Dear white people,

I am writing to you wherever you are in the United States of America. Including those of you in the State of Mississippi. And, especially all of you in Pike County and the rest of southwest Mississippi. Most of you need a dose of reality. Many of you need an education. About race. About the race problem here in America and in Mississippi and in Pike County. Somebody needs to talk to you about the problem and THE SOLUTION.

As superior to Black people that many of you believe that you are, you are actually inferior to a lot of us on this subject. And this inferiority shows up everyday. I’ll point it out to you in just a moment.

But, first let me qualify what I am saying by making two introductory statements:

My parents raised me to respect and love everybody. That includes white people and oppressors. They are, like most Black people I know, “cautious” of white people, but they are respectful. And, my mother, of course, truly does love everybody. So, a white oppressor could never be her enemy. She will love you and treat you right, even when you are treating her wrong. Now, I am more like my father when it comes to race. I respect white people, but it is not always easy or even wise to completely trust most of you when it comes to how you deal with and treat Black folk. Having said that, I firmly believe that not all white people are oppressors of Black people or racist. I do believe that even though all white people were born with a privilege over Black people, not all of you embrace it in a racist way where you believe you are better than any Black person. What I am saying is, some white people are okay (even though you benefit from a racist system) and some are not. I will not lump all white people in the same category when it comes to the race issue.

I believe that one of the biggest problems that we face today is the race problem. We cannot help it. We have a Black president. We have Blacks in leadership positions in government, sports, entertainment, education, health …in nearly every area of life in America.

Locally, we have 3 Black mayors in this county and a lot of Blacks in leadership positions. And, this is forcing many of you white people to deal with it. That is, Black people who you don’t see as your equal, in the place of whites who have held those positions since, well, forever! You felt that you knew how and you could do it better…certainly much better than a Black man or Black woman.

Now, many of you white people believe that Black people in leadership positions that have been “white only” positions since the beginning of this country, this state, this county, this city (McComb), are now messing it all up. If there is a Black person in the position, he or she must be handpicked by you and/or must imitate you. The president or the mayor or the tourism director must talk the way you want them to talk (say what you want them to say), act the way you want them to act, and openly think the way you think. Marcus Garvey called this “aping”. He said that it is foolish and dangerous for a Black person to imitate white people like this. Let the white person act like, talk like and think like a white person. Black people should be themselves. Our viewpoints are our viewpoints. Sometimes they are different than yours. Yes, white people, we do view the world, often times, differently than you do. And, our viewpoint is just as valid as yours!!

So, here in lies the problem with race in America. We (Blacks) are different than you (whites). Not just in physical features. But we have a different experience. We have a different frame of reference. Yes we share part of the same history, but our historic viewpoint is vastly different than yours. You keep making the same mistake when you think that our problems are the same and therefore, the solutions are the same. You can’t simply take your “stuff”, your experience, your viewpoint, your thoughts and your ways, and apply it to us and say that everything will be fixed if they would only do what we say.

Let me give you an example of what I am talking about from some comments made by some of your fellow white people that were made on a political blog called the Blog-Briefing-Room from thehill.com who were commenting on President Obama’s scheduled appearance at the Congressional Black Caucus Award Dinner:

Not every white man had slaves. Not every black man was a slave. Most people are not racists!!! Most people are just sick of being called a racist. STOP IT PLEASE. BY Mark Wieland on 09/22/2009 at 22:39

I am not a racist. I don’t allow racial jokes to be told in my presence…EVER. I don’t tell racial jokes or make racial slurs. I treat all races the same. However, I don’t think there is any place in our government for a caucus based on race, gender, color, creed, religion, etc. The black caucus by its very existence keeps racial separation alive and well. It’s time to let go of the past and move into the future. A black caucus is no more acceptable to me than a white caucus would be. BY Kristie on 09/23/2009 at 01:39

I’ve wondered for many years now why congress would even have a black caucus. It seems to undermine the entire view of Americans as equals. If congress wants caucuses, why aren’t they based somewhat on what Americans DO.. educators caucus, medical representatives caucus, business leaders caucus, science caucus, mathematicians caucus.. etc. Then again, maybe we just don’t have enough collective experience in congress to do something that makes sense. Identifying one as either white or black or brown or whatever, doesn’t say what kind of individual that person is, or what ideals they stand for. BY JD Plus on 09/23/2009 at 02:07

I also wonder why they find it necessary to still have a Black Caucus, a Hispanic Caucus and so on. It makes no sense…except to those members of said groups who think they somehow deserve special treatment. I agree with JD Plus who thinks it makes more sense to base the caucuses (if they simply must have them) on issues rather than race or ethnicity. BY Glennis on 09/23/2009 at 10:17

I believe that this small sampling of white people viewpoints represents the thinking of the majority of white people in this country and especially here in southwest Mississippi. Admit it; you are probably one of the millions of white people who think this way.

You say not every white man had slaves or every Black man was a slave. Well that is true. But that is not what qualifies you or disqualifies you as racist! Do you feel deep down inside that you are better than me? Do you feel that a white man would do a better job as president than President Obama who is so much smarter and skilled than the white president he replaced? Do you respect him less as president than you would a white president? What about a white mayor or any mayor that behaved and acted like the previous all white mayors? Do you think they would do a better job or be a better mayor than McComb mayor Zach Patterson who is more qualified and able than the past 3 white mayors combined? Do you believe that Brooke LaBlanc or Carmen Walsh or any other white woman can do a better than Tasha Dillon has for the city of McComb?

All of these Black leaders I have mentioned have done a good job of reaching out to and helping white people. White Americans. But unlike so many of their predecessors, they have also done a reasonable, if not good job of reaching out to Black Americans too! T

hat is what is often missing: making it fair---making it equal---bringing everyone to the table. And, it takes, sometimes, the favoring of Blacks to help Blacks get an equal footing. That’s the reason for affirmative action. To correct or adjust in a favorable way, a perpetual uneven, unequal playing field in the job market, where Black people are unfairly left out or relegated to a limited number of positions, while you white people have the opportunity to explore and benefit from it all.

It not about being unfair to white people or reverse discrimination. PLEASE! It is about finally making it fair and right for Black people. That’s why many of you white people hated State Representative David Myers so much when he was a selectman. He was one of our heroes. He was trying to make sure Blacks got their fair share in the city of McComb. Now, so many of you white people love him, because he changed sides to fight against the mayor and anyone connected to him like Dillon and police officer Mark Anderson.

You white folk love it when we fight amongst ourselves. You are right, slavery is over. But racism is not! You say that you are not racist. You say that you treat all races the same. You say that you don’t see the need for a Black Caucus. You say that this is racist.

Well, excuse me for laughing at your ignorance or your self denial. YOU HAVE HAD A WHITE CAUCUS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF AMERICA!!!!!

That is the biggest problem with you white people when it comes to race. You are not honest. You are not intelligent—most of you—when it comes to this subject. You’ve always had a voting bloc that you controlled. A majority in congress, in the state legislature, in Pike County and in the city of McComb. THAT MAJORITY HAS ALWAYS REPRESENTED YOUR INTERESTS, especially when the interests of Black people were very different. You have a white caucus that does not need a title or label, because it has always existed and is always accepted by you.

The reason for a Congressional Black Caucus or the NAACP or the Mississippi Conference of Black Mayors or for a Black mayor and at least three “true” Black selectmen or for a Black tourism director, is to ensure that ALL VIEWPOINTS ARE CONSIDERED AND GIVEN EQUAL AND FAIR PLAY. That has never happened before Black leadership came into play. America had to be forced to end segregation and apartheid. Forced to give and enforce Black voting rights. Forced to play fair in the employment arena. Forced to do things that please and are of interest to both Blacks and whites.

You see, white people, when you say that the way things were is just fine, many of us Black people say, no it is not fine!

President Obama represents change and something better FOR EVERYBODY. Mayor Patterson represents change and something better FOR EVERYBODY. Director Tasha Dillon represents change and something better FOR EVERYBODY. And so did Angela Miller as city attorney. Jim Storer as city administrator. Jackie Martin as interim city administrator. Jean Frye as fire chief. And so on…

The Enterprise-Journal newspaper has misled you white people about what is really going on. That is the reason for the Mississippi Tribune. You need to hear the viewpoint that too often is ignored or doesn’t exist to you. How else will you be able to find and determine the truth? Our newspaper represent the viewpoint and the news that many of the Black people in the very same county that you live in, share every day. This is our world. Compare it to that other newspaper and you will see that they represent your world.

Our world is for universal healthcare. Your world is not. Our world is for President Obama. Your world is not. Our world is for Mayor Patterson. Your world is not. Our world is for Tasha Dillon. Your world is not. Our world is for compassion and fair play for all. Your world….

Again, I must say this: not all white people or Black people feel this way. But, so many of you do. How would people know that Mayor Patterson has actually accomplished more than the two previous mayors combined and he still has more than a year left to his term? His work is historic. But, if you read the white newspaper, you would be led to believe that he has accomplished absolutely nothing.

There are a lot of people out there who feel that we should not write so much about the mayor. That we are biased in favor of the mayor. Well, all I can say is, if we don’t write about all the positive and historic things that he and his administration have done and are doing, then who will? Somebody has to balance this thing out. And, that goes for Dillon and for Anderson too. And, anyone else who gets unnecessarily attacked because of their association with the mayor.

I’m sorry white people that this letter is so long. I’ve, no we’ve got so much to say to you that you clearly don’t understand. So, I am going to have to write to you some more, in another letter. We’ve got to talk about a solution. Because, I am, no, we are tired of you blaming the race problem on us. You are both a big part of the problem and a big part of the solution.

So, until the next letter, white people, start by listening to us…

Lonnie Ross Editor