To the Editor:

The letter “Democrats hurting African Americans” (SMN, December 3) confuses race with economics. The implication that Democrats have re-enslaved African Americans with social programs that rob them of the incentive to work and be productive is both tired and untrue.  

At the same time, the writer takes a whack at our public school system, referring to some as “horrible.”

But at the crossroads of these two ideas — race and schools — lies an inescapable truth that the writer unknowingly hits. He mentions that about four times the number of African American students from New York Catholic schools go to college compared to their public school counterparts.  

What’s the real difference here? Economics. Catholic schools require tuition, and the parents of students in them are wealthy enough to pay to have their kids attend; the majority of parents of students in public schools are less likely to be wealthy. This economic gap brings opportunity, privilege, travel, books, computers — even food — to kids of well-to-do parents that are denied those of low-income families. Also, kids of well-to-do families often grow up with an unspoken understanding that they will go to college; not so for ghetto kids.

What the writer needs to remember is that Democrats have a history of trying to improve the lives of people, particularly those that need help. Are we always successful? No, because democracy is an ever-changing thing, more art than science. And do some take advantage of public assistance? Yes. But trying is better than assuming that the rich will help the poor or that those in need should be left to starve.  

Democrats have a long tradition of working to benefit a broad spectrum of people, without specific consideration of race or gender. Here are a few examples: child labor laws, the work of Woodrow Wilson; Social Security and Aid to Dependent Children, Franklin Roosevelt; Medicare, Medicaid, Head Start, and Civil Rights, Lyndon Johnson … and the list goes on.  

All these acts have a single, color-blind purpose — to stabilize the lives of citizens and eventually free them of the yoke of poverty. Race has nothing to do with it.  

In any case, if we are going to confront the real problems that face the nation, we must relearn tolerance of each other. Our economy and industries need rebuilding. We cannot do it if we spend time quarreling among ourselves. It can only get done if we reason together.

Rick Bryson

Bryson City