Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 7, 1993 TAG: 9302080271
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: F-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
PROJECT RESIDENTS RESENT STEREOTYPES
I READ Molly Bratton's remarks (Jan. 20 story, "City school officials take remarks as racist") on school safety, which implied that violence comes from those who come from projects, and about Addison being on the edge of the worst part of Roanoke.I would like her to know that I am a single parent with one child getting ready to enter public schools next year, but I do not fear for his safety. That's because I have lived in Virginia for almost 12 years. I have seen and lived in the worst parts of neighborhoods all the way from Christiansburg to Vinton. In my eyes, one place is just as bad as the other, meaning that the suburbs and the country can be every bit as bad as the "projects." In some cases, they are even worse because the good ol' boys and the middle class to upper class seem to have a you-can't-touch-me air about them. And, yes, even in your neighborhood, Mrs. Bratton, because I've been there, too.
We who come from projects resent being stereotyped as low-lifers and violent thugs by people who should sweep around their own backdoor before starting on other people's dirt. And maybe if people like you would stop berating our children before they have a chance to get started in life, there would be better role models. You see, Mrs. Bratton, most children will do what others expect them to. And if they see that people like you expect violence and corruption because they're from the projects, then that's what happens. They will say to themselves, "Hey, they think I'm going to, so I might as well anyway."
Our children are not half as bad as you think they are. And did you stop to wonder why your son was assaulted by another student? Perhaps it was something he said that he learned at home. BARBARA HAWKINS ROANOKE