There is an old story that when an Indian tribe was being ravaged by disease, their chief took up his lance and war club and rode his war horse to the top of a hill and defied and challenged and implored the smallpox spirit to come down and fight him man to man.
When it comes to racism we are like that Indian chief. We can not make it come out and fight fair. We can not seize it and grapple with it, as it always eludes our grasp. We can, however, fight it in its many manifestations.
We have been able to fight chattel slavery, Jim Crow laws, legal school segregation, disenfranchisement, and redlining, to name a few.
Now we are coming to grips with the ability of white men to kill black men with impunity. We can beat it, but it will take legislation. I am hopeful that the courage and energy that is being devoted to demonstrations will be translated into votes.
Charles DeBruler
Everett
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