Should ethnicity matter?

The recent death of Whitney Houston, a highly accomplished star, raised the question again of whether there is any need for ethnic recognition. Of the very extensive attention and reviews of her background, there seemed to be little or no reference to the fact that she was black. The issue raised in Houston’s death is seen elsewhere. Michael Jackson never really confronted, nor dealt with the problem of ethnicity. As pertinent is the case of Oprah Winfrey; though she is some eight years older than Houston, she had a chance to stress her ethnicity, yet Winfrey’s later stress on ethnicity is as little, if not less than Houston’s.

Our hypothesis is that if someone has anything going, there is no need to stress ethnicity. It is like a crutch that one falls back on, giving evidence that one has an absence of assets.

Houston seems to have placed little emphasis on formal education. If she did not complete high school, it might suggest little relationship between schooling and talent development. Thus, if every child who had a voice or steps like Jackson or Houston decided that little could be learned in school, it would appear that schooling was for those who had nothing going for them. It would be similar for large, strong youth who could see themselves as having futures in professional basketball or football. What would be the point of going to school even if the intent was to become a professional at some level? The driving force would be money, which education does not ensure. GORDON MORGAN

Fayetteville