Letters for July 23, 2015

On the K.J. cover

Re SN&R's “K.J. sues SN&R!” cover (July 9 issue):

I'm a dark-skin, Afro-American man. I see nothing racist about this cartoon. That cartoon looks just like Kevin Johnson. The NAACP is always looking for publicity. I feel that the NAACP is making it look like it's wrong to be dark skinned and with large lips and wide eyes. We all have different shades of skin. They should be trying to create jobs for the inner-city youths.

Hakim Naji

Sacramento

In defense of pot

Re “Pot and pregnancy” (SN&R Editorial, July 16):

Regarding the use of cannabis by pregnant mothers: There is research on this topic. It just fails to show any harm, so more research is required to find the elusive harm proclaimed by the prohibitionists.

I would direct those with questions to the “Five-year follow-up of rural Jamaican children whose mothers used marijuana during pregnancy,” available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1957518. The children of cannabis-using mothers apparently did better than the others. What about the children!

Jay Bergstrom

via email

SN&R should apologize

Re SN&R’s “K.J. sues SN&R!” cover (July 9 issue):

I am writing to express my disappointment in your newspaper for the cartoons depicted of our Mayor Kevin Johnson. …

I don’t know if you have any African-American, Afro American, Black or negro staff working for you, but I don’t think so, because I’m sure they would have advised against such cartoons.

You not only owe our mayor an apology, but also all persons of color in this city.

Shirley Shepard

Sacramento

‘I don’t see it’

Re SN&R’s “K.J. sues SN&R!” cover (July 9 issue):

Although “racism” is often in the eyes of the beholder, my eyes don’t see it.

As a one-time Latino community activist, I’ve kept my eyes and ears attuned to possible slights to my community. I’ve manifested anger and distress on those occasions Latinos have been portrayed negatively by those with suspect (racist?) agendas.

Although I haven’t followed the entirety of SN&R’s coverage of the mayor’s office, I’ve seen nothing to suggest that anyone at SN&R has insidious, or otherwise racist, motivations.

The overreaction of the local NAACP, I’m afraid, will be perceived by many as a transparent attempt to stifle scrutiny of a black politician. Community activists of color should be concerned that these types of overreactions will detract from the significant issues that still confront us, and diminish the credibility of those with legitimate grievances.

Miguel D. Martin

via email