Letters to the Editor
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A previous letter is a lie - get the real story
A previous letter, under the anonymous, unverifiable claim to be a neighbor, makes the following bullshit assertion: "By the way, for those who think this was all about a privileged white woman getting rich at the expense of society’s victims, nothing could be further from the truth. I know this author (neighbor). She is very invested in trying to end inner city violence. She has been playing this character for years and seems to have gotten kind of carried away and violated the first rule of holes. When young black men from South Central find their athletic eligibility and scholarships over before they have their degrees, they move into Peg’s house. She is a fraud, but she is not evil, unlike some past and present leaders of this nation." If this "neighbor" isn't completely fake, they are at best a distant, uninformed observer.
Here's the reality: Margaret Seltzer lied about her inner city activism and connections as well - she created a fraudelent non-profit organization and website to sell her story. She not only exploited an issue for fame and fortune and is even lying about the way she lied.
To quote the story:
Leaders of several other groups combating gang violence in Los Angeles who were listed on Ms. Seltzer’s Web site said they did not know of the International Brother/SisterHood or of Ms. Seltzer or Margaret B. Jones.
“I’ve never heard of her before in my life,” said Malik Spellman, an intervention prevention specialist at Unity T.W.O., which works to provide social services and stop gang activity in many South-Central Los Angeles neighborhoods and was listed on Ms. Seltzer’s site. “I believe if she was active, I would probably know her by name or the organization.”
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Ms. Rice said that she did not know Ms. Seltzer or her foundation and noted that, as a white woman, Ms. Seltzer would have likely stood out in most neighborhoods of South-Central Los Angeles.
Ms. Rice said it was just as likely that Ms. Seltzer had taken her inspiration from television and movies. “She’s been watching too much of ‘The Shield,’ ” said Ms. Rice, referring to the rough-edged police drama on FX set in Los Angeles. “All you have to do is go to a couple of movies or watch ‘The Wire,’ ” the Baltimore street drama on HBO. “You could riff off that forever,” she said.
Good intention do not excuse doing horrible things. Yes this was a privileged white lady who made up stuff about black people to benefit her own crazy needs and is now faking a noble reason for this selfish act.