HOW MUCH RAGE IS ENOUGH?

Regarding Thulani Davis’ self-centered review of “Waking From the Dream: My Life in the Black Middle Class,” by Sam Fulwood III (April 21), I guess I should not be surprised by her disappointment in Fulwood’s relative lack of black rage.

I’ve had African American friends who reported not feeling racism during their growing-up years. They, of course, would be subject to immediate suspicion, ridicule and scorn by the black-rage establishment. Davis advances a tired and increasingly irritating agenda--how dare any black not express rage!--at the cost of neglecting the book reviewer’s responsibility.

I would expect more from The Times than so patronizing a position in making book-review assignments based on political correctness.

DAVID LEWIS, PIEDMONT, CA.