Dear Editor,
To begin with, I am not, nor will be, a member of the Nation of Islam. However, ignorance is ignorance, and Raechel Fittante continuously writes columns out of just that [“Racism in Reverse,” March 8]. No, it’s not that she’s not black that makes her unable to understand, it’s that she is living in a fantasy world that disregards my history, as well as that of all my brothers and sisters.
For her to say the “age old defense of slavery” is like a German saying, “the age old defense of the holocaust.” Come on, we can’t separate people from their histories. The enslavement of African people in America, too, was a holocaust. It raped us of our culture, religions, language and lineage to Africa. Did Tony Muhammad not discuss this? Since when has our nation “been able to rise up, and accept all people?” Can we say Prop. 187? Can we say Japanese internment camps?
Negating the history of an entire people makes Raechel, not Tony Muhammad, the “biggest racist ever to grace ULV,” using the Campus Times as a pulpit to spew her racist nonsense. And America is rotten to the core, being founded by the raping of a people that had already possessed the land.
My final concern is the fact that as a journalist, Raechel seems to have a problem handling the truth. The audience never had a dull moment, and the “frisking” description was exaggerated quite a bit. It is fine to have your own opinion, but get the story right!
DiShawn Givens
Senior
Dear Editor,
As a proud, beautiful black woman and the senior vice president of the Afrikan American Student Alliance at the University of La Verne, I would like to respond to the feature story written by Greg Maher [“Muhammad brings message for students”] and the opinion of Raechel Fittante in the March 8 edition of the Campus Times.
After reading Ms. Fittante’s opinion, I was overwhelmed with anger and disgust. I was angry because this is the second time the Campus Times has allowed her to voice her ignorant and racist views. I was disgusted because Ms. Fittante truly believes that Mr. Muhammad is a racist. If anyone is a racist, it is you, Ms. Fittante. Anyone who refers to slavery as “age old” is the racist.
Mr. Maher’s feature was biased and his opinion was expressed throughout the feature. For example, Mr. Maher said, “Mr. Muhammad criticized all African American students.” In my eyes, whenever Mr. Muhammad, Louis Farrakhan or any motivational speaker challenges me to be more conscious of my surrounding and to take pride in myself, they are anything but critical.
In conclusion, I challenge Mr. Maher to be more thorough in his research. Our president, other members of the executive board and I would’ve been more than happy to be interviewed by you. In doing so, you would’ve come to our total agreement of Mr. Muhammad’s visit. As far as the soul food dinner that followed, I would like to stress that Mr. Muhammad did not attend the dinner.
Jennifer Phillips
Junior
Dear Editor,
I would like to respond to the opinion article written by Raechel Fittante regarding Tony Muhammad. I did not attend the speech, but I am personally disturbed by what was said about the speaker. I may not truly agree with all of the Nation of Islam’s beliefs, but I do agree with its purpose. The Nation has been a powerful movement for the black community. They are the voice of our people and they do a damn good job of speaking to the black community. Not everyone will agree with what Muhammad said, but for those who know, Muhammad is speaking the truth. Like they say, “Experience is a good teacher.” You would not be able to understand or agree with what was said, because you have not experienced what we have.
You should stop and think before you criticize and shout racism. As Muhammad mentioned, Farrakhan was the one who helped him to discover there was more to life than drugs. The Nation has helped our black men realize they are more than just gangsters, thugs, drug users and drug sellers. Muhammad obviously made it known that he was referring to the black population.
Everyone else knows their history except us, and I think it is about time we know the truth. This is our opportunity, as black people, to support one another and learn the truth about our race. I am sorry that you were personally offended, but as they say, “It’s a black thang, you wouldn’t understand!”
Kristi Smith
Junior
DiShawn Givens
Jennifer Phillips