I am a native of central Indiana and I continue to be perplexed and troubled by the Tribune’s repeated suggestions that Indiana is a particularly racist place, most recently in Sam Smith’s “Thomas defiant in face of criticism” (Tribune, April 16).
I say “particularly” because racism exists everywhere and . . . is no worse in central Indiana than it is in Chicago, as a perusal of your paper on a daily basis clearly shows.
Therefore, I hope Tribune reporters will recognize this basic truth and stop writing things like: “And race seems to enter the picture in central Indiana, where Thomas is a black coach from the inner city replacing a white, farmboy legend in Larry Bird.” What basis does Sam Smith have for such a statement?
As an Indiana University basketball fan, I can tell you that Isiah Thomas is nearly as much of a legend in Indiana as Bird for leading Indiana to the 1981 national championship. The fact that Isiah is black and Larry is white is of no consequence concerning whatever struggles Isiah is having with the Pacers.
It’s time for the Tribune to get off its soapbox because the Tribune, and Chicagoland in general, is in no position to lecture other cities and states on racism.
