‘Racism Is on the Rebound’
Gar Anthony Haywood’s article (Editorial Pages, March 23), “Racism Is on the Rebound, but Whites Don’t Want to Believe That,” certainly convinced me that racism is alive in America. He apparently voted his skin color in the drunk-driving case on which he was a juror.
Haywood would not or could not specifically articulate why he felt that the defendant was innocent, other than that the defendant was black. He did not, for example, mention the results of any chemical test taken, as the law requires, by the defendant, or his refusal to take one, which is admissible against the defendant.
Haywood did indeed miss his lesson about the judicial system: that each case must be tried on its own merits, and that the case must be tried on facts and evidence, not on mere feelings and biases. Haywood could not sway 11 other jury members, of diverse background, by merely claiming discrimination. His article convinced me only that racism is alive in him.
GARY D. McAULAY
Manhattan Beach
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