Letters to the Editor

Editor:

I would sincerely like to thank both Pamela McDougal (Letters, Aug. 6) and Gloria Beech (Letters, July 30) for doing something so important and necessary—to open a civil discussion on racism, a sickness this country has endured since the arrival of Africans, who by most “official” accounts arrived in Virginia in 1619.

History reveals, however, there were unwilling Africans who were exploited much earlier in America, in the fourteenth century to work as “indentured servants” (slaves) in the growing, harvesting and processing of tobacco in the South.

It is my personal contention that there does not exist a single person on this planet who doesn’t harbor bias, prejudice or outright racist convictions.

We all are products of our environments, exposures, geography, upbringing and friends with whom we choose to associate.

To say, “but I’m not racist” is not enough to seriously confront, and make meaningful steps toward rectifying, racism, a disease that has hamstrung America from fulfilling its full potential for well over 400 years.

Again, I thank both Pamela and Gloria for allowing us to look inside of ourselves to assess our beliefs.

As in any relationship without dialogue, there is little, if any hope of confronting and changing how we think, act and hopefully evolve.

Stevin Cohen Mutual 14