Anti-Black housing bias in Modesto harmed people of color | Opinion
Anti-Black bias in Modesto
Until 1950, most Modesto subdivisions contained restrictions preventing many people, especially Black people, from homeownership. If you couldn’t buy a house, you couldn’t accumulate wealth. Black people have only 10% of the wealth of white people.
The La Loma area: “Lots, or any portion thereof, shall not be used in any manner whatsoever or occupied by any Negro, Chinese, Japanese, Hindu, Malayan, Mexican, Cuban, or native of the Turkish Empire, or any person not of the Caucasian race.”
McHenry Area: “No lot in said Muir Garden Tract or any part thereof shall ever be used by or occupied by any person other than of the white or Caucasian race.”
College Area: “No portion of the said tract shall be occupied or used by any person unless he be of the Caucasian or white race, except as a domestic servant of a qualified owner or occupant. For the purposes of this restriction, a Filipino or Hawaiian shall not be deemed to be members of the Caucasian or white race.”
If you are concerned about these decades of injustice, you can do something. Join the NAACP. Attend the Freedom Fund Banquet March 11, the NAACP’s main fundraiser of the year.
Sharon Yosiph Froba, Modesto
He’s no saint
Re “After prison time for marijuana, Modesto man aims to change law” (Front Page, Feb. 17-18): This paper recently ran an article on the release of a local man after serving 14 years for a federal marijuana conviction. Someone not familiar with all the details of the Luke Scarmazzo case might think that Mother Theresa herself had just been released from prison after serving an unjust sentence.
Mr. Scarmazzo’s past criminal activity includes involvement in the stabbing death of a teenager, money laundering and the possession of illegal firearms. His conviction on the case in question and the subsequent delays in his early release rest, in part, on threats he made to kill federal officers.
I don’t begrudge anyone their freedom after serving time but I do take issue with the insidious social trend that glorifies drug use and paints criminal thugs as cultural heroes. McClatchy was wrong to present a one-sided story.
Tim Keating, Modesto
Falling behind the times
Re “Here’s why America’s schools are getting more political” (Page 6A, Feb. 16): This column flies over the political landscape like a high-altitude balloon. It reports on the tops of the clouds correctly but fails to spot the underlying causes for the stormy weather.
Democrats rarely legislate educational curriculum, preferring not to interfere with professional educators who should dictate curriculum based on scholarly research and facts. Republicans used to do the same thing, but not anymore.
The catalyst for the GOP’s intrusion into education has been the slow and steady trend of scholarly research and facts to make conservatives ideals appear archaic or even obsolete. Republicans would prefer a more straightforward, simpler curriculum on race and gender – avoiding “equality” or adding genders beyond men and women. Of course, without Constitutional restrictions, Republicans would prefer to return prayer to classrooms and replace talk of evolution with chapter one of Genesis.
Neither schools nor America is in a culture war. Culture has been progressing through its natural learning curve until recently. Now, it is under attack by a faction whose ideas are outdated and have fallen out of favor. At some point in time, everyone must face the facts. Turning back the clock is not an option.
J. Jason Gale, Riverbank
Women’s soccer does U.S. proud
Kudos for the inclusive attitude demonstrated recently by Alex Morgan and her ferocious teammate Becky Sauerbrunn, outstanding members of our U.S. women’s soccer team. This group, over several years, has exhibited both athletic excellence and a grand commitment to equality. Equality is often a hollow ideal in our society, but not for these women who question why they have to perform in states like Texas, Florida and Sauerbrunn’s home state, Missouri, where equality is strictly limited.
To Morgan, Sauerbrunn and their teammates, equality in sports is simply that. It is an equality not restricted by the weaponized morality of a few misguided equality terrorists. The athletic success of this team has garnered them a position of great cultural influence and they continue to employ that influence for the betterment of our society.
Tim Buchanan, Modesto
Not my president
Hey Joe: Why don’t you try and send a balloon over China? I’m sure they won’t shoot it down either.
Jack Stewart Jr., Modesto
Mo High front isn’t safe
We are a family of three who moved from Guam to California for a better future and education for our daughter who attends Modesto High School.
We are having the hardest time with the special needs department and bus transportation due to her being born blind. They recently moved her pick-up and drop-off location without notice and have placed her and other students in a dangerous area. I am sure the community of Modesto knows that the road crossing in front of Modesto High is very unsafe due to reckless drivers and uneven pavement. I have witnessed a student fall off his wheelchair because of the uneven pavement. I have witnessed drivers stopped in the middle of the intersection and flying past on a yellow light or even running the red light. We brought it up at an emergency IEP (individualized education program) meeting but no one wants to be held responsible and it just seems like we are being avoided.
Please help our family voice it out to the community.
Kristina Redaja Almazan, Modesto