The op-ed piece on the debate about President Obama by Erin Aubry Kaplan ("African-American divide," June 22) seemed targeted for blacks readers only, but I decided to read it anyway. What I learned is, well, not much. Because I am not black, I cannot understand the conflict that Mr. Kaplan suggests exists over assimilation versus black nationalism.

But I do understand that other ethnic groups appear not to have this type of conflict. It seems that these groups can do both by assimilating into American ideals while maintaining their ethnic culture. So my question to mainstream blacks is: Do you feel the conflict that Mr. Kaplan suggests exists? And if yes, why?

Ron Wirsing, Havre de Grace