Slaying of Black in Korean Market

The killing of an innocent 15-year-old black patron by a Korean market owner (Metro, March 19) who thought the teen-ager was shoplifting should trigger in-depth soul-searching on the part of African-American leaders. This incident, the well-publicized beating of Rodney King by members of the Los Angeles Police Department, the recent racist remarks of Japanese officials about African-Americans and the report of the National Opinion Research Center that white stereotypes of blacks are still widely held are symptomatic of a serious problem that African-American leaders must address.

Racism is not inherent. It is learned. The national and international attitude of non-blacks toward African-Americans is largely shaped by misconceptions gleaned from the mass media. No matter how law-abiding, churchgoing and patriotic the masses of black people are, if others view us in great measure through “Soul Man,” “In Living Color,” crime reports on the 6 o’clock news and other media stereotypes, these non-black people--who generally have only minimal contact with African-Americans--will subconsciously disrespect us as individuals and as a collective.

Hence, a market owner assumes that a black girl is shoplifting, police assume that every black male driver is violent, Japanese leaders assume that African-Americans are the bane of this society and white Americans assume that most of us are drug addicts, criminals and welfare recipients.

One of the main reasons that black leaders have failed their constituency is that they have not mustered the fortitude to confront the racist image makers in Hollywood. Until black stereotypes are eliminated, African-Americans will continue to suffer a negative reflex from others, and the resignation of 10,000 police chiefs will not solve this problem.

LEGRAND H. CLEGG II, Chairman

Coalition Against Black Exploitation

Compton