LETTER: Biased Views

I am writing in response to the column by Sarah Goldfine and Theresa Weir entitled "Sam's Place and the Evils of White Gentrification" (DP 2/10/92). I feel their column has transcended opinion and has turned to gross generalization. Are the writers so sure that Kevin Dales is a racist, or is there a chance that in a panic he foolishly believed the money in the register was more important than injuring a human life, regardless of color? In addition, the writers claim that "Black people have no choice to shop at white or Asian-owned stores where . . . the owners are at best rudely racist, and at worst, armed vigilantes." Do they really believe this? If so, I think they should take a better look at their community. I'm not denying racism exists. But I feel that by making such damaging generalizations, they are doing the job they accuse the media of doing: covering the truth with hype. By exaggerating the problems that face West Philadelphia, they are helping formerly unbiased people to make biased views about their community, and propagating suspicion and antagonism in the process. LAURA GLADSTONE College '95