This letter was sent to the newspaper, but not yet printed.

May 11, 2000

Letters to the Editor
Richmond Times-Dispatch
P.O. Box 85333
Richmond, VA 23293

Dear Sirs,

I trust this letter finds you well. I write to you because I can no longer contain my anger and frustration regarding the NAACP’s threatened boycott.

I have kept up with the ongoing saga of the NAACP’s continued threats against Governor Gilmore and the State’s tourism industry. All this because of the Governor’s issuance of a Confederate History & Heritage Month Proclamation. I read each article and heard each news story with a mix of anger, frustration and, sadness.

It is sad that our education system has so failed our citizenry. Were history taught with facts and not political agendas Mr. Khalfani and his confederates would know that the 1860 census showed less than 5% of white southerners owned slaves. Knowing this one would have to next logically ask, Why then would hundreds of thousands of white southerners choose to suffer the privations of war for an institution they had no stake in? Did they do this so that others could benefit from the use of slaves? I think Mr. Khalfani could answer that question without my help.

My anger stems from the fact that I, and others of my heritage, have not made similar threats regarding Black History Month or any of the other holidays or celebrations commemorating black heritage and history. I could find quite a bit about that history to be offended by if I chose to. For example the continued use of slavery by the black citizens of Africa to this very day. If we are to respect Mr. Khalfani’s right to honor his heritage then why not allow me and mine the same respect?

My frustration comes from seeing politicians who don’t have the backbone to stand up for the right thing and suffer the slings and arrows. I am not willing to bet the farm that Governor Gilmore will issue another such proclamation next year, are you?

When will the NAACP and other such groups, which advocate tolerance and diversity, be willing to show some of that tolerance for others? Wouldn’t the NAACP’s time be better served by trying to put an end to the continued killing of young blacks by other blacks? I would think that would be more important to the black community than worrying about an innocuous proclamation.

Sincerely,

Floyd C. Bayne