Hyphens are necessary and good

Warner Montgomery's article on "Hyphenated Humans" was amusing and tragic. It is amusing because some whites are confused about the need for hyphenation. It is tragic because it demonstrates the lack of historical knowledge in the 21st century. The white Anglo- Saxon people (WASP) controlled and defined the definition of race in America from its beginning.

As a black child during the 40s, I witnessed the evolution of racial identity. Blacks were Negroes/Colored, Jews were not white - just Jews, as were Indians - and Asians were second- class whites, as well as whatever racial slur that was known.

All these groups were made to think that they (we) "were not real Americans." The WASPs were successful in making these groups and other sub- Europeans (i.e. Italians, Greek, Spaniards, etc.) feel inferior because of their native origin regardless of race or color. For me, it was hard to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in school without noting the hypocrisy of the country.

The Civil Rights movement of the 60s was the beginning of the end of WASP's power of defining race in America for the betterment of all Americans. This lost of power may be manifested in the denial of whites to accept the truth about its history; however, blacks, Asians, Indians, and all groups can finally accept themselves as Americans of different origins with pride (i.e. Korean- American, Irish- American, African- American, etc.).

African- Americans are freer in a greater sense because we were humiliated the most. Africa is a continent; therefore, we can only use African- American because we don't know our specific country of origin. Africans immigrating to America today can be an American and identified by the country where they were born (i.e. Nigerian- American, South African- American, etc.).

It is true that no one person can speak for one group, but history has proven there has always been one person who will always remind America of its short comings in its creed that "all men are created equal."

The Civil Rights movement changed America for the better. It inspired people around the world. There is hope that a new generation, without the ingrained prejudices of the past will accept past mistakes/denials with new ideas that will take America to a new level as Dr. King dreamed.

H.D. Gore