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Re: In My View by William Davis, Do black lives matter to blacks? (July 19, Page A6). Mr. Davis cites a number of statistics regarding black-on-black crime, and then goes on to disparage the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. While some of his statistics may be accurate, most of the realities he cites are the result of decades of failed systemic and societal conditions, and were not the motivation for the genesis of BLM.

The actual beginnings of BLM occurred following the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012, and following the acquittal of his shooter, George Zimmerman. Following that tragedy were many police-involved fatal shootings of young black men, including Tamir Rice, a 12-year old discovered with a toy gun in 2014; Michael Brown in Ferguson in 2014; Alton Sterling, shot at close range while pinned to the ground in 2016; Philando Castile, shot at close range in 2016 after a traffic stop; to name just a few. In these examples, all of the police officers were either acquitted, or charges were not brought at all.

Mr. Davis would have one believe that activists and others who consistently alter and distort the facts in high-profile matters are bent on convincing others that law enforcement is to blame... even when it was ...proved that witnesses were lying. It is more likely that Mr. Davis is distorting the facts, since a blanket statement like this cannot logically be applied to all police-involved shootings.

In perhaps his most inflammatory perception, Mr. Davis states that Ms. Georgia Hotton (and presumably all others who do not agree with his positions) has been duped by anti-American fanatics on the extreme left whose focus is to instill hatred and blind allegiance to the destruction of the United States of America, as we know it, through lies, deceit and evil conspiracies. This is simply an outrageous and blatantly inaccurate statement, and demonstrates precisely why this country is so polarized politically.

Mr. Davis concludes by stating his version of the root causes of the black communitys negative profile, which are apparently due to gang bangers, family values and lack of cooperation with police officers. I wonder if Mr. Davis has any black friends or family members, and if he does, I wonder if he has shared these views with them in an effort to hear another side. If he has spoken to a black father or mother who has a teenage son, he would know that these parents have given the talk to their son every time he walks out the front door. That talk emphasizes demonstrating respect and cooperation toward police officers precisely because they dont want to get a phone call that their son has been shot.

Talk is cheap. Especially talk which involves no perception of the other side, including the effects of decades of systemic and psychological racism on the black community. Conversation, communication and dialogue are the only things which will improve race relations and the political mood in this country.

Christine Mitchell lives in Green Valley.

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IN MY VIEW: We have to talk about it before situation improves - Green Valley News