The moderate pundit in Virginia writes a piece on CNN's website about why the controversial hiring of a white woman as Essence magazine's fashion editor is a teachable moment. She argues that Essence did the right thing in valuing merit over race: "It is significant because so many of us sisters lament regularly how we played by the rules, worked hard, got well-educated, networked, and still, somehow, always came up short in career success. We know better than anyone how hard it is to get a fair shake out here; how hard it is to find an open door of opportunity, where we can be judged for our business acumen, ideas, our abilities, and our vision. We get this most of all because we have all been there. My point: Essence is setting a very positive example in the magazine industry and at one of the world's largest corporations, Time Warner [which owns CNN], that talent not race matters."
More: "Sadly, what seems to be lost in this debate over race, gender and victims of racism in America is that a human being named Elliana Placas is right smack-dab in the middle. Like many of my sisters, I know what it's like to be the 'first' or the 'only.' It can be intimidating and isolating all at once. I can only imagine the impact that all of this has had on Ms. Placas (who, by the way, is Australian). Her world view must be vastly different from the racial obsessions that we play out here in America on a grand scale at least once per year. And she must be experiencing quite a bit of confusion, fear and isolation herself. For that I am sorry, because I have been there, and it is not a good place. My sisters, I ask all of us to reconsider the Biblical command 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' We sisters are known for our strength and ability to weather storms in our careers and personal lives; we are used to being the 'only one' in the corporate boardroom, workplace or law office. We deal with it, and we make it work."
Final thoughts: "Perhaps we have become so accustomed to operating in this space that we forget that our white counterparts have no clue of what that feels like. None. And the reality is that it is challenging for them, too, when they are the 'only one' in the room. The only way they will ever know what it is like to walk a mile in our shoes is when we educate them by welcoming them into our world, our businesses, newspapers and magazines. In the final analysis, Essence magazine has done something groundbreaking, and we should applaud and support its decision. The sisters at Essence have taught us all to put qualifications over comfort zones, vision over tradition, and character over color. Thank you Essence once again for leading the way."
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SOPHIA NELSON COMMENTARY: Essence Magazine Offers Lesson On Race
