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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 21, 1993                   TAG: 9303220393
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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WHO'S SHOWING PREJUDICE HERE?

SPACE RESTRICTIONS will not permit me to respond as fully as I'd like to the interview with the Rev. Charles Green (Horizon, March 7). Besides, so much of what he said was nothing more than the repetitious platitudes of self-proclaimed black "leaders."

Rev. Green is certainly entitled to his opinions. But why did he say: "All they [the white people in Roanoke] know is that we're black, and they don't particularly like us but they don't particularly know why, except that we're black . . . ."?

Just who does he think he is to make such a blanket judgment on the whites in this valley? The fact that the editors and reporters who conducted the interview didn't challenge him on this proves their own bias, or timidity, or both.

He gets by with making public statements such as: "He [Roanoke Police Chief M. David Hooper] says he isn't [prejudiced] but he is, and we tell him that." In other words, until Hooper runs the police department in such a fashion that is acceptable to Rev. Green, he will forever remain "prejudiced." Right?

But let someone criticize Green, Jesse Jackson or any aspect of black people in this country, and that person is a "racist," regardless of how valid his arguments are regarding a particular thing or person.

The color of his skin allows Rev. Green to pass judgment on anyone or anything he disapproves of, and in turn protects him from any criticism whatsoever. After all, anyone who'd dare criticize him could not possibly be challenging his beliefs and assertions, but attacking his blackness. Isn't that the way it works? RANDY VAUGHAN VINTON

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