MONDAY, MAY 10, 1999

Race irrelevant

On May 5, 1999, I was reading an article in the Daily Forty-Niner titled "Robbery Arrest," by Michelle Devera. In the last paragraph of the article, she writes that the suspect the police found was an "African-American." If the suspect is not at-large, what relevance at all does race have to do with the crime?

That is only done to black Americans that break the law. No one refers to the Columbine shooters as "white males," nor should they. The crime was heinous without making reference to the race of the twisted boys that committed that crime. Crime is crime, no matter what color the perpetrator is.

You, Michelle Devera, are promoting the black male criminal stereotype and you are a discredit to journalism.

For the sake of children who have not been exposed to stereotypes in the media, and for the hardworking black males that are stereotyped because of such irresponsibility, I hope you find another line of work.

It is really scary and discouraging to know that colleges are turning out students that are supposed to be educated, yet are still as blind and narrow minded as yourself.

As members of the younger generation, we are supposed to have the knowledge and power to help put an end to promoting stereotypes and racism. We are supposed to set new standards for the way the world operates and break these ancient paradigms by which we function.

So much for making the world a better place.

 

- Cynthia Stevens

Criminal Justice major

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