As both a white and African-American, my father being white and my mother black, I would like to point some things out to everyone about Chino Wilson's unfortunate "argument" and its response (Collegian, Feb. 2).

First of all, NO ONE has a right to say "we" and speak for an entire race, or to say "they" and pretend to describe an entire race. Our individuality is as important as our solidarity.

I only hope that Wilson's column has not done too much damage by convincing anyone that he speaks of violence for "The Black Cause." He does not speak for all African-Americans.

On the subject of his call for violence: "We must not replace their oppressive power with oppressive power. We must replace oppression and make this place free and beautiful for all to live. If we seek to do to them what they do to us, we should lay down and die now, because that cause is not worth the blood of a single child." Stephen Biko said words to this effect to a crowd of South African blacks, but it seems the words are needed here -- both to generally remind blacks and to inform whites.

The "free" place Biko speaks of is not a utopia where all would live in peace. That would be nice but face it, we are ALL human. What he spoke of is a place where everyone could be treated on their own merit or lack thereof.

In this type of place, a white witness could see a black criminal victimize someone one day and report it without fear of racist allegations. But, the next day, when the white saw some other black on the street they WOULD NOT BE REMINDED of the previous days events, WOULD NOT PROJECT them onto this new individual.

After all, I am sure that the day after the terrible tragedy in Montreal in which a white man gunned down white women, people did not go around thinking of every white stranger on the street, "Oh no, another white man, I wonder if he has a gun!"

This idea not only never occurred to us, but in fact sounds ludicrous. Yet every day non-blacks can be heard saying things to the effect of "Well, I know/met/saw a black who did such and such, here's another one. They're all the same."

Wouldn't it be nice if I didn't have to go through life carrying the burden of the crimes of an evil person who was black any more than any white is made to feel responsible for Charles Manson's crimes!

Unfortunately, we are a long way from this ideal. In fact we are new to the idea, having only just come from a time when one entire race, the African-American race, was undeniably entirely oppressed.

For anyone who thinks it was a long time ago, my great-grandmother who is still alive and well remembers stories of her mother's slavery as well as you remember stories of your parents' high school days. Can it be long ago if someone alive remembers seeing it? And it was only in 1966 that my parents were not allowed by law to be married in Maryland.

My point here is a message for everyone. For non-blacks who believe in equality, and I think that most do -- do not get impatient with the persistence of the issue. It is not resolved, nor is it old.

For blacks -- this same fact should be a support. That is not to say that we should not continue to push. We must continue, but we should not be discouraged with our progress.

When a white does not judge one black by another; when whites may personally dislike some black individuals without being prejudiced toward other blacks, or being called racist; and when blacks can do the same, along with every other race; THEN we will be free to be called human, then we will have our equality.

The achievement of peace and love is a separate issue, for another day; some day when we have achieved the freedom to be happy or mean on an individual basis.