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Counterpoint:

By Robert R. “Dusty” Schoch

I have to say, for all his Pulitzer brilliance, Leonard Pitts’ cultural counsel on the topic of black pride seems clearly — and quite curiously — sexist. On  Nov. 2,  he wrote a beautiful panegyric on — and full of empathetic love for — African American women and their lavish and laborious efforts to alter (through hair-straightening chemistry, wigs, haircuts, colors, braids and weaves) their hair.

He totally and soulfully consoles and forgives them for their many efforts to change the natural essence and appearance of their hair, arguably the most prominent feature of feminine appearance and aesthetic couture.

Then, on Nov. 18, he absolutely and inexplicably slams former baseball star Sammy Sosa for whitening his skin. Is Pitts in this dichotomy of  “dissing” demonstrating  a preference for hair over skin or simply exhibiting a weird brand of sexism in racial ranting?

Or is it, less simply, a matter of Pitts succeeding in one instance (bestowing loving tolerance on black women’s efforts to meld aesthetically in the American milieu with hair) and miserably failing in another (not forgiving Sosa for wanting to accomplish the same thing with skin tone)?

Here is part of what I wrote to Pitts in praise on Nov. 2 of his loving article on African American women’s hair:

“Leonard,

“Yesterday I was paying my bill to a restaurant cashier and, standing in line behind two black ladies, began to marvel at the complex and beautiful hairdos they bore. I complimented them when I caught one of their eyes and she touched my shoulder in appreciation for the affirmation I gave. Your article today gave me pause to think about the whole transaction — what I had seen and what it meant.

“It was ... poetry. Your panegyric to the primordial and perennial beauty of black women — in spite of their seemingly self-demeaning rush to enhance cosmetically what was innately beautiful — was so touching I read every word of it to a friend (we’re both white, by the way). Beginning with your 'I am your brother, your father …’  and ending with 'You already are. You always were (beautiful),’ I  had to stop, altogether four times, to contend with the lump in my throat.”

Compare that now to Pitts’ more recent slamming of Sosa:

“I’ll bet you see a face (in the mirror) you’ve always dreamt of seeing — white and smiling at you. And I’ll bet you’re not embarrassed in the least. But that’s all right, Sammy. I’m embarrassed for you.”

Well, Mr. Pitts, I’m just a little embarrassed for you, although I’m still a great fan.

The writer is an attorney and writer who lives in High Point.