I would like to begin by thanking The Post for printing a story on Jan. 17 about the Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Casa Nueva. As an independent, student-run community paper, I believe that it is important to give young journalists an opportunity to build their skills, gain some experience and get feedback from the people they are writing about.
However, I am extremely disappointed in the content of this article for two reasons: First, to quote the article, Glick
who calls herself African and South American in my experience is a gross generalization of what was actually said in response to a question asked. I would like to clarify. I do not call myself anything, I am and shall always be a multiracial - Afro-Argentinean and South American Brazilian Indian - woman, and a naturalized citizen of the United States. Even after being asked to clarify my ethnicity twice, it was still incorrect in the article.
It is a great source of pride for me to be represented, correctly, as a minority. It would have been best for this inexperienced reporter to simply state that I am multiracial instead of categorizing me in two big boxes. As a matter of fact, I would have expected that if the reporter had not been clear how to portray this aspect of the story it would have even been dropped rather than being a little incorrect. After all, these are two very big continents with many ethnic groups that deserve to be properly identified when cited.
Secondly, the article in itself did not reflect the importance or the success of the event even though the reporter was an observer in the crowd throughout the early parts of the evening. The quotes from his personal interviews were not well chosen, nor well written. The main point of the event was lost in insignificant tidbits of news. The community had gathered to celebrate the life of a great man - who has inspired many people! In addition, some of the best young talent that Athens has to offer assembled to create this event. Not just for the food but to celebrate the fact that we have come a long way, and we still have a lot more to go.
There are those who will say, No one cares nobody really reads The Post anyway. I read The Post with the expectation that if it is being printed then it is worth being read. This article was both an uncomfortable and disappointing read. You are the future of integrity in our media. I entreat you to expect more from yourselves as student news writers.
I read The Post and expect better from the editors and its student reporters.
Alzenira Zen Glick is the marketing and events coordinator for Casa.
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