"Sticky Wicket" Questions

This is where we get real. Each week Sticky Wicket takes on a thorny question about a racial, ethnic, cultural or religious issue. These are the hard topics; the stuff that people don’t like talking about at work, school or cocktail parties. But these are also the issues we need to explore. To ask your “Sticky Wicket” question, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dear Stickywicket,

Why are there still “black only” colleges and universities? If there were still a “white” only college, the ACLU, NAACP, and other, “pro black movement” organizations would be all over them.

~Not Understanding in Pennsylvania

This is where we get real. Each week Sticky Wicket takes on a thorny question about a racial, ethnic, cultural or religious issue. These are the hard topics; the stuff that people don’t like talking about at work, school or cocktail parties. But these are also the issues we need to explore. To ask your “Sticky Wicket” question, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dear Sticky Wicket,

I am curious about the definition of “African-American.” Is a white person that was born in Egypt, or another country on the African continent, but now is a U.S. citizen, classified as African-American? Is a black person from Jamaica, but now a U.S. citizen, classified as African-American?

~John Steinke

This is where we get real. Each week Sticky Wicket takes on a thorny question about a racial, ethnic, cultural or religious issue. These are the hard topics; the stuff that people don’t like talking about at work, school or cocktail parties. But these are also the issues we need to explore. To ask your “Sticky Wicket” question, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dear Sticky Wicket,

Can we do away with “hyphens” for everyone and settle for calling ourselves Americans? Maybe emphasizing the sameness of all of us instead of the differences would go a long way to eliminating racial divides.

~Joyce Campbell, Whittier, CA

This is where we get real. Each week Sticky Wicket takes on a thorny question about a racial, ethnic, cultural or religious issue. These are the hard topics; the stuff that people don’t like talking about at work, school or cocktail parties. But these are also the issues we need to explore. To ask your “Sticky Wicket” question, write: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dear Sticky Wicket,

I don’t understand why Indians are offended that sports teams use Indians names and images for their nicknames and logos. Teams say they’re just honoring Native Americans when they use such names.

~Wondering in Washington D.C