In the early ’80s, when AIDS first became part of the public consciousness, many of us were terrified of this new, mysterious disease. Far too many lost their lives as doctors struggled to learn more about the illness so they could develop treatments that worked. Thirty years later, we know enough about AIDS to understand how it can be transmitted, how to protect ourselves from the virus that causes it and how to treat those who have it so they can live long and relatively healthy lives. 

I had intended to write a column about professional athletes and how superstars like Barry Bonds and most recently LeBron James are hounded by those with no athletic talent. Some make a living daily criticizing these gifted individuals. Is it jealousy or racism?

Nonetheless, as much as it distresses me to write about negative acts, those that occurred in East Hills where a woman was killed, four teenagers were shot sitting on a bench on the North side and shots were fired at the wading pool, I am compelled to discuss what we must do beside wringing our hands saying, “Have we lost it?” We are more detrimental to ourselves than the Ku Klux Klan ever was.

Back when I was just starting out, I wanted to buy a home. I was in my late 20s, not a long time on the job, wasn’t making a lot of money and had very little credit. The big banks all but laughed when I applied, but at Dwelling House Savings and Loan, even though I was reminded of all these things I had going against me, they also looked at what I had going for me. I had a college degree, I had a full time job I had been at since graduating from college and I wanted to own my own house instead of being content to rent.

ROBERT R. LAVELLE

Instead of just looking at the numbers, they looked at the person. I got the loan not only for the house but also a separate home improvement loan. Even though it was a struggle at times I paid both off in advance.

(REAL TIMES MEDIA)—One of my favorite books is “40 Million Dollar Slaves” by William C. Rhoden, a sports columnist for The New York Times. The book lays out the long and sordid history of the African-American in sports and how, despite being increasingly well known and well paid, the Black professional athlete’s relationship with team ownership and leagues is still disturbingly similar to the old slave and share cropping relationships of the past. His essential argument was that despite the restrictions both racially and financially placed on African-American athletes in this country many of them can and SHOULD be doing more, if not socially and culturally, certainly by asserting themselves more in the very business that benefits from their bodies 10 times more than it pays them. So I must tell you, in the face of the public and social outcry against NBA star LeBron James last week I think Rhoden’s argument has been made manifest and I couldn’t be happier.