LETTER: Wrong question — and answers

A letter to the editor asked the insane question of “how did black men earn the reputation they have?” in a way that insinuates the racism black people face is somehow their own fault. It ignores the fact that American society has been an unlevel playing field since the beginning for people of color.

In earlier times, crime was high among Irish and Italian immigrants, but as Americans let them participate in society fully, crime in those communities dropped. Maybe if we gave black Americans as level a playing field as we did European immigrants, we’d have the same result.

The only thing that’s stopping us is racism like what was displayed in Roger Hawkes’ letter. Don’t be blind to your own role in perpetuating inequality, and don’t scapegoat by blaming the people your silence and inactivity has allowed to be pushed into a corner of society where they cannot participate as equals.

STEVEN HIMES

Airway Heights, Wash.