It turns out, as Kyle Odegard reports in today’s Gazette-Times, that the “Meet a Black Guy” booth that showed up unexpectedly at Saturday’s Farmers’ Market in Corvallis was meant, at least in part, as an improvisational “street theater” stunt.

But you know what? Upon reflection, this news only dims by a little bit our admiration for the whole idea.

It’s probably true, as some have said, that we need to have a nationwide discussion on race — but even though these are serious issues, that doesn’t mean the conversation needs to be humorless. We think that the booth, regardless of its genesis, inspired some thoughtful discussion and reflection about race and diversity issues in Corvallis and Oregon — and it did so in a clever,

humorous way.

So here’s to Jeff Oliver and Sean Brown, the two guys who dreamed up the booth, at which passersby could chat with the 21-year-old Oliver and have pictures taken with him.

Said Oliver about the booth: “It’s a statement about diversity in Corvallis. It’s not a very diverse place.”

He’s not kidding: Corvallis, according to statistics from the 2000 Census, is about 86 percent white, which makes it actually a little more diverse than Oregon, which is 90 percent white. (The national average is about 80 percent.)

So no wonder the conversations we have about race here tend to be carried on in hushed tones in the wake of incidents that make us uncomfortable: Witness the hateful graffiti slathered over Corvallis High School last year, for one example. For another, consider the uproar over the “Black Out Reser” event, in which students were invited to paint their faces black to show support for Oregon State University’s football team, which — after all — sports black and orange colors.

We’re not doing any better with the conversation nationally: Witness the discussion about Barack Obama and his troublesome former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. On one level, this is a discussion about the role of the black church in America, and it already has triggered some fascinating reactions, including Obama’s remarkable speech about race. But it also has forced Obama to sever his ties with the church Wright used to serve, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. Obama’s role as the likely Democratic presidential nominee also is the flashpoint for continued discussions about race and how it affects our political choices.

So to be able to share, on a Saturday morning in the open air in Corvallis, a lighter moment or two about these tough issues really is a step forward, albeit a small step. It looks as if “Meet a Black Man” already has triggered a sequel: Brown will be staffing this weekend’s “Meet a White Jewish Guy” booth. Sure, they’re stunts n to our minds, pretty funny stunts. But laughter often paves the way for more serious reflection, and here’s hoping that happens here in Corvallis.