Where Credit is Due
In his article, "11th Street's 11th Hour" [Vol. 10, No. 31], Jack Neely described beautifully the charm of those lovely endangered houses. However, a clarification is in order regarding his comments on the Thursday evening dances held on the porch behind the Expresso House. These events (with live music) are co-sponsored by the City of Knoxville and the Musicians Union—Local 546. They are free and open to the general public—not just seniors. It's a wonderful opportunity to hear some of the best musicians in town.
Loretta [Roscoe] and her staff at the Expresso House are most gracious and accommodating to the dance participants, adding much to the success of those evenings.
Elizabeth Curry
Knoxville
White People Have Feelings Too
When I read an alternative weekly newspaper such as Metro Pulse I expect to see editorials and articles that are somewhat out of the mainstream of conventional thought. But never did I expect to see such an idiotic and foolish editorial commentary as the one written by Attica Scott [Vol. 10, No. 32] regarding racism.
In an article that is filled with extremist positions on race, the comment that "Because only white people as a group have that power (to carry out systematic discrimination) in the United States, only white people can be racist in our society" betrays her own bigotry and fear of anyone that doesn't conform to her views.
Are you sure this article wasn't written by Louis Farrakhan, Al Sharpton, or some other race-baiter out there who makes a name and fame in the grievance industry.
As best as I can tell from Scott's dribble is that she and the folks of SICK (Solutions to Issues of Concern to Knoxville) and the Peace Development Fund do not care to discuss issues of race rationally but seek to frame the debate on their terms and conditions. It seems that those who don't accept their terms need to be re-educated by "change teams." It all sounds like some Orwellian nightmare.
Fortunately we live in a free society that allows Scott to spout off ludicrous, extremist views. I guess we should even be thankful that she exposes such groups as the Peace Development Fund and SICK for their true agenda.
What is unfortunate is that a respected weekly such as Metro Pulse would sacrifice its editorial integrity and give a forum to this crap. It is especially disconcerting that when Metro Pulse decided to add an editorial voice about race it didn't choose someone who is willing to debate issues and who seeks to unite this community but instead chose someone who can only expound on their own bigotry.
John Schmid
Knoxville
Pus vs. Feces
I must comment on Attica Scott's column in today's Metro Pulse [Vol. 10, No. 32]. If Negroes are "people of color," then what are Caucasians and Orientals? Invisible? To be accurate, Negroes are the color of human feces, Caucasians the color of pus and Orientals the color of mucous. Isn't this silly? Why not just push for human rights and not isolate oneself by race. However, since Ms. Scott has done just that, I must make a few points.
She discusses "people of color" having racist experiences and whites' recollections of being racist. Maybe Louis Farrakhan should be mentioned; perhaps Jesse Jackson calling Jews "Hymies;" maybe the president of the Dallas NAACP making anti-Semitic remarks. As long as Ms. Scott is whining about past "racism," allow me to mention my being surrounded by a crowd of young black males calling me "M-F pig and honkie" and telling me to go home when I went to Five Points. Allow me to "remember" a middle-age black man cursing me on 5th Avenue, etc. There are bigots all over. Care to discuss legal discrimination against whites? Try Race Norming, wherein the Postal Service and other Civil Service agencies add points to the scores of tests taken by minorities. I can provide documentation, but it's no secret.
Yes, blacks still suffer somewhat from the effects of past discrimination and racism, but these problems are no longer legal. Thus, it gets down to a question of personal attitudes. Wallowing in the past and laying a guilt trip on white people who have nothing to do with the past isn't going to solve anything. Scott's statement that "only white people can be racist" is, in itself, racist and doesn't deserve to be in your paper without a disclaimer. The "racism" remembered in the column is actually petty and irrelevant. Have you ever seen a black person who dressed neatly, was well-groomed, spoke standard English, was punctual, and who didn't have a good job? I haven't. Working in the present to assure fair treatment for all people is the only way to go, and I hope Ms. Scott tries it instead of living in the past.
John R. Snyder
Knoxville
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