Nothing wrong when people write on race

Mar 04, 2016 Letters

Dear Editor,
Reference is made to Rajendranauth R Singh’s “He writes about the same thing in every letter everyday” (KN Feb 28). This conclusion is inaccurate as I do not get published every day in KN and I write on varied subjects (economics, politics, ethnicity, health, culture, religion, education, diaspora events, festivals, etc.).
The writer queries the KN editor on the criteria used to publish letters believing my letters and news reports should not be published because they relate to “race” thereby implying that anything pertaining to “race” should not be published. However, every issue in Guyana or any other multi-ethnic nation goes back to “race” as Guyana is a race conscious and race divided society. Therefore, by Singh’s logic, nothing should be published. And since Singh’s own response to my letter relates to “race”, then logically his reply should also not be published. Clearly, one criteria not used in publishing letters is authenticating the veracity of claims because Singh’s riposte is replete with inaccuracies as noted above. Singh is also not parsimonious with words, a criteria used in editing. He rambles on and on using disjointed comments, with 70% of the content on himself and family.
It is noted that Singh did not dispute any of the claims I made in my many letters and reports; he agrees with their accuracy. His objection is that I write “only on race”, a non-fact. Singh states that if a complainant makes legitimate claims with supporting facts that are “race related”, the letters should not be published. Should that criterion also be extended to legal and/or court matters and the discrimination that minorities like Singh himself face in America? If people suffer racial discrimination, should they not seek justice in court? Singh says he does not know me. So how does he pronounce on me from a basis of ignorance? Singh Said Tacuma Ogunseye also writes on race but not everyday – that is obvious because Ogunseye is not published everyday. Does Singh read the writings of David Hinds, Barrington Braithwaite, Rickford Burke, Tony Jones and a host of other Black writers?
Has he read Marable Manning, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker, Angela Davis, Cornell West, etc. Did he ever point out to them that they write from an ethnic position? Has he ever told them to move on? Has he told Al Sharption, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Jesse Jackson, et. al., to move on?
Singh does not know the difference between ethnic pride and ethnic reaction. That one displays ethnic pride and struggles for racial equity and fair representation does not, ipso facto, imply that one cannot know and be friends with persons of many different races. My neighbors, friends and co-workers are from other groups.Singh said his children have friends of all races but what do they tell those friends when asked what race they are? Do they say they’ve “move on”? Do the friends not use race as an identifier (clothing, food, etc.)? Students in schools usually do speak on race and express pride in their identity. There are ethnic clubs in schools and colleges all over America
Vishnu Bisram

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Nothing wrong when people write on race

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