Real Life of an MSW

I love the Op-Ed section of the paper. I believe we all need to write at least one letter on something we’re passionate about in our lifetime. In saying that, I applaud this reader

Re: “In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation” (May 15, Nation):

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously adjudicated that racially segregated schools were unconstitutional, i.e., Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. I am trying to square that sensibility with the blatant homogenizing occurring in red states whereby the votes of Black Americans residing in largely Black communities are purposely being diluted by a political faction bent on creating demarcation lines that go to ridiculous lengths to ensure that Black candidates have virtually zero chance of winning office.

Common sense suggests to me that those members of a community who share similar traits and lived experiences based on, but not limited to, the color of their skin would be acutely aware of and best suited to tending to the needs of the people they would seek to represent. I am a white man and, frankly, feel abject shame courtesy of that which is referred to as guilt by association.

Pragmatic democracy demands that colorblind laws be written and enforced, not blatantly twisted to thwart such decision-making as was achieved with Brown v. Board of Education. Shame.Randy Jahraus, Kent