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[The New York Times](
[The New York Times](
Saturday, November 3, 2018
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T.S. Abe
Dear Reader,
You may have seen my name in recent weeks. Iâve already heard from a number of you. Thank you for reading [Race/Related]( and for welcoming me as the new editor. Iâm thrilled to be a part of this community.
Before taking this job, I had to give myself a long, hard talk: What can I bring to The New York Timesâs coverage on race?
I decided that the best thing I could offer was a commitment to making sure this newsletter continues to challenge our assumptions about identity, as well as a willingness to share my own story, with the hope that it will inspire you to do the same.
[Please take the Race/Related [survey]( to provide your feedback on The New York Timesâs race coverage.]
My story is black and white. People will sometimes ask me if both my parents are black, which they are. But my paternal great-grandmother fit the stereotypical definition of white â fair skin, of European descent. My great-grandfather met her while serving in the United States Army in France during World War I.
When this question about my parents comes up, I often reflect on my great-grandmother and how her life relates to my identity as a black woman. It makes me think about the ways in which our understanding of whiteness has come to signify power rather than personal history.
My mother, on the other hand, has darker skin. She once told me that she thought I was ashamed of her because of it. I will never forget the pain in her eyes, or the pain that I felt when I had to ask myself if what she had said could be true.
We didnât talk about how black fraternities and sororities used to exclude pledges who had skin that was darker than a brown paper bag, or the disgraceful history of colorism among African-Americans. Sadly, our relationship suffered for it.
Too often, critical conversations about race are ignored or swept under the rug. But no matter who you are, we should all be engaged in meaningful, honest discussions about race.
The mission of [Race/Related]( is to highlight the way race affects our lives, from the daily decisions that we make to the unspoken rules and behaviors influenced by racial bias; to center voices of color and to make conversations about race more candid, thoughtful and abundant.
Everyone is welcome.
Going forward, Race/Related will be experimenting: Youâre going to see more voices and different experiences. You may even find us in your inbox more often. But first, we want to hear from you! What is it that you want to see from this newsletter and The Timesâs coverage of race?Â
Please take the Race/Related [survey]( to provide your feedback.
Sincerely,
Lauretta Charlton
[You can read more about me [here](
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