Hi, and thank you for saying my comments are important. Here in my neighborhood in New York City, we do tend to keep up with what is going on with black people [African Americans, Africans, Jamaicans, Haitians, etc.] around the globe.

We noted that in the steam explosion a few weeks ago, it was a young African American in the tow truck that was engulfed in the accident. We are aware of the Jena 6, and the most recent case of the young woman who was kidnapped, held hostage, and abused for a week in West Virginia.

We may not all get along all of the time in my Queens neighborhood, but we, as black people, are constantly aware of what is going on with our people.

Many times, we say that maybe desegregation was not such a good idea after all, because we learned some very bad habits from 'white' society. Chopping up and barbecueing a woman on a grill? Where did that come from? Kidnapping, raping and torturing a young college student, then killing her and dumping her body? Where did that come from?

I am thankful that I live in a black society that is all-encompassing of its own. We do not shun the people who flash forties, wear do-rags 24/7, use epithets, etc. We try to show them, by example, that there is a better way to live.

Spivey