To the Editor:

I am writing in response to Amy Shell’s second letter to the Daily, published November 28th.

First and foremost, I will address your usage of the term “colored.”

As Ms. Muldrew stated and I will reiterate for your benefit, I am but one color. When I was born, I was not several colors — I was one and that color was/is brown.

“Colored” and “negro” are terms created by the same people who helped socialize you and are not appropriate descriptions for people of my persuasion under any circumstances, contrary to your beliefs.

The same people who created those terms are the same geniuses who coined the term “nigger.” Is there an appropriate day for you to use that term instead of “colored” as well? Blacks and African Americans find those terms very offensive.

The semantics argument you are engaged in has nothing to do with “political correctness.” Would you call a “dog” a “cat?” Would you call a “dandelion” a “rose?” If the word “Black” is disagreeable to you and the words “African American” have more syllables than you can pronounce, then you can call me “Mr. Hill” and call my people “human.”

It’s also a matter of respect. I doubt you would appreciate me referring to you by the names Black people have reserved just for Caucasians — words like “Cave Dwellers,” “Caucasoids,” “Sons of Cain,” “White Devils,” “Troglodytes,” “Barbarians” and “Crackers.” You don’t want to be called those names any more than I want to be called “colored. “

You’re angry that “White” America has demonized Black males? As a Black male, I’m sure I’m far angrier than you will ever be.

Furthermore, have you considered the fact people like yourself who, irrationally scared of Blacks, are chiefly responsible for perpetuating the idea all Black males are drug dealers, killers and rapists?

It’s not just the producer out for a quick buck who produces Colors 4: Bangin’ in Ohio or the news crews that play up crimes in our neighborhoods. It’s people like yourself who cringe and clutch their purse when a brother like myself walks past. They prey on your paranoia and prejudices. To add insult to injury you have the gall to blame society because you continue to cling to the lies you were taught although you are now aware you were lied to.

Here’s a simple analogy you should be able to understand: If you were given something, told it was bread, tried to eat it for 18 years and found out it was a rock, would you still try to eat it or would you go look for bread?

As you put it: “…one cannot simply erase 18 years … it doesn’t work that way.”

The impression myself and other readers of the Daily got is you would rather continue chewing your rock. No one is asking you to erase 18 years of your life. All I’m asking —and Monic asked — is, since you claim to have realized you’ve been lied to for so long, to confront the lie and accept the truth in words and deeds.

You said you wanted an apology? You better look for an apology from your parents and those who helped socialize you, because you’ll get none from me or any of my people. While you’re at it, you can tell them to apologize to the rest of humanity for spreading lies.

Furthermore, I’m sure I’m not alone in expecting a much more sincere apology from you than the one offered in the second paragraph of your letter.

In conclusion, I hope to God my children are spared from being exposed to future educators like yourself and your kind who would fear them for no more than their beautiful ebony skin.

Vincent Jerome Hill

Ames, Iowa