Emails received from my ‘Truth to Power’ Dallas Morning News article

I have gotten more emails regarding the “Truth to Power” article I wrote in Wednesday’s Dallas Morning News than anything I’ve done. In part because of the valuable piece of journalistic real estate that Sharon Grigsby and the editorial staff provided me. I am TRULY THANKFUL for the opportunity.

White, 58, middle class, SMU, bald, Republican, Episcopal church… For the first time since I was 18, I am going to vote Democratic, unless Clinton gets the nod.

Don’t sleep on the fact (maybe I should tell myself this) that the column appeared on the page with an editorial writer, a radio talk show host, and a senior fellow from a conservative think tank (Sowell was off the chain – there’s always one). The opinion of a black blogger in such a forum shows the strides we are making with this technology.

I will know that we (the Dallas South family) have made it when our opinion is sought on the war, the economy, or anything else besides race and Southern Dallas -sorry DMN, I couldn’t resist. I’d like to share a sampling of some of the emails I’ve gotten since Wednesday.

• A bad world to live in would be one where you can not ask the Question and as a leader he needs to ask if there is any doubt at all. And then to further exacerbate the lack of understanding in the world, Obama is positioned as a believer of all radical thought, not positioned as a person who is open to finding out real truths.

• The words coming from Dr. Wright – and probably many other black ministers, make me feel angry, frustrated, sad, and like all we try to do to stop discrimination is useless. If black ministers are going to keep fanning the flames of bigotry and hatred, why should we work so hard at ridding our society of these blights? What good is accomplished to keep rehashing the past over and over again?
  

• I just finished reading your wonderful article in todays Dallas Morning News Speaking Truth To Power, I agree with every word that you said. I am so proud of you. I was especially pleased to see the mention of the late Rev. A.M. Seamon. We nee a Rev. Seamon in Paris Texas today.

• You are the son of parents who sat in the balcony 40-50 years ago. You are still focused on that time instead of how things are now. The country as a whole deserves great credit in how vastly things have changed since then. Race relations have changed tremendously just since I was in high school. That is incredibly fast social change.

• I read your column on Wednesday. I can not thank you enough for expressing my exact views about the Obama controversy. You were articulate and very much on point. Keep it up…we need to get our voices out there and heard as things really are not spin it.

• White, 58, middle class, SMU, bald, Republican, Episcopal church. You got the picture. For the first time since I was 18, I am going to vote Democratic, unless Clinton gets the nod…It must start at the top to heal this problem, however it must also start at the bottom. I don’t know where to start. Can you help me with this?

• Dear Mr. Williams:I did NOT force your parents to sit in balconies. I did NOT make them wait to see a doctor. I never owned a slave nor condoned slavery. My parents owned no slaves or condoned slavery. My grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents neither owned slaves nor condoned slavery.

  It’s your resentment that I resent!!

• Your article has many truths. I can sense the anger of course.

  I also believe though that blacks can raise their image and social standing if they would quit being a force behind crime, low education, walking away from their babies, using vulgar language, talking and dressing like “gangstas,” not taking advantage of educational/career opportunities given to them, using welfare as a generational income stream, etc.

  I do hope that the wisest of your ministers addresses those issues as well while they are addressing the government’s offenses (which I’m sure are many).
  

Just a sampling, but this was the split as far as opinions went.