Watts article (Re: NP Genoa)

[Paul Mackin]

I should also have said I'm bothered by accepting the propositiion that violence may
be the only option left Watts black youth to express who they are--their manhood--if
anyone is actually adopting this proposition. Though asking one to change definition
of manhood is problematic, opting for violence is worse than problematic--it is a
declaration of suicide.

I am talking here of violence as an expression of self, not violence as self defense,
which is a whole other thing and frequently necessary in the streets of Watts.

Also I'm not assuming any possible distinction between back then and the present day.

Anyone getting tired of this thread. I love to think and talk about L.A.  old fogey
that I am. Back in the seventies and early 80s when I had reason to travel back to my
home town a lot, I would upon picking up a car at the airport and in order to avoid
jumping immediately on a freeway at night drive East though the middle of Watts to
pick up the Harbor Freeway North. It was a stupid thing to do even then.


            P.