Copyright © 2000 by Hugo S. Cunningham and others

From: "Max Becker-Pos" To: hcunn@tiac.net
Subject: re. your critique on Bruce Cumings
Date: Tue, 05 Dec 2000 03:06:38
Dear Mr. Cunningham:

I read your interesting critique of Bruce Cumings's work on Korea (posted on the internet).

I think you misunderstand Cumings when, in reference to the Los Angeles riots in the 1990s, he says, "nothing was more disheartening than the example of poor Koreans arming themselves against poor blacks . . ." (448).

Your response was a sarcastic, "Should they have rolled over and played dead?"

It is quite clear from the context that Cumings is not saying the Koreans ought not to have fought to defend themselves. Rather, he is simply mourning the fact that inter-racial violence exists in the U.S.

It is quite interesting how you lambast Cumings for his errors--of which there are many--but then take his work out of context.

Sincerely,
Max Becker-Pos

You are correct that Prof. Cumings was not calling on Korean-Americans to surrender.

Nevertheless, from the overall tenor of his book, I gather his principal regret is that racial violence set Korean-Americans apart from an official Left-anointed victim group. I doubt if he would have chosen the same words to assess Korean-American self-defense against KKK nightriders.