Wealth Does Not End Discrimination

To the editors:

Perhaps it is Boleslaw Z. Kabala who remains rooted in "skin-deep culture" (Ed Notebook, Mar. 3). His suggestion that a good-sized paycheck takes away from a star's "minority experience" is demeaning. Kabala's brazenness to "grant" that Will Smith, Antonio Banderas and Jennifer Lopez might once have had to face hardship and discrimination, but no longer have to deal with it after receiving their "stratospheric paychecks," is the largest falsity in his article. The whole point of racism is that people are judged by their race and/or ethnicity and not by their intelligence, ability, talent or paycheck.

Kabala then points out that Matt Damon might have experienced hardship too; no one doubts that. Everyone experiences hardship at some point in his life. Anyone can be down and out; anyone can be poor; but can anyone be shot 41 times by the NYPD and not see justice served? If you don't think too hard about it, the idea that white males are now the group to be protected can almost sound right. But not quite right. Look around--at Harvard, in the courts, in government and in many other places, white males sit in positions of power. The discrimination for which Kabala is searching is not against Damon or the white male establishment. And that is not just "skin-deep"--it is reality.

Priscilla Chan '01

Natalie Guerrier '01

March 5, 2000