A letter written in by a school girl to the Napa Valley Register and the response from a hispanic reader


Saturday, March 18, 2006 1:12 AM PST

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/artic ... 350702.txt

Dear editor,

I'm a Caucasian eighth grader at Silverado Middle School and I'm perplexed as to why public Latino activities are permitted but public activities labeled for Caucasian people aren't. Can you imagine how outraged people would be if they saw a flier saying "Caucasian Potluck" or "Caucasian Lunch Gala?" So how is it that Latinos are the only victims of racism? At schools there are clubs such as Frisbee Club, Drama Club and Earth Club. There are Latino Clubs as well. That's allowed, but if someone wanted to form a Caucasian Club then it would be racist. I'm taunted daily for being a Caucasian person but what's ironic is that I'm one-quarter Hispanic. Because I look more Caucasian than Hispanic, I'm typically categorized as a Caucasian. Because I appear Caucasian, the Hispanic community at my school typically judges me when I point out that I'm Hispanic also and brushes aside my comment, stating that my origins aren't genuine. Caucasians aren't the only instigators. They're victims of racism, too.

The response

A dangerous kind of club

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 10:26 PM PST
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/artic ... 357429.txt

Dear editor,

Silverado Middle School student Kaili Espinoza ("Another form of racism," March 1 points out the double standard of there being a Latino Club at her school, but "if someone wanted to form a Caucasian Club then it would be racist." Actually, Kaili, someone already has formed a Caucasian Club. You may even have learned about it in your Social Studies class. They called it the Ku Klux Klan, and their activities included burning crosses and hanging non-white people. This is likely why people of all colors become a little nervous when they hear talk of a "Caucasian Club." Please inform your school administrators at once if you observe the Latino Club performing any lynchings around campus.

Devin Reza

Napa