Claude Brown on Gang Violence
Claude Brown’s “Manchild in the Promised Land” was required reading for us at UC Santa Barbara in 1968. His story about the institutional racism in America was as poignant then as were his words in The Times (“A Former ‘Manchild’ Asks: When Did Kids Turn Killers?” Op-Ed Page, May 17).
Brown concludes his article with a plea that America share “the dream”--that it is not too late to alleviate the gang and drug crisis. But I don’t think the idea is going over too well.
The crises in health care, housing, jobs and incomes--government statistics notwithstanding--will continue to separate rich from poor, black from white.
The seriousness of institutional racism was glossed over in the ‘60s, and remains unaddressed as we approach the ‘90s.
ANDREW LIBERMAN
Los Angeles
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