I recently picked up the May issue of the CCC, and I found it to be very interesting, containing a lot of opinions that are not widely broadcasted in other media. I thought the cover feature, regarding the relationships between unsafe neighbourhoods and poor neighbourhoods to be especially pertinent, as I live in a neighbourhood with a relatively high crime rate in south St. Louis, though the crimes themselves are often isolated events.

However, when I came here to find out more about your paper and to see if it was available online (I'm glad to see that it is), I ran across the following comment left nearly a year ago; the person who left it is likely to never see my response to it, but I thought it might be worthwhile to post something about it anyway, as no-one else has done so:

Rip Alinsky said: "That is also the problem with Conner's Racial essay. Discrimination also has to do with cultural issues. Blacks don't seem to see the problems that are increasingly destroying their culture. For instance, a black Christian who supports Obama either deceives himself about being a Christian, or is deceived about Obama. But how do blacks react to criticism of Obama? Even pastors?"

I personally find this expressed opinion to be quite bizarre; as far as discrimination is concerned, how are racial issues not cultural issues simultaneously? By saying that "Blacks don't seem to see the problems that are increasingly destroying their culture," is it meant to follow that whites do? Because, as a white person myself, I think there are a number of social issues which occlude the culture and relations with majority of people, no matter their race. The problems may all be different, as Kim Gordon demonstrates with startling statistics in her most recent article, but to insinuate that only blacks "don't get it" is absolutely asinine. And as far as President Obama is concerned, how would any liberally-inclined person react when he is criticised, usually only by white conservatives? When has Obama ever deceived anybody, and what does supporting Obama have to do with any sect of Christianity? How is that supposed to reflect on the quality of one's behaviour and religious devotion? Obama has created a unity within communities that never existed before he was elected--he has aroused interest and inclusion where previously nobody had really bothered with, in interest of voter statistics alone. How is any of that negative at all? I fail to see the point of the comment at all.

In any case, I enjoyed reading the paper and will continue to do so. I think the trend towards positive news and thought-provoking stories is wonderful, indeed, and I thank you.

I am a new brother to your paper. I havessen itherea few times in Chicago but justskimmed through it, but now that I am moving to Springfield I have become an avid reader. I have especially enjoyed this months articles on unsafe neighborhoods and the interview with Terry Pendelton. I was born and raised in one of those neighborhoods and i just don't think people understand how rough these areas are but that there are still good people and great programs in these places that are vastly underfunded. And asacoah andformer playerI loved TP and I think kids, black kids especially need to get reaquainted with guys like TP Gwyn and Ozzie.

I recently read the "Whitening of Black America" and was really taken back. There are many points I agree with but there are more ideas/points that I have issue with. The 2 main issues are: Whites are racist because they don't want to accept that they were black at one point. Ridiculous. Also, I live in St. Louis and have watched for over 2 decades as cities in the area have crumbled once black goverment has taken over. I am black myself, and many might call me a "traitor", but look at any areas around St. Louis that were White at one point, and now are black. East St. Louis used to be white, and was a decent area. Now it is nothing more than broken buildings and corruption. I found the article interesting, but not entirely factual. Also, I find it interesting that the author has a strong white blood line but she is only proud of her black blood.

Very good blog. There are good articles in the field of hip-hop. Excuse me, can I have something wrong I write, I am Russian and bad at English.
p.s. in Russia are very fond of hip-hop

Where can I find that article:

"Hip-Hop You Don't Stop, How Has Hip-Hop Affected Our Black Youth?"

our I belong to African American youth today
and i would also like to thank Capital City Courier for taking a genuine interest in our community. Thnaks you so much from the depth of our heart.

I really love these article i'll be coming back for more. Thank you for the great topics.

Well, it is a pleasure to finally find an article that shed light on this issue. The clarity of your piece is appreciated and much thanks to you!

Instead of putting labels to human beings, why don't we focus ourselves towards the betterment of our entire society and our world as a whole. Labelling, for me, has a negative connotation with it because it just means that we are divided. The best that we can do is just accept each other for who we are and learn to live in peace...

I would like to thank Capital City Courier for taking a genuine interest in our African American youth today. Specifically, I want to thank Michael and Nancy for allowing me as a Coach to share my story, the challenges and the SUCCESS I've had working with African American youth within the Baseball arena.
Once again, thank you!!!

Coach Carlos Blocker
Florissant BlueJAYS Basaeball Club

Got your 6/21 paper at the Apostolic Faith Church. I'm white, and see things differently than you. The Unforgiveness article was good, as was the one on Robert Blackwell. I liked Dr. Calmese and Godly Men, but I think she should have stated the obvious: if you are truly godly, you might never marry, especially women. I threw away most of the rest of the paper, I didn't think it was worth my time, especially the article that mentioned the Willie Lynch fabrication without condeming it. That is also the problem with Conner's Racial essay. Discrimination also has to do with cultural issues. Blacks don't seem to see the problems that are increasingly destroying their culture. For instance, a black Christian who supports Obama either deceives himself about being a Christian, or is deceived about Obama. But how do blacks react to criticism of Obama? Even pastors?

I think that attitude that "boys in the hood" had in his comment is the exact opposite of what we need. You're labeling by ethnicity, when we should discard race altogether and judge by merit. we are all part of human kind and segregating ourselves into the blacks and the white folk, is only depreciating the milestones we've marked in equality.

Our music today is moving full speed in the wrong direction. and today's youth are enjoying that momentum.

Capital City Courier is the most relevant
publication around. I'm so glad I found it!

P.Rowan
Montgomery,AL

I read the article "Hip-Hop You Don't Stop, How Has Hip-Hop Affected Our Black Youth?" written by Kimberly D. Conner. While the music may have begun as an expression of the deprivation and dependence on government in urban communities throughout this country, your writer still likes the music. The fact that there are major issues with black communities socially conscious individuals tend to look the other other way. Unfortunately, we have several generations of young people who don't know anything else, except violence, mayhem and chaos. The schools have failed our children, the churches have failed our children, and as parents and grandparents, we too have failed out children. Most of the lyrics and mysogynistic overtones of the music are setting the standards of how for all of us to follow and accept. We have all kinds of people making money on this music, but no one seems to be turning it off or moving it to another level. I was informed, but your writer still enjoys the music, and so do many other people, who often make comments and have opinions about today's youth, but actually perpetuated the culture in the first place.

I really love your paper. I live in Port Arthur Texas and subscribe to your paper from there. I'm very pleased with every issue.

Brother Pittman I am writing to tell you to keep on doing what your doing. I read the article that the state journal register wrote about you. Don't let it get you down. There are a whole lot of black folks out here in your corner. I think that the big white owneed newspaper is jealous of your little paper that seems to touch on issues that they don't have the expertise to report on. Just like the race riots of 1908 that was caused because white folks couldn't stand to see black folks doing good. Keep it up. These folks will reap what they sow.

Very informative and interesting articles.
Thank you

I really like this newspaper. Keep up the good workrk