Elder Statesmen Win Applause

The March 3 article “Elder Statesmen” by Yemi Toure is reporting par excellence. Reading about the lives and works of five black race-conscious and scholarship-oriented authors--John Henrik Clarke, John G. Jackson, Chancellor Williams, Yusef ben-Jochannan and John Hope Franklin--brought satisfaction to my heart. It is unfortunate that only a small segment of the black population and an even smaller number of white people are aware of contributions these elder statesmen have made toward reclaiming authentic black history.

Books by these authors provide needed correctives regarding black culture. Reading these books gives a person increased pride in black history and a greater appreciation for black culture.

URIAH J. FIELDS

Los Angeles