The response by most of the University Park/State College community to the reported acts of raw racism in our midst has been one of hurt, anger, frustration and commitment to change. But there continues to be a steady stream of denial and confusion on the part of some and a refusal to address reality by others. If we are to survive as a community, solutions to these dilemmas must be found.

First, it should be clear that the grievances put forth by the students at the University and in the public schools are real. Their pain is real and their victimization, as a class, and as individuals, is real.

It should be equally clear that the events of the last several weeks are not the only reasons these young people have chosen to both verbally and physically demonstrate their outrage.

The aggressions which have recently occurred -- name calling, derogatory posters, attempting to kidnap women, physical assault and racial intimidation -- are the naked edge of the "micro-aggressions" which most members of the African-American community must endure every day as the price of their ticket to Happy Valley.

Those micro-aggressions can include very subtle actions and statements like consciously excluding African-Americans from some activities and events, such as the cheerleading squads, while claiming to base selection on objective criteria; assuming that all non-athlete African-Americans are special admits and not as worthy of enrollment; believing in the myth of "Black inferiority" and acting and speaking as if the myth were true; acting as though African-American educational and cultural events have no relevance or value to any other American; minimizing the contributions of Americans of African descent to the making of the society we all enjoy and minimizing the extent of the pain felt by the African-American community by act of racism; believing that Black pride is somehow a slap at the white community and that Black solidarity is "dangerous."

When Black culture is given a secondary place and white culture is exalted, that is a micro-aggression. This is most clear in the types of music considered "mainstream."

Isn't it interesting that Rap music is currently enduring the same disdain that jazz endured 40-50 years ago and that rhythm and blues endured 20-30 years ago.

And while the University has wrestled with this problem and brought concerts like Ziggy Marley and Jazzy Jeff, local radio stations lag in providing a broad spectrum of musical presentations.

When the students and teachers of our community refuse to realize that a "neat idea" like a "slave auction" fundraiser is a deliberately painful reminder to African-American citizens of the legacy of dehumanization, that is a micro-aggression.

When terms of subordination like "boy" and "you people" are used to address African-Americans, one is indulging in the language of oppression in a master/servant relationship. This is also a micro-aggression.

At the heart of racism -- both conscious and unconscious, aversive and dominative -- is historic assumed privilege.

The "privilege" of subordinating or ignoring African-Americans, defining and deciding for African-Americans, or including or excluding African-Americans, is assumed by racists. These very people are often puzzled when African-Americans respond with anger and will invariably ask: "What do they want?"

What do they want?

We can start with respect as human beings, move to dignified treatment and continue through equal opportunity and a decent education and wind up with self-determination and sharing in power. The very things that all human beings want.

Smoke-screen cries of "reverse discrimination" and "Black racism" are at best weak attempts to direct attention from the real problem.

Reverse discrimination implies that somehow Black people are doing to whites, what whites have done and are still doing to Blacks. It implies that the laws of the land have been magically rewritten to now favor Blacks over whites.

It implies that Blacks will now herd whites into ghettos and provide them with an inadequate education. It implies that now whites will be the last hired and the firsts fired.

Reverse discrimination implies that the white infant mortality will skyrocket while the Black infant mortality rate declines. Reverse discrimination implies that Blacks will not have the "privilege" of subordinating, denying, ridiculing, harassing, and assaulting whites with impunity.

A belief in any of this defies reason and, of reason, Will Drummond has said: "He who will not reason is a bigot; He who cannot reason is a fool; He who dares not reason is a slave."

Psychologist and Professor Jack Dovidio of Colgate University has conducted an interesting study in which the 95 percent of college students, faculty and administrators who claim to hold no racial bias, "have demonstrated racism consistently over a period of time."

Dovidio says, "that most people really want to believe that they are egalitarian . . . but they have grown up in our society and because of these psychological pressures, they have negative feelings toward Blacks."

Dovidio goes on to say that, "because [racism] is subtle, it's insidious. And it's serious because it affects well-educated people and they are the ones who are the leaders of our society. These people may be well meaning, but may be racist without being aware of it. They may actually perpetuate racism."

It is important that this community recognize that it cannot afford to step backward. We must move forward and be willing to endure the pain of change. Blacks and whites must see each other as partners, sharing problems, sharing solutions, sharing defeats and sharing victories.

A great University and a liveable community should enshrine the ethnic tolerance and value that as a symbol of the community far more than a number one football team, the number of research grants received or an All-American city ranking.

If we fail to create an open and hospitable environment, where bigotry is the only unwelcome party, then the anger we see today will be completely overshadowed by the whirlwind we shall reap tomorrow.

The anti-racist crusade needs volunteers to step forward and be counted now.