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Your Letters: Racial Terms And Baseball Legends

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon. Time for your letters.

(SOUNDBITE OF LETTERS THEME MUSIC)

SIMON: A particular phrase we used in last week's coverage of the Trayvon Martin shooting prompted many listener comments. In our profile of Angela Corey, the Florida state attorney directing Florida's investigation into the circumstances surrounding Martin's death, we described George Zimmerman the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin in February as a white Latino.

Martha Beach of Chapel Hill, North Carolina wrote: I am confused by the designation white Latino used this morning to refer to the man involved in the situation in Sanford, Florida. I've never heard it before

Richard Fishman of Beverly Hills, California, had a similar reaction: I was confused by a reference to Mr. Zimmerman, who was involved in the tragic Florida killing, as a white Latino. I've never heard that term. Has it been used before? Seems to me that many in the media are trying at all costs to disassociate Mr. Zimmerman from his minority status, and make sure he is characterized at least partially as white.

Last week, we also spoke to baseball legends and New York Yankees Yogi Berra and Ron Guidry, about their book "Driving Mr. Yogi." In our interview, Mr. Yogi Berra talked about how baseball has always been central to his life

YOGI BERRA: But I always said when I was 14 years old I'm going to play in the big leagues. I love baseball.

SIMON: Ted Bobrow of Milwaukee, Wisconsin wrote: Lots of folks hate the Yankees but nobody, nobody can hate Yogi. Mr. Berra, the next yoohoo is on me.

Well, we invite you all fans Yanks, BoSox, ChiSox, Angels, Giants, Mets, Marlin, Rangers and Rockies fans to share your thoughts. We're on Facebook and Twitter @nprweekend. I'm @nprscottsimon. You can email or post your comments at NPR.org click on the link that says Contact Us. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.