His figures echo other recent studies showing that the entire U.S. court system is skewed, imposing harsher punishments on blacks than on whites committing the same offenses. During the State College program, an accompanying panelist, the Rev. Matthew Watts of Charleston, supplied figures showing that West Virginia blacks have worse rates of poverty, joblessness, illness, criminal convictions, school problems and the like. He too described a minority that is cheated by the culture. Reports like these are tragic reminders that America hasn't lived up to its promise that all people are created equal. Beneath the surface, a hidden current of prejudice stacks the deck against the less-privileged group.
People have an innate sense of fairness.
This democratic urge should impel all Americans to work and struggle for genuine equality. Human decency requires it. Write a letter to the editor .