Cho, who recently ran for mayor, spoke at Tuesday's forum sponsored by the town's Justice in Action Committee. Panelists were asked how they defined racism and what it would take to eliminate it.

"It's human nature to stick together with people of your own kind," said Cho, who is Korean. While campaigning, however, he said, "I got the sense I could be a good representative of my community, but not Chapel Hill at large."

Race in Chapel Hill is still framed as a black and white issue, even though people of Asian heritage are nearly 11 percent of the town, Cho said. Even the discussion surrounding replacing ex-Town Council member Bill Strom has focused on whether to appoint the fifth-place finisher in the election or a black applicant.

"Is there a quota here?" Cho asked.

In general, speakers said racism is fueled by fear of the unknown and the belief that one race is superior to others. Here are other perspectives offered Tuesday:

Tony Asion, executive director of El Pueblo: Drug dealers go to school, why can't children who are illegal immigrants? "We have 12 million undocumented people in the United States today,' he said. "If we were to get rid of 12 million people, we would damage the economy to the point where 9-11 was nothing."

Takiyah Baptist, teacher, Ephesus Elementary School. She leads staff trainings that challenge the status quo and examine "white privilege." "Change and reconciliation without confrontation is myth," she said.

Chris Blue, assistant chief of the Chapel Hill Police Department: People need to seek common ground instead of trying to win the other side over to their point of view. "I'm proud to be in a community where we're having this conversation because not everyone is," he said.

Kevin Hicks of the NAACP: Chapel Hill can't heal racism; it's pandemic. "There's a conscious effort around the world to displace the black man," he said. "The world needs an enemy. If they don't choose it as a black man, they choose it as a Muslim or as a terrorist."