For brothers Only - Letters To The Editor

Ebony, July, 2002 by Russell L. Hester

I enjoyed reading your "For Brothers Only" column, "The All-American Club" (March 2002). Everything you said in the article is true. In some ways it was inspiring and motivating, but for the most part, it made me sigh and shed a tear. We as Black men and women are not strongly looked upon as American citizens, despite what we do for this country.

We graduate high school and run and volunteer for the military just to go fight for a country that hasn't really accepted us. Meanwhile, our White counterparts can afford to attend major colleges and universities because their parents had the best jobs here in America. Our parents and ancestors had to plant and till the fields in the hot sun for nickels and dimes. It seems we are only recognized in the sports world. We as Blacks have to jump a little higher, run a little faster and swim a little farther to get recognized.

There is so much I want to write about on that column, but I must say it really was touching for the simple fact that it's true.

RUSSELL L. HESTER
Birmingham, Ala.