How long will we allow ourselves to be manipulated by those that don’t respect us enough to tell us the truth? America has been told that there is no Santa Claus. The very fabric of this country is wool being pulled over the eyes of its occupants. The greatest achievement of the United States is convincing its occupants, both white and black, that racism is a thing of the past. The reality is the racism is so widespread and so pervasive that half of the country doesn’t want to see it and the other half don’t have the testicular fortitude or care to do anything about it. We aren’t going to fall victim to the lawyer speak, doubletalk, bald faced lies that we are being told anymore. This country will give me what it has promised or I will take it.

• Alvin Holden