Matthew

Dear Mr. Aronson: I truly enjoyed your book, //Race//. Your use of stories made the book very interesting. For example, I liked the way you compared Wagner, the composer, with the created artist Solomon. After you used a modern example, I felt as if I could better understand Wagner and what he inspired in the Nazis. I also think that your excellent choice of words made your book more enjoyable to read.

I do have several questions that I would like to ask about your book. First of all, were you ever worried about offending anyone when you admitted that you hated Germans? Did you ever think about not including that information? When you told us your views, it made me think more about what you said in the chapter and in the entire book, so I am thankful that you included your honest opinion, even if it offended some readers.

I would also like to ask about the ending of the book. You seem to have a very pessimistic view on prejudice when you draw the book to a close (pp. 256-269). I don’t see why. When I was living in Brooklyn, New York, I saw many interracial couples and much mixing of cultures there. Isn’t Brooklyn proof that you are wrong?

Thank you for writing such a powerful and thoughtful book. It has bettered my understanding of the subject of race and made me think about it even more. Thank you also for agreeing to spend your valuable time talking to us at Uni. I am sure that I’ll learn just as much from you in person as I did from your book.

Sincerely, Matthew Meyer