Interracial Tensions

Murray’s article on black-Korean relations contains a blatant contradiction. He derides racism as simply a “way to focus on staying away from the bottom” by placing someone else in an inferior position. But Murray himself states that “blacks find it extremely insulting to have first-generation or third-generation residents treat them with utter disdain.” This statement perpetuates the ignorant belief that Korean-Americans are little more than foreigners eager to exploit the black community and implies that Korean-Americans deserve less respect since they “weren’t here first.”

Korean-Americans should be accorded the same respect that African-Americans demand and deserve. African-Americans must learn to understand the background of Korean-Americans just as Korean-Americans must recognize the debt owed to African-Americans for the gains made for minorities as a result of the civil rights movement.

And both communities are responsible for the intolerance that has manifested itself on several unfortunate occasions in the past few years. But, ultimately, the black and Korean-American communities should not blame one another for the existing social and economic injustices in this country. Rather, they should try to accept the differences that make up this wonderful multicultural society.

SUSAN KIM, South Pasadena