Views in brief

Systemic racism in Madison

RESPONDING TO our recent article on racial inequality in Madison, Wis., ("The most racist city in the U.S.?") M.B.H. from Chicago argues, "It's unfair to label Madison...as the 'most racist'" because "you could say this about almost any place in America where there's a large university/professional class." ("Racism hits all of America")

First, we agree that every U.S. city (not just those with large university/professional classes) is deeply racist. But second, it is possible to quantify the degree of racial inequality that exists in different places, and the comprehensive Race to Equity study that we cited found that the situation is worse in Madison (and surrounding Dane County) than in most other places.

Madison combines a highly educated white population with above-average incomes and below-average incarceration rates, and an impoverished African American population for which the opposite is true. For example, an astounding 75 percent of Dane County's Black children live in poverty, almost twice the proportion of Black children in poverty in the country as a whole.

That is why the report concluded: "The alarming truth is that our numbers, taken as a whole, suggest that the distance between whites and Blacks (in terms of well-being, status and outcomes) is as wide or wider in Dane County than in any jurisdiction (urban or rural, North or South) for which we have seen comparable statistics."

Finally, when M.B.H. writes: "I'm not trying to downplay the role of racism, I think the economy and overspecialization have a lot to do with the problem," he or she seems to be equating racism only with individual attitudes. But institutional, structural and systemic racism are just as much forms of racism as having the KKK organizing in your city, and sometimes, the results can be just as bad.
Sarah Lynne and Phil Gasper, Madison, Wis.

Horror that has legs

IN RESPONSE to "Capitalist monsters under the bed": I so love this! As the protagonist "Ricky" in Sleepaway Camp, I knew that this movie had legs.

Ironically, I disavowed my participation for years. I thought it did a disservice to my musical career. Now that I find myself back in the acting business, I embrace it wholeheartedly. Such a wonderful article!
Jonathan Tiersten (AKA "Ricky" from Sleepaway Camp), Fort Collins, Colo.

The climate at Whole Foods

IN RESPONSE to "Telling the whole truth about Whole Foods": I work at Whole Foods market in leadership. This piece you wrote is so sadly true.

I am supposed to be someone who has to uphold the illusion that this is a great place to work. I get paid well, and I appreciate that, but otherwise, the work is very hard. I work off the clock every day. It is the culture to do so. I don't know many people who don't work from home, on lunch breaks, or before and after they clock in.

Whole Food Market recently announced that we can't hire any full-time employees--only part-time. They also announced that they will be taking away benefits for part-time employees in 2015.

I wish someone would start a union, but I am afraid I will lose my job if I try and assemble people. I have been with this company 10 years. It has changed so much. It is sad.
Anonymous, Boston

Socialists should work together in elections

IN RESPONSE to "A socialist on the Seattle City Council?": First of all, it is always a pleasure to see that socialist militants are alive in U.S.

I never understood why it is so difficult to question the undemocratic election system you have that perpetuates the two capitalists parties in power. I think that all socialist groups and parties in the U.S. should at least gather to campaign against this and run for local elections to make public a socialist platform in front of thousands of workers.

Here in Argentina, the left has achieved positive results after decades of patiently discussing and working among the working class. Good luck.
Hernan Kurfirst, Argentina