Antelope Valley Press

Conversati­ons are necessary

On March 28, I wrote: “If Rios/Hernandez produced a history book, they would bring up Dr. King, Caesar Chavez and other civil rights leaders but not mention the racism they all faced.”

Mr. Hernandez mentioned Dr. King, his wife and Fred Hampton (Black Panthers) and how they faced racism. However, I have not seen Mr. Rios address racism faced by African Americans. Perhaps that is the difference with politics that Mr. Hernandez has with Mr. Rios. They fail to say what those difference­s are.

Rios doesn’t write about facing racism by white people, and he avoids this by writing about Blacks committing racism against him or implies that the majority of Black families lack familial structure. Hernandez writes: “White believes that it is impossible for Blacks to be racist. But my experience and Miguel Rios’ experience prove otherwise.” Show me where I wrote that it is impossible for Blacks to be racist.

Here is a letter from an African American about his experience:

“Having friendship­s with different types of people is a wonderful concept. To learn, trade ideas, have great experience­s, and grow with folks from all kinds of background­s is a goal that I have always wanted to achieve.

However, race and racism have always been difficult to discuss with white people due to the possibilit­y that they may deflect, or be in denial — which is why the subject of race has been the hardest to broach.

Things began to change for me in 2012. Trayvon Martin was murdered and there was this national conversati­on about race.

When I would talk to my white friends about the shooting, the protests and the uprisings that followed, they would say things like: “What was he doing out there that late? Do we know for sure if he attacked Zimmerman? Why protest and destroy property?” It was almost as if the rose-colored glasses I had were flung off.

I was the cool guy when we were going drinking, clubbing and talking about non-serious things, but when I discuss “The Talk”…, I am too serious or divisive.

Black people do not have enough time in the day to survive and help you become not racist. Being a friend is about accountabi­lity and work. (“I Lost White Friends When I Finally Spoke Out,” Newsweek, July 2023.)

Conversati­ons like this are necessary to build a level of understand­ing instead of avoidance.

Vincent White

Lancaster