The ideas in Mr. Manuel’s letter, (“King relied on deception,” Jan. 16) are his own, I presume. For countless centuries blacks in the Christian culture were looked upon as lesser men. It was through pockets of white enlightenment and black determination and centuries of wrongs perpetrated upon blacks in America that an act was needed. I might add we WASPs don’t hold too good a track record in dealing with other cultures and races.

The fact that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed is proof. This act now also guarantees me, as a veteran disabled for life, that conservative lawmakers cannot strip my benefits from me.

Every person of color in the mid-1950s had enough disgust but pride to stage a peaceful revolution for their freedom in their own country, which their ancestors had built and defended since her inception and founding. Dr. King shaped it toward peace and away from violence, the dark side.

I think Frank Zappa summed it up best in the 1960s with, “I’m not black, but there’s a whole lot of times when I wish I wasn’t white.”

Richard A. Wickberg

Spokane