Diversity Diaries: Thomas H. Greer

By Thomas H. Greer
Senior vice president, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland

07.25.01

Printer-friendly page

Shortly after I was named sports editor (the first African-American at a major metropolitan daily) in 1982, it quickly became apparent several of the white sports writers on my staff had extreme difficulty working for me. My baseball writer had major issues and generally appeared very uncomfortable in my presence.

Finally, when the Indians were playing a series on the West Coast, the baseball writer called to tell me he had decided to quit. I convinced him to stay with the team until it returned to Cleveland. And when he returned, he walked into my office and handed me a piece of paper with four words: "Thom. I quit. (His first name.)"

Some 16 years later, I received a letter from the writer. He was at his third newspaper since leaving The Plain Dealer and was now a sports columnist and author of a couple of books. In his letter, he said he had been very unfair to me when he worked for me. He said he felt very bad about the way he acted, because it was for all the wrong reasons. He apologized and asked me to forgive him.

I was moved by his letter, because I thought this had been one hell of a burden for a person to carry for 16 years. I offer this story because rare is the occasion someone is willing to admit and apologize for the error of his racist actions.

Related

Diversity Diaries
Diversity Diaries is a collection of true stories from newspaper people around the country who have experienced or observed pivotal moments in diversity.  10.04.01