Writer Praised for Watts Piece

Ron Harris, in his “Personal View” of Aug. 11 cataloguing his life as a resident of Watts, appears perplexed by the dearth of commercial establishments in Watts (restaurants, movie houses etc.).

Did the picture of the lady with the looted fan on the same page give him any clues?

Is he really unaware of the enormous extra costs to the few businesses that have located in Watts to combat shoplifters, armed robbers, vandals? The black community as a whole (rather than just those he mentions with their leased automobiles) will only achieve what most Americans have already achieved when they begin to adopt the standards of behavior expected by the larger society. They will have to deal with the Rhondas, Bobbys and Slicks themselves, rather than do nothing and accuse the larger society of “racism” when such lives reach their logical conclusions (prison, etc.).

There are now countless examples of blacks who have succeeded. Harris seems to accuse those who have left Watts for Baldwin Hlils or wherever (yet he himself is apparently getting ready to leave). To not leave Watts, at this point, when one has achieved success would be foolish.

PATRICK J. BLACKBURN

Palm Desert