Coloring It Very Controversial

“Colorism” was demeaning and insulting to the black community. The Times ventured into an area as subtle and personal as family relations, with results as clumsy, inaccurate, purposeless and hurtful as such ventures usually are.

I don’t know which was the most unsavory--the gutter hipness with which the subject was treated, the bastard title or the illustrations in the context of the subject. I tend to suspect the veracity of direct quotes that have most of those quoted--except the educators--sounding like hustlers, con men and street people from the heart of the ghetto. Of course, that’s an accurate reflection of how The Times has always seen blacks and would like us to remain.

ALMENA LOMAX

Los Angeles