Stokely Carmichael

* The news of the death of Kwame Toure (a.k.a. Stokely Carmichael) saddens me a great deal (Nov. 16). He has done a lot in helping African Americans to struggle for self-determination and self-definition as a people.

I had the pleasure of meeting him on campus on one of his college speaking tours in 1982. He seemed out of step then, still talking about world (socialist) revolution. I was very critical of his views. Considering the leadership vacuum within the African American community today, I wonder if I would be so harsh with my criticism. His death makes the leadership vacuum even more hollow.

BETE WOLDEYOHANNES

Pasadena