To Charles Mudede: Your article on African immigrants was interesting ["Out of Africa," July 12]. Although it's not the first time I've heard it, I found the perception of Africans towards African Americans quite disturbing. Some West Indian and African immigrants, whether they are from East or West Africa, seem to believe the worst things about African Americans, and continue to buy into stereotypes perpetuated by the media.
[Africans] claim that we African Americans are "lazy," that we are "drug dealers." But I'd like to remind those Africans of two facts: One, the major reason that they can come here and enjoy America's opportunity is because of the African American struggle for civil rights. Had there been no boycotts, marches, or nonviolent protests, the careers and education that many African immigrants seek in the U.S. would be unavailable to them because of their race. Africans and West Indians owe an immense debt to African Americans. It was our struggle that paved the way for them. Two, the quality of life that we enjoy in the U.S. was acquired through our nation's wealth. Part of that wealth came from the blood, sweat, and tears of my enslaved ancestors. So think about those things before denigrating my people.
Don't treat us like the enemy; we are not. All peoples of the African diaspora have been victims of oppression and brutality. Many of us, from the Congo to Chicago, still are. Why continue the hate and tribalism that got us into this situation in the first place?
Danielle Whitelow, Seattle
CHARLES MUDEDE: I anticipate that you'll get a lot of flak for your article "Out of Africa." You dare to stand up and point out that America is still racially divided, and that "white" people are still the "ruling elite." I want to congratulate you on your honest, humane, and straightforward article. Whatever anyone else may say, it is not racist to tell the truth.
Ännika Bauman, Tacoma
EDITORS: I am writing to complain about the tasteless comments in the Last Days column [David Schmader, July 19]. The puns and commentary about the Maccabiah are insensitive surely, and possibly anti-Semitic. I believe strongly in the right to free speech, and would certainly endorse your right to criticize Israel, [but] to write of Shabbat-put, Tal-Mud wrestling, or illegal pork supplements is not only not funny, but terribly offensive. The author of the piece should be reprimanded by your editorial staff, and should offer apologies to the serious Jewish athletes who participate in the Jewish Olympic Games.
Hayden Shumsky, via e-mail
EDITORS: What were you thinking?! I really don't get your cover on the July 19 issue. Three swarthy, scary-looking men in baseball uniforms, holding bats... with Stars of David on their uniforms?? Is this a "social commentary"--the implication and value of which escapes me--or a blatant anti-Semitic slur?
R. Weiss, via e-mail
EDITOR RESPONDS: We are proud to run our cover of James Sturm's artwork. Sturm has just completed his latest book, The Golem's Mighty Swing, which is about a Jewish baseball team in the 1920s. The cover you take issue with is an image taken from Sturm's book. Our decision to run the cover had nothing to do with social commentary.
We're not sure why you find the image so offensive. Jewish baseball players holding baseball bats in front of a dugout is a "blatant anti-Semitic slur"? We weren't trying to insult Jews; we were supporting and promoting a Jewish artist. But if you look hard enough and dig deep enough, you could probably squeeze some sort of "implication" out of any work of art.
DEAR STRANGER: Someone's been yanking your chain again. As a former Phoenix resident, I know why people leave ["Fleeing Phoenix," Grant Cogswell, July 12]: The place is overrun by gangs and dope and strip malls, and the summers blow. But to anyone who's spent more than 15 minutes in Phoenix, horror stories about the part of the city "where a quarter of the city lives, largely without streetlights or paved roads, where even buses... don't run"--not to mention those poor kids who get third-degree burns from the asphalt--make you sound like that New York Times guy who got the "inside" grunge glossary from Sub Pop's Megan Jasper back in the early '90s.
Mark Horowitz, Fremont
JEFF DeROCHE: Bad, bad call on the Ryan Davidson piece ["Rock 'n' Roll Is Alive and Well," July 19]. Seems you've been so long in your "post-adolescent head space" that you have failed to distinguish Seattle's finest from the loads of mediocre garbage that is shoveled elsewhere. I've seen eXBeSTFRIeNDS play. Like you, I saw the age-old (and very silly) fire-blowing. Did you consider for a moment that the crowd remained still not because they were "reluctant" to be blown away by this, but because they really weren't blown away? The whole bleached-blond, screaming, indifferent rock thing just screams Cobain groupie. Please. I know plenty of food-service musicians who can sling a guitar--and a hot slice of pizza--better than Ryan Davidson.
Harriet, Seattle
EDITORS: Josh Feit's cops article ["Dangerous Disconnect," July 12] had all the integrity and insight one would expect from a high-school newspaper.
First, he criticizes the P-I and Times for overlooking negative "facts" about the officers involved in the Aaron Roberts shooting. Where were the "facts" he promised to produce? A complaint by someone who had friends who'd been arrested and was bitter about it (gee, that sounds like an objective witness)? A vague complaint from the night manager at Philly's Best? He produced nothing substantial, and his willingness to take people at their word without scrutinizing or looking for actual "facts" shows he was looking to discredit the cops by any means necessary.
Perhaps Mr. Feit had such a hard time finding people who backed up the cops because of the threats and intimidation people [experience] when they speak out in cops' defense. Perhaps there are other Central District business owners and residents who have been effectively intimidated into silence so that their "facts" won't be heard.
Who wants to hear from anyone who isn't looking to scapegoat the cops? The fact is, Aaron Roberts--and it doesn't matter if he's black or white or whatever--was a fucked-up moron. If Feit had any balls, he would interview everyone who had a bad word to say about Roberts. No one has the guts to look closely at Roberts or his criminal history because they will find what they claim to be after: the person responsible for this situation.
Anonymous, via e-mail
EDITOR RESPONDS: All of our reporting about the Aaron Roberts shooting, including any stories about Officer Greg Neubert, have been based on official court documents, public records, and yes, anecdotes from lots of citizens in the Central District.
EDITOR: The Stranger and writer Kevin Jones are to be roundly applauded for enabling Seattle tenants to think long and hard about entering into any kind of rental agreement or business relationship with the infamous Reyn Yates ["The Return of Reyn Yates," July 12].
A modicum of research at Superior Court shows how extremely litigious No Boundaries Ltd. (Yates' company) is, and how the victims (almost all of them commercial tenants and contractors) have been blind-sided with a vengeance.
No Boundaries Ltd. is a blight on this city's landscape--a true "wolf in sheep's clothing," as landlords go. Reyn Yates should be reined in and held accountable for the harm he's done. He personifies everything that the good tenants, landlords, and business people of Seattle vehemently oppose. May whistleblowers everywhere continue to speak up!
Lee Lumsden, Eileen Court Apts., Capitol Hill
PAT KEARNEY: Great story, but not a surprising one ["Marked Up," July 19]. Next to eBay, Amazon.com is the king of sleaze. I ordered a book a while back. It took five weeks for them to clear the check. Then they told me the item was backordered. (I checked with the manufacturer, and there were no supply problems.) After eight weeks, I finally got my money back, after a large number of e-mails--and they wanted to nick me for the cost of shipping. Oh yeah: If you send them an e-mail, you'll get four spams and one message in return. Nothing will surprise me with Amazon. I will never do business with them again.
