Web Letters: Thieves of Black History

Please tell me what the hell difference it makes who holds title to the Lorraine Motel?

The Museum isn't going anywhere, nor will the board that was created to run the Museum do so any differently. What the article fails to recognize is that the museum is not only significant to blacks in America, it is also signicant to the history of the city of Memphis and all its people, black and white. Put in that context, it's a little easier to understand why the museum board isn't exclusively run by local civil rights activists, and why someone with some business management expertise like Mr. Hyde might be good to have as chairman.

Sounds like what probably started as a battle of egos between Judge Bailey and Mr. Hyde has been blown up into a minor civil war, but why try to brand Mr. Hyde as a racist? He certainly isn't involved with the chairmanship of the National Civil Rights Museum for money, or prestige. He's got plenty of both.

Judge Bailey campaigned for many years, with absolutely no interest by the King family, to establish the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, and he deserves all the credit for its birth. But it's all grown up now, and it's time for the Father of the museum to let it live its own life.

Dave Barlett

Miami, FL