Looking at the roots offers a clear picture of this place

On Monday, June 23, the Daily Pilot’s parent, the Los Angeles Times,

ran an article titled “Leaders Deny Racism Is Part of Newport Life.”

The instigation for this article was Newport Beach Councilman’s

Richard Nichols politically incorrect statement, which I will not

delve into now.

But I must pause and respond to the adjective that some people

here in Newport Beach demand that the city does not deserve: racist.

At one time(?), the Newport Beach Police Department had an unwritten

policy of pulling over anybody who didn’t look like a resident,

meaning if you were not rich and white, you were going to stopped by

the police.

If I may, please let me start by saying I was married to a black

woman that I loved very much. Let me also say that living in Newport

Beach was never an option for us even if I was born and raised here.

Newport Beach does deserve the adjective “racist.”

I grew up here in Newport Beach and my father was a member of

several clubs, including the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, among others.

There were never, and as far as I know now, any black members in the

club. At one time, Jews were not allowed. Now, if you are Jewish, you

can be a member, but if you are black, I think your chances are less,

and I say this very graciously. I say this judging by the current

membership. This situation may prevail at other clubs here in Newport

Beach, and I whole- heartedly believe it does.

Now to give you a little history, Orange County is the birthplace

of the John Birch Society. For those of you who don’t know what this

is, go to the search engine on your computer and look it up. Orange

County’s roots are based in racism, and they exist today, albeit in a

more politically correct way. Jewish people now are accepted in

Newport Beach to some extent, but at one time, they were not. Black

people still are frowned upon, as well as Muslims, or anyone who does

not fit the stereotypical profile of a white person, or a white

person from Orange County.

Orange County has attracted a wealth of foreign nationalities and

cultures. We have Persians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Cambodians and

Mexicans and many other nationalities. We are now attracting

Russians, Ukrainians, Taiwanese and others. We here in Orange County

should rejoice in the rich diversity and cultural extravaganza that

we have around us. This makes for a vibrant and dynamic society which

we are uniquely positioned here in Newport Beach to lead the nation

in a new era of tolerance and compatibility. Southern California is

the new “melting pot” of the United States, and Newport Beach is very

impacted by this. Is Newport Beach “racist?” I believe it is,

although it has come a long way, and I hope it continues to progress

in a socially liberal way.

I know my comments will bring disdain from my neighbors, my

friends in Emerald Bay and elsewhere, and from associates. If being

politically correct means not telling the truth and that racism

exists in Newport Beach on a daily basis, and the facts as one sees

them, then please do me a favor, call me politically incorrect. But

to ignore reality is to deny future progress and reality.

The choice is yours.

* PAUL JAMES BALDWIN is a Newport Beach resident.