite, restrained mixing that now passes as meaningful interaction but that in reality accomplishes very little.”
Mr. Holder noted that increased dialogue would help advance what should be “nuanced, principled and spirited” debate on topics such as affirmative action.