Dear Mr. James Thompson,

Your letter to the Pittsburgh Courier incurred my response. Lately, I have been reflecting on the state of our nation and my place within it. Your letter reminded me of these contemplations. In this response, I will share them. However, I must make one thing clear beforehand: the intolerance that you described in your letter no longer exists. Although racial integration prevails, I fear that how we achieved this milestone will lead us back into the dark era of intolerance.

During the second World War, economic woes plagued the lives of black Americans. Those fortunate enough to attend an all-black university could not even secure employment afterward, even though the workforce longed for more laborers with distinct skill sets. These same employers often denied qualified African-Americans work in their particular fields. Even after President Roosevelt's signed Executive Order 8802, prohibiting discrimination in war industries and enacting a Fair Employment Commission, these primitive practices continued. An infamous instance of this bigotry occurred in Mobile, Alabama at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company (ADDSCO).

After African-American leaders had suggested that ADDSCO should initiate black workers into their apprenticeship program, the shipbuilding company halted that program without another word. An employee at ADDSCO during this time stated that the owner removed the program because he refused to let blacks work for him as mechanics. In your letter, you also shared your experience with workplace intolerance. However, I have previously indicated that these prejudices no longer exist. As a culture, we learned that judging others by the color of their skin is ludicrous. Therefore, one would think our evolution towards racial equality is complete. However, I believe that true racial equality is an impossible goal.

I bemoan our methods of achieving this tolerant society. Society accepted racial integration for the same reasons our ancestors forced racial segregation. Our ancestors held no proof that racial discrimination was necessary. They did not conduct an in-depth study as to whether minorities were a threat to society. They implemented racial segregation because they felt like it. They felt that minorities were a threat to the overall community. They felt that minorities should not be allowed to mingle with those of white complexions. Therefore, they acted upon their feelings and implemented racial segregation laws.

Racial intolerance disgusts our modern sensitivities, and we have adjusted our beliefs accordingly. Nevertheless, we still have not achieved true liberty from our biases. To be free from our judgments, our emotional responses to racial inequality must cease. If we continue to use emotionalism to make us feel guilty about treating a fellow human differently because of his skin color, have we moved on from our past? Have we rejected the biases of yesteryear and moved on to create an inclusive society?

Emotions kept our beloved nation from racial integration. Because our society felt that those with whiter skin were superior to those with darker skin, we separated ourselves from each other. Society enforced segregation of human beings because we felt like it. Therefore, if we continue to enforce racial equality because we feel like it is the right thing to do, we have not shaken off the biases that our ancestors endured. We are still using emotionalism to dictate our treatment of human beings. Our society has established a bevy of laws to safeguard against prejudice. I propose this question: if we need legislation to protect against discrimination, have we moved past it?

We can eliminate the possibility of reversing our racial progress by snipping its cause: emotionalism. I am not advocating for an eradication of emotions. I am suggesting that we combine strong feelings with something more concrete. Logic is stronger than mere feelings experienced in a moment. With a desire for logic and truth, humanity can begin to reconcile its sins against one another and construct a belief system that includes genuine racial integration. The skeletal mass beneath our sometimes-pigmented flesh would equalize us, consequently preventing unfair treatment of others.

If we begin to hunger for the real reasoning behind why racial equality should exist, we start a cultural revolution. Through logic and truth, we will realize that human beings are not defined by the color of their skin, but by their inner workings. At the same time, we should also be aware of what would happen if our emotions were completely out of the picture. They exist for a reason. However, they should not interfere with the cause of racial equality. If we regress into treating someone differently because we feel like it is the right answer, we might find ourselves in a situation mirroring what you endured.

Your letter was inspirational, Mr. Thompson. I am honored to write to you on this day. I realize that my letter may not have lifted your spirits, that was not my intention. I merely wanted to express my thoughts on this matter, in conjunction with yours. Do not think that I wish our society to devolve into the dictatorial ideals that existed during your era. My examination of the human condition does not coincide with my ideal state of the nation. As I proposed in this letter, I have removed my emotions from this examination of humankind. I will leave you with a thought: if the past seventy years brought this extent of progress, what lies in store for the next seventy?

With the deepest respect,
A Young Citizen