AFTER READING the 100th take on "Being Whiny in Philly" - my name for the Philadelphia magazine opus on race - it strikes me that it reduces the issue of race to just two: black and white.
Ai yi yi . . .
Or in other words, yo, Philly mag: 1960 called and it wants its race conversation back.
What about being Asian in Philly? Being Hispanic in Philly? If you want to have a real conversation about race, you have to go global.
Asians and Latinos are the fastest-growing populations in Philadelphia. Latinos make up 12 percent of Philadelphia's population, Asians, 6 percent.
From 2000 through 2010, the Latino population in Philly grew by 46 percent, Asians by 42 percent. The growth almost exactly tracks national trends.
And then there's the diversity within the Latino and Asian communities, the influx of immigrants . . . Indian, Vietnamese, Salvadoran, Colombian.
But forget I said that. Judging by Robert Huber's piece, it's better to ease our antiquated whiny friends into the 21st century.
I was intrigued when I first heard about the story, despite its obvious click-baiting headline. If it takes a controversial headline to spur conversations about race and all the socioeconomic issues that come with it, so be it.
Except that really wasn't the point, was it?
The point, as far as I could tell, was to shed light on the plight of the poor, muzzled white Philadelphian - which is about as real as the sewer alligator or any other urban legend.
In my time here, I've rarely come across a white person who hasn't felt more than comfortable talking about race - usually mine - the minute I meet them.
"Can't be many of you in Chestnut Hill," an old white guy tee-hee'd when I told him what part of the city I live in.
I felt like I didn't know the secret handshake.
I don't know Huber, the author of "Being White In Philadelphia." But according to almost every hand-wringing piece I've read, he's apparently a talented and lovely man.
I don't doubt it. Some of my best friends are white, well-intentioned and racially tone-deaf people, too.
But for all the written responses vilifying Huber, he's far from the only one with issues. Even much of the criticism leveled at him is reduced to black and white.
Why didn't he talk with black people? people complain. Why don't other reporters talk with black people? they whine.
Why isn't a black writer scorching earth all the way to Philly mag?
Why do we, in this day and age, insist on framing the conversation about race in the same old way?
"This is the traditional U.S. way to discuss race," said Carmen Febo-San Miguel, director of Taller Puertorriqueño, a community-based graphic-arts workshop for local youth. "But that [black and white] hasn't been the reality for a very, very long time."
People, if we're going to criticize someone for his or her painfully limited view on race and race relations - as Huber tried to do - then we have to consider our own narrow views or end up down the same sinkhole.
The good news is that there are places in Philadelphia where people, of all ethnicities, are having conversations about race firmly in the realities of 2013.
"Welcome to the conversation, Philadelphia magazine," said Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez. "Now it's time to have it on a broader level."
Coincidentally and conveniently, Temple University is starting a "race dialogue" on Friday. Once a week, for five weeks, people from diverse backgrounds will get together to explore their own obstacles in relating to other people.
They don't have much room left. But the director promised he'd find a place for Mr. Huber - and any other of his white colleagues - if he calls.
Email: ubinas@phillynews.com
Phone: 215-854-5943
On Twitter: @NotesFromHel
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