An attack on society
The cover of Aug. 22 damages the quality of life for the average African-American or Latino male young adult and our society as a whole.
I am a 28-year-old black man. The cover reinforced negative stereotypes about young men of my age and ethnicity. It reinforced ideas that we are the enemies of society and civilization. That we are murders, rapists and drug dealers.
Imagery of this type makes it more likely that young African-Americans and Latinos now will be killed out of fear. That we will be stopped and searched while trying to shop. That we will be stopped while driving automobiles or unable to catch a cab if we are not driving. That we will be denied employment. That we will have increased daily stress and more trouble living what others would consider a "normal life."
This imagery also contributes to the unnecessary and irrational fears of people about black men. They lose the opportunity to have black men as friends, co-workers or neighbors. They will, because of that imagery, deny themselves, their businesses and their communities the contributions and benefits of positive experiences with black men.
For these reasons and more, this cover was more offensive to me than a cover attacking my father, stepmother, cousins, uncle or me personally because - as a member of a political family - I know that in some ways these attacks are a part of the life that my family has chosen.
However, neither I nor anyone else has a choice of what race or sex I am. This imagery targets for attack the quality of life of a group of people whose quality of life is routinely under attack.
It is also an attack on the quality of life of every person who is unnecessarily scared of black men. The imagery hurt me personally and our society at the same time because it attacked the quality of life of all young black men and all of the people who fear them because of it.
With displeasure and disappointment . . .
Sharif Street, Philadelphia
Editor's note: Sharif Street is the mayor's son.
