I believe that our country has begun the long overdue conversation on race. The article by Brittany Britto concerning Baltimore's Blue Book discusses another somewhat trickier social issue and that is class ("Baltimore's 'Blue Book,' a relic of 19th century elite, persists today," Aug. 18).
The Blue Book is very similar to the "Almanach de Gotha" and "Burke's Peerage" in that merit or achievement are not the issues of importance. Heredity and blood lines are the real issue. Ms. Britto notes that some prominent African-Americans and members of the Jewish commiunity are excluded from the Blue Book. The majority of prominent white people will not make the cut as these directories are based on family bloodlines. Clearly, this can be considered anachronistic but I think that the idea of class is deeply ingrained in the human psyche.
Social class stratification exists not just in Europe and North America but in Africa and Asia as well. The well-received British TV series, "Downton Abbey," deals with sharp divides of class. The series is based on the concept of primogeniture which still exists in Britain. The Earl of Grantham had three daughters who could not succeed to the title so it was to be passed on to a male cousin. Britain still has a House of Lords. Calls for changes in the British system have been slowly taking place. People who have done well in their fields of endeavor are frequently listed in various "Who's Who" directories. These directories honor those who have made significant contributions to society.
We must remember the role that Baltimore blue-bloods have played in local history. In the not-so-distant past, The Sun had a "Society" section which did more that just note engagements and weddings. The annual list of debutantes and the attendees at the Bachelors' Cotillion would be covered in some detail. We would often see pictures of women riding horseback or playing tennis. This may sound like ancient history but, as the article noted, the Blue Book is still being published. Many members of this social group in Maryland no longer possess money or power. They are considered to be living in genteel poverty with a significant focus on the past.
It would be wrong to overlook the contributions of our older families just as all other groups have left their mark on Baltimore. We can't blame the prominent families for all the racial problems that Baltimore has experienced. All classes of the white population contributed to the pervasive racism in our city. Many Americans are engaged in active research regarding their family histories. Genealogical research and DNA testing have really taken off as many claim to be searching for their roots. Many of us have discovered ancestors of whom we can be proud as well as scoundrels. It's difficult to make judgments on the issue of class as there are many interpretations and class has been an essential part of the development of the human race.
What can change is the concept of exclusion. Most Americans, especially the young, are working toward a more inclusive society. This should be the focus of our future.
Edward McCarey McDonnell, Baltimore