Time to look beyond 'black' and 'white'

THE EDITOR, Sir:

JOY JOHNSON is way off base in her criticism of Ian Boyne's use of the word 'black' to describe the tragic events of September 11, 2001. (Letter to the Editor, September 19, 2001 "'Black'­ an unfortunate designation for terror."

Context is what defines a word, not pretext. The adjective 'white' is used pejoratively in many contexts, e.g. white sepulchre, white elephant, white feather, (run up a) white flag, white lie, white-livered, white plague, etc.

On the contrary, black is used to describe many positives in life. Thus we have, black belt, black gold, Black Rod, black tie, black wash and (the accounting term) to be in the black.

As black people, we need to move beyond this kind of sophistry and to start dealing with real problems. This is the 21st century.

I am etc.,

ERROL WILLIAMS

ewilliams@hgac.cog.tx.us

Katy, Texas

Via Go-Jamaica

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