Claire Morris-Dobie is successful by anyone’s standards. She is the director of public relations for Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort and Spa. She was once the business editor of The Garden Island, and her columns have appeared in many publications. Morris-Dobie,
Claire Morris-Dobie is successful by anyone’s standards.
She is the director of public relations for Hyatt Regency Kaua’i Resort and Spa. She was once the business editor of The Garden Island, and her columns have appeared in many publications.
Morris-Dobie, who has lived on Kaua’i for 11 years, is also an African-American.
In connection with today, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day across the country, the question to Morris-Dobie was this: Does racism exist on Kaua’i?
“Of course. Racism exists everywhere. You can fight it, ignore it, resent it, allow yourself to be victimized by it, or you can acknowledge and accept it for what it is – a by-product of ignorance and fear and something only you can handle as an individual,” she said.
Morris-Dobie said racism will “probably continue to thrive until we have all evolved to reflect a skin color that is somewhat pale blue, as some scientists have predicted. Then there will be no visible basis upon which to discriminate.
“But the question is, am I a victim?” Morris-Dobie’s answer is a resounding no.
“There will always be people who just don’t like other people. For whatever reason,” she said. “Could be a leftover experience from another life, or the way someone combs his hair that conjures up the image of an aunt who was mean to you when you were 3. That’s not racism. That’s just the way it is. You’re free to dislike anyone you choose to. You’re also free to look a little deeper and ask why.”
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
