Published on Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Letter shows writer's own intolerance

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Ms. Okafor’s editorial (Students need to see both sides of the race issue to be fair, 10/22/07) points out that racial intolerance still exists in America.

However, her editorial shows her own intolerance, which borders on bigotry. She unfairly stereotyped both African-Americans and Caucasians in her argument.

Yes, we all agree that the treatment of the Jena 6 is grossly unfair and that racial intolerance is still alive and kicking in today’s society. Ms. Okafor’s editorial shows that these attitudes are not dead here in the North.

Contrary to her beliefs, Caucasian students have not all been born with silver spoons in their mouths. Some struggle to just get by. Others even look to African-American leaders. Violence is not bound by the races; Caucasian students commit violent crimes too.

Her stereotype of African-American students is also grossly unfair. She uses a small group of bad apples to classify an entire group of students. There are also many African-American students who have had led their lives with a silver spoon in their mouths. There are students of both races who have no idea of what life is like in the lower-class.

It is unfair to classify students’ economic status or their probability to commit violent crime by the color of their skin. We cannot combat bigotry by perpetuating stereotypes. Racial intolerance continues to rear its ugly head in our society. That is the real problem.

Phillip A. Garee
Junior, political science