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Poll results

Sponsored by: OTELCO

A year ago Tuesday, May 25, a Minneapolis policeman murdered an unarmed Black man, George Floyd. The horrendous act ignited public outrage and a new demand for ending systemic racism throughout the country, including Maine.

Businesses are trying to address racial inequity in their operations and in the state, as Mainebiz reported frequently over the past year. One example was the Solidarity in Action movement, involving over 300 Portland-area companies. But the problem of racism and what to do about it also caused division within the business community.

Have Maine and Maine businesses made progress over the past year in reducing racism?
Yes (51%, 84 VOTES)
No (49%, 80 VOTES)
Poll Description

Sponsored by: OTELCO

A year ago Tuesday, May 25, a Minneapolis policeman murdered an unarmed Black man, George Floyd. The horrendous act ignited public outrage and a new demand for ending systemic racism throughout the country, including Maine.

Businesses are trying to address racial inequity in their operations and in the state, as Mainebiz reported frequently over the past year. One example was the Solidarity in Action movement, involving over 300 Portland-area companies. But the problem of racism and what to do about it also caused division within the business community.

  • 164 Votes
  • 9 Comments
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9 Comments

  • Angelica Braestrup
    May 24, 2021

    Not caring what color someone is or what their heritage is could be seen as denying them part of who they are, just as you would not deny someone their faith (e.g. Catholic Americans). Recognizing how people identify themselves is part of actually seeing them for who they are. Increased awareness of other people's identities means increased tensions only in the sense that people who are accustomed to being unaware of the effects of their behavior are being encouraged to be aware of those effects. What's always astounded me about Maine is how quick people are to blame specific European backgrounds for white people's behavior..."Of course there's crime in that neighborhood, they're French" is something I've heard many times, for example. Anti-semitic views are surprisingly common too. Add in more easily spotted differences such as race and the challenges grow. It means that all kinds of built-in prejudices have to be recognized and addressed, knowing that we all have them. Striving to avoid harm is really not that complicated once you start to pay attention -- but the built in advantage of privilege is that you probably haven't had to think about how your attitude affects others -- professionally, personally, and possibly even economically.

  • May 24, 2021

    Until we can get away from the THEM/US, mentality, there will always be a division. We need to get away from Asian Americans, Mexican Americans and African American labels. We are all just Americans. Once we do this, it will go a long way to stop segregating Americans based on ethnicity. I don't care what color someone is, I care what people do and what people say. That is all that should matter. You have good Americans and not good Americans, but we are all Americans and should be treated as such and labeled as such. Stop setting people apart by calling them something different.

  • May 24, 2021

    Only a handful of people are racist and they come in all sizes, colors, languages, nationalities etc. I am a first-generation Italian American whose family endured hatred and discrimination. What i was taught by my family is to respect all people regardless of their color, language, religion etc. So as I am being targeted because i am white does not make me happy. The current situation is not fair, honest or sustainable -- we are at a crossroads in America hopefully. Honesty, fairness and true freedom of speech, religion, education, color etc. prevail if not we will go backwards swiftly and dangerously.

  • Joe K
    May 24, 2021

    BLM has pushed racial tensions to a place that I never thought I would see in my lifetime.