In the midst of reading your article “Reframing the construction trades” (Feb. 16), I was startled to see Tyeka Robinson described as “a woman of color,” while the race of none of the other women in the article was mentioned.
Although our region is dominated by white people, I believe the Gazette needs to be very careful to include the race of everyone in a story in which the race of one person is designated. Otherwise we are left with the impression that to be white is to be normal.
When I became a carpenter in the 1980s I was quite aware that my white skin allowed me to push my way into the trade in a way that would have been much more difficult for a woman of color, so I am pleased to know that situation is changing.
However, we need to move away from the idea that the white race is the norm and all other races are “other.”
Anne Perkins
Amherst