Letter to the Editor
Peoria Journal-Star

Hale will not have last word

by James A. Landrith, Jr.
Published: July 10, 1999

Dear Editor:

As a former resident of Deer Creek in Tazewell County and an activist for the rights of biracial/multiracial children and adults and interracial couples/families, the recent events with regards to the World Church of the Creator and Matt Hale sadden me deeply. As I write this letter I wonder how people around the world now view my home. I left central Illinois to join the United States Marine Corps in 1989 and currently live in Alexandria, Va. I still miss home. I’ll always miss home. I want to express to everyone reading this that my love of central Illinois has not wavered as a result of the hate crimes committed by Benjamin Smith and the subsequent media frenzy in regards to WCOTC and Matt Hale.

I firmly believe that these horrible events will only prove to strengthen the sense of community for which Central Illinois is known. People will pull together and hate will not prosper. Matt Hale will not be the last word in race relations. Central Illinoisans will see to that. I have faith in the people I grew up with.

James A. Landrith, Jr.
Alexandria, VA

James Landrith is the notorious editor and publisher of The Multiracial Activist and The Abolitionist Examiner, two cyber-rags dedicated to freedom from oppressive racial categorization. Landrith can be reached by email at: editor@multiracial.com or at his personal website/blog.