Hip hop devalues African-Americans
In response to the AJC’s recent reporting of topical racial issues at the local, state and national levels, may I add an element that has not received focus in print or the media in general: hip-hop. Just as Islamic radicalism has misconstrued mainstream Islamic cultural values and ideals, the man-made fantasy culture of hip-hop has similarly brought death, destruction, youth alienation, and drug and weapons glorification to devalue true black culture, to the point of preventing harmonious multicultural and law enforcement relationships. Hip-hop began as a music genre, but it has snowballed into an ugly counter-cultural menace to our youth and our future, and it must be dealt with accordingly.
ROBERT ROGERS, COLLEGE PARK
Republicans keep hindering progress
It seems Republicans are not content with embarrassing our president on the world stage by inviting a controversial figure to speak before Congress and lecture America on foreign policy. Now they have issued a letter to the leader of Iran in an attempt to disrupt the efforts by our own diplomats aimed at defusing Iran’s nuclear weapons programs. The Republicans have attacked our duly elected president from the moment he took office. They have stood in the way of progress and hindered all efforts by Barack Obama to improve the lot of millions. On the 50th anniversary of the March from Selma, it seems we are really no further ahead in achieving equality. Surely we are better than that.
TOM MCMANUS, ROSWELL
Don’t equate Brown death with racism
I firmly agree with most of Jay Bookman’s column, “Nine seconds of video to leave you dumbfounded” (Opinion, March 11). This is the kind of event that those who advocate for progress in the fight against racism should be raising as Exhibit A. But there is a responsibility to apply that charge of racism appropriately.
Bookman again tries to apply the charge of racism to the unfortunate shooting of Michael Brown. An investigation has shown with high confidence that none of the facts of the case support the idea that race was a significant factor in the events that occurred that day, but rather, the inappropriate behavior of Brown. This kind of continued irresponsible association only weakens the legitimate championing of racial causes and the AJC’s credibility.
DAVID R. BOAG, FAYETTEVILLE
