DJ Mobilizes Black Community

So Karen Grigsby Bates (Commentary, Dec. 10) extols the impressive influence of black deejay Tom Joyner’s power to pressure Christie’s auction house to pull the sale of pre-Civil War posters once used to advertise slave sales. She exudes praise for his influence to mobilize interest about important issues facing the “black com- munity.”

As a black person my question is: When are the likes of Bates and Joyner going to use their influence to alert black Americans that the leading cause of death of young black men is homicide (blacks killing blacks), or that 67% of black children are born out of wedlock and raised by young mothers (a sure guarantee of life in poverty), or that poor performance in school is increasing the skills gap between blacks and their white and Asian counterparts (something affirmative action doesn’t address)?

If half the energy and influence of the black “power elite” was used to mobilize blacks in solving the horrendous social problems brought on by poor choices and destructive behavior, they would truly be in a position to boast about their power to influence.

STERLING DELONE

Los Angeles

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As usual, Bates says more parenthetically than she does in her open statements. I agree with Joyner. The events of slavery and its “memorabilia” ought to be properly placed in museums and educational events. As to the importance of black deejays as social agents, I grow up with WBLS in New York, which always was involved with its listening community and beyond.

So what’s the beef? With respect to the Thompson sextuplets of Washington, are there not any black media moguls who could have given the press Bates deems necessary? And what about Howard University, Tuskegee Institute or Morehouse, or any other predominantly black college giving the five Thompson survivors at least a partial tuition?

It’s about time for Bates to stop crying and do something constructive! We need to help ourselves before we look for handouts--the reach isn’t long enough!

WIL TYRRELL, Pastor

St. Odilia’s Church

Los Angeles