Lusco’s & ‘Dateline’
Regarding the letter by Jess A. Pinkston Jr. (“Blacks ate at Lusco’s, just not as customers,” July 19):
My sole point was apparently misread and misinterpreted by more than a couple of readers.
My family, just as Jess’ and his in-laws’, among many others, were held hostage by the racist nutcases of 1960s Greenwood. I wasn’t just a “casual customer” or outside spectator. I lived through it — primarily associating with the most influential of Greenwood residents. Most did not agree with, or approve of, the status quo ... but they had no practical choice.
I fully agree that NBC’s “investigative journalists” entirely missed the real issues. There would be no Lusco’s and there would have been no onion rings or shrimp cocktails for anyone, had Marie Correro directly confronted Byron De La Beckwith and his white trash allies by serving black diners.
No matter how rational, empathic or sophisticated, the business leaders, prominent North Greenwood residents and middle- income Caucasians were all forced to tolerate the institutionalized caste system back then.
If not, the White Citizens’ Council would boycott your business, vandalize your property and threaten (or worse) your family.
JG2
Carroll schools
Carroll County School Board President Ben Shute needs to go and sit down somewhere.
He is worried about parents sending their children elsewhere to give them an opportunity that Carroll County doesn’t offer because of him and his crew vetoing everything that our superintendent tries to bring to the Carroll County schools.
Carroll County taxpayer
James McGee
I’ve read many articles like this (“Merry McGee: Buckeye to honor longtime resident,” July 19) that are written after someone passes away.
There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s really nice to see that James McGee’s community and family are honoring him while he’s still around to participate.
freddie
•••
The resolution is well-deserved. Us older kids call him Diddy, as close as we can get to the pronunciation by his own children. Mr. James’ contributions are immeasurable.
Willie J. “Dirt” Stigler
