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On April 23, The Gazette ran an article titled, "Fort Washington man killed in dirt bike crash." The story was about the death of Brian Rasheed Harris, 26, of Fort Washington and stated among other things, "Harris was drunk, speeding and illegally driving the bike."

Your article was released a day before Mr. Harris' funeral and came as an additional damaging blow for those of us who realized that our community had lost a promising young life headed in the right direction. From the huge crowd that rushed to Fort Washington Medical Center when they heard of the accident to several hundred individuals who attended a candle light vigil at the site of the accident on April 19, many people knew that a special individual had been lost.

Brian Harris knew how to treat people and served as an uplifting inspiration to those who knew him. He frequently visited assisted living facilities, offered assistance to the elderly in the neighborhood, and provided encouragement and support to young and old, black, white or Hispanic in our community. He was always the first to say hello and his smile will be deeply missed. Brian was known for looking out for everyone's best interests.

At a time when young black men are constantly vilified for every transgression known to mankind, we find it difficult to let such a positive spirit be labeled as just another drunk. This young man touched so many lives that over 1,000 people attended his funeral, and the procession to the burial site was several miles long.

The testimony provided about the life Mr. Harris led is much more newsworthy than the story of his death. We have known him since his childhood and know that he is the product of caring and deeply religious parents and family. It was a tragic ending that occurred much too soon. Let's not make it more tragic by focusing on the negative rather than the very positive things this young man accomplished in his short life.

George and Bunnie Poindexter,

Fort Washington