It's not Harry Reid who should be apologizing

[jaysunb]

His remarks about Obama, however indelicate, carried an unfortunate truth. The real scandal is comparing him to Trent Lott, as Republican Michael Steele did

Harry Reid doesn't owe me an apology.

Sure, it was a little odd to see the term "Negro" used outside of a history class or documentary. Sounds like Reid is stuck in the last century.

But the Senate majority leader didn't say anything many Americans -- especially us Negroes -- don't already know.

If you're black, it is easier in this country to be light-skinned.

That's borne out not just by anecdote and experience, but by research documenting favorable treatment for fair-skinned blacks in criminal cases, employment prospects, even social and romantic liaisons.

Studies have shown that darker-skinned blacks are more likely to be unemployed, earn less and hold lower-prestige jobs. In the criminal justice system, convicted murderers with "stereotypically black" features are more than twice as likely as light-skinned defendants to receive death sentences from juries.

Don't blame Reid for the preference. Blame bigotry. Blame history.Harry Reid doesn't owe me an apology.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-reid-banks11-2010jan11,0,3963271.column

Ms Banks speaks for me and most other Black folks...maybe not Mr Steele though. :evilfrown:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Reid-gate is DISTRACTION.

:think:

[jaysunb]

3. Total diversion....

:evilfrown:

[chelsea0011]

2. Name one MSM or cable news prime time show that features an AA

Me thinks they protest too much.

[Hekate]

4. Sandy Banks' columns in the LA Times are always a pleasure to read. KnRnTY

> Obama came by his light skin and dialectical flexibility differently -- as a biracial, bicultural son. But he's a political beneficiary of our color-conscious society; to pretend otherwise is disingenuous.
> Reid was stating a fact, however indelicate and impolitic.
....
> But I don't know why I should be offended.
....
> I think the next apology ought to come from Michael Steele -- the light-skinned, dialectically flexible African American head of the Republican National Committee.
...
> That candidate was Strom Thurmond, who famously declared during his White House campaign: "All the laws of Washington and all the bayonets of the Army cannot force the Negro into our homes, our schools, our churches."
> Either Steele is playing politics with a combustible case, or he thinks Americans are so incapable of thinking intelligently about race that we can't tell the difference between Lott and Reid.
> Now that offends me.

[Karenina]

7. Do you mean Michael "honest injun" Steele?

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! This whole thing has me clutching the pearls! :spray::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Hekate]

5. Kicking for more people to see this.

Have you thought about cross-posting to GD or GDP--or those venues just too toxic right now.

Hekate

[jaysunb]

6. Thanks

n/t