Sent Racist Message

To the Editor:

An article on criticism of TWU President Roger Toussaint in the Sept. 7 issue of The Chief quotes Dwayne Hammonds, a vice-chair in his division, describing the state of the union's treasury as a "hot ghetto-ass mess."

Mr. Hammonds is entitled to his opinion on the state of the union's finances. But the use of the vile term "ghetto-ass" can only be read as disparaging of the union's finances by comparing them to the densely populated low-income urban areas in this country with high populations of African-Americans, the "black ghettos."

I cannot find any way to interpret Mr. Hammonds' use of that phrase that doesn't convey a vile racist message. Does it mean that the state of the union's finances are supposedly a mess because, like residents of the black ghetto, Mr. Toussaint, who is also black, can't be trusted to manage money?

Sick, racist expressions like Mr. Hammonds' promote white supremacist thinking and hurt all working people. As a union leader, he should know better.

AARON FRISHBERG, Esq., Former delegate, UAW Local 2120