In a perfect world race issues would be as J. Roberson wishes they were. Sadly, as Roberson knows, this not a perfect world. In this less than perfect world expropriation and exploitation of racially tinged issues is a legitimate matter for discussion. That some blacks call each other "nigger" does not privilege outsiders to use this language for their own purposes. What these purposes are is worth considering: One may hope to ingratiate oneself, demonstrate their own "lack of prejudice," or exploit the symbols for self-aggrandizement, or . . . . Crucially, though, again as J. Roberson knows, whites can shed these symbols, they can turn the peak of their caps to face front, as it were. Most blacks, even very light complected ones, cannot. The color of their skin, the shape of their physiognomy, and other physical characteristics are permanent indelible marks of their existence. Even Roberson's computer nerd friend is a black before he is a computer nerd, even if he doesn't make a point of it to outsiders. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cal Pryluck, Radio-Television-Film, Temple University, Philadelphia <[log in to unmask]> <[log in to unmask]>