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September 07, 2007
Amherst MA: Talib Sadiq has already paid his debt to society
Friday, September 07, 2007
Talib Sadiq has already paid his debt to society
Letter Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA
To the editor:
First, on the front page, was this summer's slanderous coverage regarding the Wildwood Elementary School's current principal, Mark Prince. A professional, smart, successful educator, committed to the children, parents and teachers he represents, leads, advises and, I am quite sure, learns from on a daily basis, he is also an African-American man. As both a parent of a Wildwood first-grader and a reader of our local papers for my entire life, I was left wondering where exactly the credible "news" was.
Similarly, of more recent front page "news," I am appalled at the malicious coverage that the Daily Hampshire Gazette and the Amherst Bulletin have offered regarding Talib Sadiq. Not only is he a former Amherst Regional High School student and graduate, but also a war veteran, a father, a husband and teacher, among many other things.
Last I knew, students and graduates were allowed to make mistakes, as well as fathers, husbands, teachers and veterans. Justice was served - he paid his debt to society for his past, albeit errant, behavior. In addition, it is clear that he scrutinized his past negative behaviors and set entirely different goals for his future. He furthered his education and emerged from this process an experienced, educated, principled man committed to education. The middle school needs an experienced, educated and principled guidance counselor, especially one to fill the shoes of the exemplary, beloved Barry Brooks.
It would be much appreciated if our local papers were to take a different spin on this story. The public tarring and feathering of another black man serves absolutely no positive nor constructive purpose but to perpetuate the criminal, archaic myths of white supremacy that fill our burgeoning jails with young black men.
Shavahn Best
Amherst
http://www.dailyhampshiregazette.com/storytmp.cfm?id_no=57437&CSAuthResp=1189201637448653%3A0qcBKYxHyRS3Hw%3D%3D%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Asuccess%3AcR7ugqqwWZGnB4AzFfp00A%3D%3D&CSUserId=&CSGroupId=
Posted by lois at September 7, 2007 05:45 PM