Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I am a student in high school who is very concerned about history and current events, particularly my own history — black history. I would like to know why you make African Americans out to be the bad guys in many situations.

Also, you contradict yourself on some issues. In the column regarding blue-collar discrimination, you said, "there are still some areas where the color of a person's skin is a determining factor in whether he or she will be given the job." Then in your column about self-appointed leaders you said, "Any unbiased look at social change will reveal the door to opportunity is wide open." If the door is wide open, why was affirmative action ever put in place?

If the door is wide open, why do my parents lose jobs to white people even when my parents have more qualifications? Yes, the door is a lot more open than it was before. And yes, some lazy black people do not get through the door. However, the door is not wide open.

In your blue-collar column you also made a disturbing remark: "This discrimination is not something practiced by whites." So, white people don't discriminate? It's just black people?

I hope you understand that I am not blankly criticizing. You have influence in our country. There are many Caucasian citizens who read your columns to gain insight on black America. It is painful for me to read your columns, because all you do is beat down my race.

How can you improve black America if all you do is criticize? — K

Dear K.: Thank you for your thoughtful letter. Your letter encourages me when someone so young looks critically at writings, spots what he or she believes are contradictions and has the gumption to challenge the writer.

You quoted "This discrimination is not something practiced by whites." There is a typo. The word "only" should have been place in front of "practiced."

If you are a regular reader of my column, you will know that I am not so naive to believe all discrimination is gone. I believe as long as there are people on this earth, there will be discrimination — race merely being one type.

I remember a study that was done in California when an Armenian man wanted to run for public office. He was wondering whether his race would prevent him from winning the race. The study showed there were people who would vote against someone solely out of prejudice. The study looked at many ethnic groups and called those prejudiced people "negative factors."

The results were surprising. Blacks received a 6 percent negative factor and Armenians received an 11 percent negative factor. With that low negative factor the Armenian ran for office and won. What is noteworthy is that I have heard blacks say they couldn't run for office and win because of prejudice.

On the flip side, I have heard whites say they didn't get a job because of affirmative action. There may have been a hundred candidates for the job and statistically the chances are 100 to one that the white person would not be hired. Yet, that person will believe A/A is the sole reason he or she failed.

This is what I am disgusted about with people, especially blacks. Too many will let the 6 percent negative factor keep them down like the white job applicant. Yes, there is discrimination, but it is not enough to stop you if you are determined. The door is wide open. As you approach the door and there is a rock of discrimination in your path, step, jump, hope or kick it out of the way. That small rock is not an excuse.

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