Critical of Column’s ‘Minority’ Opinion

Guy Aoki of the Media Action Network for Asian Americans was 100% correct when he decried network television and Howard Rosenberg for their myopic view of the word “minority” (“TV’s Definition of ‘Minority’ Too Narrow,” Sept. 6).

As a black entertainment journalist who’s been speaking and writing on this issue for over 12 years, I am deeply concerned about the portrayals of not only my people but of all nonwhites. I am distressed by the shrinking presence of black folks on TV, but, as a black man and a parent, I still can find plenty of characters on the small screen to identify with and to be proud of. Asian, Latino, Arab and indigenous Americans have never been able to say this.

This condition makes it clear that many network programmers and producers are simply not committed to true, reality-reflecting diversity.

CAMERON M. TURNER

Monrovia

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Aoki is correct. Being a product of Jamaican, Danish, French, Scottish, English, Norwegian and even, I am told, Chinese heritage has made me realize how far the world has come together. My daughter’s mother has Spanish in her. Does this mean my daughter is a minority, or is she part of the majority? Is she black or is she Asian? Or is she white? Wake up Hollywood! Celebrate and exploit our greatest asset in America: our diversity.

CHRISTOPHER KOEFOED

Santa Monica

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I agree with Aoki’s assessment of the lack of minorities in TV programming, but there is also a lack of minorities in commercials. After watching a commercial that features either all Caucasians, all blacks or a bit of both, I often wonder why there are no Asians or Hispanics in the same commercials. After all, I do not believe that only whites and blacks buy laundry soap or automobiles, or go to Disneyland.

ALAN KURAMOTO

Gardena