Vol. 81/No. 2      January 9, 2017

 

Letters

 
Limits of new museum
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has opened in Washington, DC. Many important images are on display, and the very fact of the museum represents a belated acknowledgment. But I found serious limitations.

For example the intertwining of Black and white workers is entirely absent, so is the leadership role of Black workers. Reconstruction gets short shrift, and Malcolm X’s role is limited to one photo and a misleading caption. Books such as Pathfinder’s America’s Revolutionary Heritage; Malcolm X, Black Liberation, and the Road to Workers Power; Revolutionary Continuity; and Malcolm X’s speeches are necessary to supplement this museum’s depiction of the history of African-Americans.

David Salner
Frederick, Maryland

Oil boss splurges
After sending a letter to oil workers at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery announcing a 50 percent increase in health insurance premiums and a freeze of pensions, both violations of the United Steelworkers contract, the thrifty PES CEO Phil Rinaldi was nevertheless able to plunk down $6,000 for a 3/4 pound fresh white truffle at auction.

Rinaldi announced plans to share the delicacy with “my many special friends.” No word yet how many oil workers are among them.

Mitchel Rosenberg
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home