Racial Gap: Lingering Problem for Blacks in American Society

The articles by Times staff writers Lee May (“Stereotypes Haunt Black Achievement,” Part I, Jan. 9) and Ron Harris (“Minorities in TV: Black, White Issue,” Part I, Jan. 11) spotlight the lingering problem of racism in our country. Such exposure of the prejudices and intolerance toward other human beings was long overdue.

What those very timely articles may have done is to rouse the conscience of those who are the staunchest racists but who will never admit it.

It is quite true as they acknowledge, great strides have been made since slavery and the beginning of this century, especially during the civil rights movement and remedial legislation; nevertheless, we have a long way to go before the stigma of racism can be significantly remedied in the United States.

The Times is deserving of praise for featuring those articles on the front page. If other publications do half as much to contribute toward the solution of this complex problem, within the next decade or two, we may witness a nation which has conquered one of the vices which has caused much pain and human suffering in our country. I hope and pray that the above will be accomplished. Genuine racial harmony may become a reality.

C. ANTONIO PROVOST

Oceanside