With U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's February remarks on race as a starting point, a panel led a discussion yesterday in Oakland about the need to talk more about race relations.

In a speech he made in honor of African American History Month, Mr. Holder said when it came to "things racial," the United States was a "nation of cowards."

"Though race-related issues continue to occupy a significant portion of our political discussion, and though there remain many unresolved racial issues in this nation, we, average Americans, simply do not talk enough with each other about race," he said in February.

The Race and Reconciliation Dialogue Group at St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland agreed with Mr. Holder and so gathered a panel and invited community members to talk, for two hours, about race. About 50 people sat in a small room in Synod Hall next to the cathedral to hear three panelists present their personal experiences and recommend ways to improve race relations.

Dr. Ralph Proctor, a faculty member at Community College of Allegheny County, said the country needs to have a continuous, daily dialogue about race to bring about change.

"I know change can take place," he said. "I've seen it."

The election of President Barack Obama was a positive step, but it's not the fulfillment of Martin Luther King's dream, he said.

Another panel member, Dina Clark, the executive director of the Western Pennsylvania Diversity Initiative, discussed the different perspectives on race relations of her parents, who are in their 70s, and her son, who is 7. Things have improved since her parents were growing up, but more progress is needed, she said.

Looking for more from the Post-Gazette? Join PG+, our members-only web site. You'll get exclusive sports content, opinion, financial information, discounts from retailers and restaurants, and more. Our introduction to PG+ gives you all the details.