| dc.description.transcription | Dear Mrs. Halsell,
I’m writing you in regards to your book “Soul Sister.” Your book has been sitting in my house for sometime now, so I finally decided to read it. It only took me one night to read. I would like to commend you on a job well done. But I would also like to voice my opinion about your book. I honestly think that you have a one-sided conception on being Black in White America.
All white people are not bad and all Black people are not being oppressed. As a Black woman you saw only what you wanted to see and confirm. I can not write a book justifying the act of a white person, and vice-versa, because as much as I would like to come off as being impartial I couldn’t. Because I’ll always be Black, and would think Black, just as you’ll always be white and think white. I do not care how much conditioning and exposure you might have had, you Still can’t be 100% impartial. All white mens do not all want black womens. Just like all Black people do not feel they’re inferior to whites. Just like no man shows supremacy. If they did, they would be a supreme being, and Allah is the only supreme being.
Still in the year “1977”, nothing much has changed. People are still prejudiced, the KKK is still around, Racism, segregation, and poverty still exist. The White establishment may have removed the chains from our legs and hand, but not from our minds.
Some Blacks have achieved a lot in the past several years, and more will achieve even greater accomplishments in the upcoming years.
If we learn to look at human beings as one race, and stop classifying everyone, and become colorblind, life would be more endurable. I try to be as open-minded and non-prejudice as possible. But it is very difficult. When you have so many obstacles in your way, like your past, and present situation. If people were to start right now in re-programming their children, it would be a start to a better society. Because as someone once said, “you cannot teach an old dog new tricks,” because they are already set in their way. But you can teach a puppy. I hope you get my drift. Well once again I would like to commend you, for what you did. And maybe one day I’ll get a chance to meet you and have you auto-graph my book.
I would now like to close this letter with a thought. “You can not teach an old dog new tricks, but you can teach a puppy.” Consider it and learn by it.
Sincerely,
Linda N. Ray
Washington, D.C. | |
