Race relations and Hermosa Beach police

Re “City Settles Lawsuit Alleging Racism,” Dec. 23

I was very disappointed to read about possible racism against blacks from the Hermosa Beach Police Department. I grew up during the ‘80s in Hermosa Beach, and my family was the only black family on our block. My sisters and I were the only blacks in our schools for a long time. As a child I never once thought about my skin color as being different from my white childhood friends.

It wasn’t until I became a teenager and moved out of Hermosa Beach that I realized that difference between blacks and whites.

I still consider Hermosa Beach my hometown, but I am ashamed of the behavior demonstrated toward blacks and other minorities at the hands of the Police Department.

JASMYNE A. CANNICK

Los Angeles