Defining Racism

I understand why Rosenberg is so sensitive about his being termed racist in light of his column defending Andy Rooney. I’ve been reading his work regularly since I moved here 18 months ago, and I continue to read his counterpart, Walter Goodman in the New York Times. There is no question that Rosenberg is not only a better writer and better informed but more sensitive about sensitive questions as well.

But, Mr. Rosenberg, you blew it in defending Rooney, and it is not surprising that you did not address the merits of Rooney’s alleged remarks that African-Americans have been involved in “watering down” their genes. This is not just a false and stupid misreading of the most elementary principles of genetics--a fascinating and immensely complicated discipline, by the way--it also is a reminder of the sordid history of eugenics, a field that received its zenith in Nazi Germany in the 1930s when other peoples who were thought to have “watered down” genes were done away with en masse.

With the racism and intolerance worldwide and particularly in Eastern Europe lately, it is little wonder that the reaction to Rooney, et al, was so furious.

I would not call Howard Rosenberg a racist, but certainly his remarks lacked the usual sensitivity I have come to expect of him.

GERALD HORNE, Professor and chairman, Department of Black Studies, UC Santa Barbara