ASK JACKSON

In light of recent church burnings, the Southeast Missourian asked students at Jackson High School how they viewed the status of race relations in the United States.

Sarah McMullin: "I think there is definitely tension, but sometimes it is blown out of proportion. I think that just spurs more incidents. I think race relations are improving, certainly over the last 50 years."

Eric Rosener: "There is a lot of separation between races and a lot of tension, which may be because of the church burnings. In some parts of the country, race relations are getting better, but in other parts, it is worse or about the same."

Debbie Wortmann: "I think we are improving a little in race relations. I think the younger generation is a little more lenient on that. We've finally come to realize that race is not a big thing. The church burnings are a setback with someone just wanting to make a statement."

Jessica Shultz: "I think in some places race relations are getting better. Here, I don't see a lot of it. I think it's more in the southern states. It's bad about the church burnings, but we should know about that."

Kevin Bricknell: "I think it's the whites who have racial problems that they probably got from their parents. This is a small group of people doing this. I think race relations are improving, but it needs to improve more in the South."