The conversation grows so intense one of the panelists breaks into tears.
As he has several times, commentator/host Aaron Harber takes a closer look at racism in America on “The Aaron Harber Show” (9 tonight and 2 p.m. Sunday, KBDI-Channel 12).
Among the four panelists, Dee St. Cyr, president of the Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce is the most passionate, citing an incident when she was 4 years old that awakened her to racism against American Indians.
She also challenges. “Doggone it, we are here. I will not be an ‘Other’ anymore. Our government cannot just look away. We will never go away!”
Others on the panel – the Rev. Reginald Holmes, pastor of New Covenant Christian Church; Christine Johnson, president of Community College of Denver, and Councilwoman Elbra Wedgeworth – discuss, sometimes sharply, the economic and social costs of racism.
“It’s so widespread, going on for so long, people think it’s normal,” says Wedgeworth, who adds there is also tension in Denver between blacks and Latinos.
Concludes Holmes: “I think we’re all frustrated about race. The problem is we haven’t talked about it.”
Weekend highlights
Today
Global warming wasn’t the problem in 17th-century Europe. “Little Ice Age: Big Chill” is a fascinating look at how a slight drop in temperature from 1300-1850 affected world events (6 tonight, History Channel).
Saturday
In 1980, Jean Harris (Annette Bening) shot and killed her lover Dr. Herman Tarnower (Ben Kingsley) in a case that still puzzles. Was it murder or an accident? “Mrs. Harris” takes yet-another look (6 p.m., HBO).
Sunday
The Winter Olympics limp to a close with riveting events like the men’s 50-kilometer cross-country skiing. The closing ceremonies, featuring Andrea Bocelli and Avril Lavigne, bring back some shine (6 and 10:35 p.m., KUSA-Channel 9).
Around the dial
Steffan Tubbs, co-host of “Colorado’s Morning News” on KOA 850-AM, leaves for Iraq next Friday, part of a Defense Department tour with six other talk-show hosts. He’ll file daily reports … Today’s the last day of the three-day “Alice’s 36 Hours for Kids,” a fundraiser for The Children’s Hospital. Personalities from KALC 105.9-FM broadcast live from the hospital from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. … Saint-Saens’ “Samson et Dalila” offered live from the Metropolitan Opera (11:30 a.m. Saturday, KVOD 90.1-FM) … Michelle Shocked and The Gourds headline “etown,” the radio show taping at the Boulder Theater at 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets at 303-786-7030. … Quotable: “When they look at my culture, they think of Tiger Woods and Oprah. I don’t know those people. I come from a working-class family.” Elbra Wedgeworth.
Dick Kreck’s column appears Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He may be reached at 303-820-1456 or dkreck@denverpost.com.
