Dougherty Arts Center
Liberal Austin Lacks Racial Tensions Just a Myth
RECEIVED Mon., July 16, 2007
Dear Editor,
Both the establishment and alternative media in Austin seemed obsessed with perpetuating the popular myth that a tolerant and liberal Austin has little or no racial tension among minorities, as evidenced in much of the press coverage of the recent murder of David Morales in East Austin ["Morales Murder Update: Amateur boxer charged," News, July 13]. News stories on the killing often omitted or buried references to blacks and Hispanics and instead concentrated on the damage to the city's image by early inaccurate police and press reports, the slow response by the Emergency Medical Services to the crime scene, a possible connection to the nearby Juneteenth celebrations, and whether the murder was committed by an individual, a group, a crowd, a mob – or as some stories suggested – by "road rage"! If whites had been involved, charged, or arrested in the incident, race would probably have received more attention in the press, and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton might have come to town to march to more than Austin music.
Both the establishment and alternative media in Austin seemed obsessed with perpetuating the popular myth that a tolerant and liberal Austin has little or no racial tension among minorities, as evidenced in much of the press coverage of the recent murder of David Morales in East Austin ["Morales Murder Update: Amateur boxer charged," News, July 13]. News stories on the killing often omitted or buried references to blacks and Hispanics and instead concentrated on the damage to the city's image by early inaccurate police and press reports, the slow response by the Emergency Medical Services to the crime scene, a possible connection to the nearby Juneteenth celebrations, and whether the murder was committed by an individual, a group, a crowd, a mob – or as some stories suggested – by "road rage"! If whites had been involved, charged, or arrested in the incident, race would probably have received more attention in the press, and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton might have come to town to march to more than Austin music.
Gene Burd
