COUNTERPUNCH LETTERS : Give Ajaye the Job

I commend Franklin Ajaye’s articulate contribution to Counterpunch (“ ‘Apartheid TV’ Affects Viewers’ Lives,” Nov. 16). He is absolutely correct: While programs such as “In Living Color” and “Martin” employ extremely talented African-American actors, the stereotypical characters only serve to promote negative images among impressionable viewers. This is the old industry Catch-22: While the networks appear to support African-American employment, they do a greater disservice by mandating that their programs show situations and characters that tend to be downright offensive.

When will responsible network brass respond to Ajaye’s call for balance in realistic representation of non-whites in television? Can’t writers create situations that are funny without being racist? Ajaye speaks from experience. Someone should give him a chance to prove it can be done!

SHARI EPSTEIN

Santa Monica