White House Social Secretary Rogers, On Race and Society

The Washington Post's Lois Romano interviewed White House social secretary Desiree Rogers for a "Voices of Power" video series. The interview will appear in Friday's paper and you can catch the video online.

Among the many topics touched upon in the interview was race relations.

Romano asked Rogers whether she agreed with Attorney General Eric Holder's "nation of cowards" comment last week in which he suggested the nation is still socially segregated.

Rogers replied: "You know what, I mean, I think everyone is entitled to their opinion. I come from the Deep South. I was educated in the Northeast, spent 20 years in the Midwest. I think you have to work at it, and what I would say is my friends -- they are all different races, all different age groups. But I work at that and so when I'm planning something I don't mind mixing it up with a 25-year-old and a 65-year-old, and so I think you have to work, work at it because I do believe our natural instinct is to gravitate towards people that look like us, and so you have to kind of like fight that a little bit.

"And I think it just comes out of ignorance to some extent and also laziness and also just thinking, well, this will be easier, when really, if you just take that next step, go--you know, don't look for the--in my case, African American woman in the room, go just one step over and go for someone that doesn't look--you'll find this whole new world that will be just enchanting to you. You just have to try, just try."

During the interview, Rogers also defended first lady Michelle Obama's decision to go sleeveless to her husband's first address to Congress earlier this week.

Of the self-declared "Mom-in-chief," Rogers said, "I think she wants to be a national symbol of who she is, and in my mind, that is a woman that is not afraid to say 'I want to be Mom-in-Chief.' Roger says that may mean "if I want to wear no sleeves to hear my husband speak, that's what I'm going to do. If I want to be involved with military families, healthy eating, work-life balance, I mean, she's showing us there are ways to get that done."

Comments

Ms. Rogers, and Mr. Holder are correct and I agree with them both. We as a nation have to work on race relations. Some would like to think that since there is Black President in office that we should just let incidents of pass behavior on civil rights, and slavery be forgotten. I think now is the time to have a very frank conversation and ask the question "why." The ground as been crack not broken for many African Americans to excel. In our life time we must fly not walk to success. I continue to see Ms Rogers,First Lady Michelle, Mr Holder, and others who are in the cabinet and I still and very emotion to say the least, because I have never seen them in the position before.

To note when you are the first at anything you set a presidency to follow and to lead, I think that their jobs have set the bar higher for the African American people, one that I am willing to reach for now that the dream is reality.

Posted by: easternstar25 | February 27, 2009 1:44 AM | Report abuse

I have to applaud Mrs. Rogers for standing up for she believe in. Yes there is racism still, but that doesn't affect us in any kind of way. People are still doing their own thing and making the equal amount of money as other races. Eventhough it's a dog eat dog world, some people may do somethings that may be a bit foul.

Posted by: chaniquafrazier | February 27, 2009 6:41 PM | Report abuse

From the couple of comments, one would think that racism is a one-way street---that white America needs to be less racist and black America more forgiving. I disagree and side more with Ms. Rogers that it's incumbent among us ALL to "take the next step" and mix it up with each other. Racism exists among all racial groups.

Posted by: surfgrad | March 2, 2009 12:52 PM | Report abuse

IF WE ALL HAD FAMILY REUNIONS AND INVITED OUR WHOLE FAMILY ON BOTH SIDES, WE WOULD HAVE TO EITHER BE ONE FAMILY OR HAVE SEPARATE MEETING ROOMS FOR GROUPS ACCORDING TO RACE, RELIGION, EDUCATION, SEXUAL PREFERANCE AND MANY OTHER DIVISIVE CRITERIA. CHECK YOUR FAMILIES, I BET YOU DON'T GET ALONG WITH THEM. HOW CAN WE EXPECT YOU TO GET ALONG IN THIS COUNTRY OF MIXED BREEDS AND PRETEND PEDIGREDS?

Posted by: sm98yth | March 3, 2009 11:26 AM | Report abuse

PROF. PAUL BUTLER , IN A PAPER PUBLISHED BY THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF LAW, SAYS THAT BLACK MEN SERVING TIME IN PRISON FOR SELLING DRUGS SHOULD BE LET OUT BEAUSE "THEY ARE ONLY TRYING TO BETTER THEIR POSITION IN LIFE" !
THIS FROM OBAMA'S ALMA MATER>............

ALSO A QUOTE "THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT THESE YOUNG BLACKS DO AND WHAT CORPORATE EXECUTIVES DO IS THEIR UNETHICAL MEANS OF ACQUISITION ARE LEGAL, AND THE BLACKS MEANS ARE NOT "

IS THIS THE WORLD WE ARE LOOKING TO THE FUTURE FOR..........???????????

DOES ANYONE AGREE WITH THIS ?????????

Posted by: myworld | March 3, 2009 1:32 PM | Report abuse

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