This letter is in response to Jim Wozniak’s column entitled “Racism doesn’t explain the failures of black leaders,” featured in the Star on Tues., Feb. 23. In this column, Wozniak makes very weak attempts to address two issues: 1) incidents of racism at NIU; and 2) what he considers to be the failures of black leaders in the City of Chicago. Wozniak intermingles his discussion of these two issues throughout the column, and comes up with a twisted, confused conclusion. In the process, he also manages to take a couple of cheap shots at NIU personae.

Regarding the issue of racism at NIU, Wozniak states, “I find it very difficult to believe the KKK has descended upon NIU and swallowed up the university in racist hatred.” He proceeds to say that “it seems as if only a minority of the majority is bothering a minority of the minority.” I think most people would have to agree with Wozniak’s gross overgeneralization about the KKK coming to NIU. Most people would also agree with his statement that only a “minority of the majority” have been involved in overt racist acts at NIU.

What Wozniak seems to overlook is that racism does not always take the overt forms that he alludes to. Often, racism occurs more subtly. Racism takes place when people of different races treat one another differently as a consequence of skin tone, without getting to know the other person on his or her merits. Many times people subconsciously act racist when they interact with others from different races and ethnic backgrounds. Sometimes people respond to stereotypes of other racial groups without attempting to get to know individuals from that particular group. These racist responses normally do not reach the overt forms such as the fliers that were posted on the buses last year.

In his column, Wozniak attacks NIU Affirmative Action Director Marilyn Monteiro’s statement that newspapers can make the problem of racism more prevalent. His abrupt response, “Give me a break,” indicates a lack of reflection on his part. There is a great deal of validity to Ms. Monteiro’s statement. Newspapers are in a position to contribute to stereotypes of racial groups by reporting stories about members of a particular group in a manner which highlights reputed bad characteristics of that group. It is my opinion that a newspaper, in its role as a vital part of a city’s or university’s mass media, must be careful to accurately report stories in a manner that is sensitive to members of particular groups, so as not to promote racist stereotypes.

Wozniak’s discussion of the failures of black leaders is totally out of context and makes little sense. The problems of the Chicago Housing Authority existed before Renault Robinson became its head. In fact, they existed during the tenure of Mayor Daley. I would hardly characterize the problems encountered by Robinson, and later Brenda Gaines, as failures of black leaders. I would characterize these problems as failures of the City of Chicago. The problems of Chicago’s public schools should similarly be looked at as failures of the city, as they existed years before Harold Washington became mayor. Furthermore, neither Renault Robinson nor Harold Washington attributed any of their shortcomings to racism, as Wozniak asserts.

Wozniak states, “Because I was a Chicago resident for the majority of my life, I saw many of the problems blacks faced.” He has, perhaps, observed some overt incidents of racism against blacks and other minorities in his lifetime. However, Wozniak seems to have little knowledge about subtler practices of racism that members of minority groups must confront on a daily basis. Until he experiences some of these more subtle prejudices that minorities experience, he should not criticize minorities for making complaints about racism and discrimination.

I feel both majority and minority students have the burden to quit “pointing the finger” and take “constructive action to change the situation” (in Wozniak’s words).

Abel L. Smith

second year

college of law