There is no agreed upon definition of race, but one working definition is that race is a social concept that places people into distinct groups based on their physical characteristics, including color of their skin.

Race and race relations builds a great debate today. Race builds a wall for the world, separating people and their identities, but diversity breaks down the wall.

Skokie makes many efforts to break down this wall with its diversity. A few examples of celebrations of our city’s diversity are Coming Together In Skokie, the Festival of Cultures, and the many cultural performances and clubs we have here at Niles North. We are coming together in Skokie to connect a bridge with one another to learn something new about the world around us. Out of the 6,500 languages spoken around the world, there are 90 languages spoken in Skokie.

Rather than having one culture presenting, this year Skokie and Niles Township will bring many voices right from our neighborhood. Through poetry, drama and literature for all ages, we learn how to face our racial identity and enjoy the beauty it can bring.

“The fact that we have so many different racial groups offers a richness to our community. The value of what we are doing is to show that race is an artificial idea that started thousands of years ago that still affects us today,” First Lady of Skokie Susan Van Dusen said. “It is important to discuss what race caused our society to be aware of. We have to bring it to people’s minds.”

“I was in the March of Montgomery, where congress saw 1500 people fight for civil rights and help simulate the 1965 bill. We can make society change,” George Van Dusen, mayor of Skokie, said.

“It’s America. We are a reflection of countries today. By 2030, we will have a nation of color and it will educate our younger children today to see how the world is different and what beauty it holds with different races,” he added. “We can change as a world by sharing our ethnic backgrounds with each other, to come to appreciate the world and break down the barriers. We embrace by showing everyone respect and by treating each other with a positive attitude.”

“Living in diverse communities gives us a better picture, showing us a different aspect of the world. It is an interesting way to learn about other people’s experiences and what it is really like to be in their shoes.” director of YWCA Eileen Heineman said.

Race: Are We So Different? and Voices of Race will be on an exhibit tour on Sunday, January 11, 2015 at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will feature poetry, songs, and an original theater piece created by teens and adults, as well as a change of view on race.

Race is small but yet powerful word.