Dear Editor,

I am compelled to respond to Urijah Deacon's letter in the Jamaica Observer of October 22, "Find yourself, Mr Dingwall". Mr Dingwall presented a thoughtful and rational argument to support his position that Africans sold their brothers into slavery. History confirms that fact.

Mr Deacon failed to produce any evidence that contradicts Mr Dingwall's letter of October 18. Mr Deacon, in a purely emotional response, chooses to launch a personal attack claiming that Mr Dingwall's letter is evidence of his self-hatred.

If Mr Deacon is so convinced of Africa's greatness, perhaps he should have spent some ink explaining why the great civilisations of black Africa allowed themselves to be taken as slaves by Europeans and shipped like cattle to the New World for almost 400 years. Why did the great generals and admirals of Africa fail to develop strategies to defeat the Europeans and their cruel enterprise?

Perhaps Mr Deacon can also identify these Europeans who are visiting black countries begging for forgiveness. The Europeans that we read and hear about are still plundering Africa today. Mr Deacon, it is time that you stop being a victim of propaganda.

R Oscar Lofters

Kingston 8

lofters1@aol.com