The best thing I've read on the Reid kerfuffle: It's not Harry Reid who should be apologizing

[cali]

It's not Harry Reid who should be apologizing

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

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.

<snip>

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

[chimpymustgo]

1. Interesting point. I just heard Michael Eric Dyson on Morning Joe making the same point.

That we need to recognize the truth of what Reid said, and what it says about racism in America.

[cali]

3. yep. what reid said was patently true. the way he said it was awkward

and anachronistic. Whites voted in large number for Obama, I'm convinced, because they could identify with him in a way that they do not identify with Jesse Jackson or others. And the data supporting this, as Banks points out, is strong.

[chimpymustgo]

4. " If anyone is insulted, it should be whites"

-edit-

If anyone is insulted, it should be whites -- whom Reid accused implicitly of being willing to vote for a black man only if he talks like them and is not too black.

-edit-

[Raineyb]

19. Why? THAT is true.

White people are often willing to tolerate black people around them so long as you don't remind them that you're "really" black.

:shrug:

[ProfessorGAC]

16. I Like Dyson A Lot

But, i can't watch Joe Scartissue or his show. Sorry i missed Dr. Dyson, though.
GAC

[gratuitous]

2. No, no, no

Let's all listen to John Cornyn and Joe Scarborough. They're really the only people in America qualified to explain to the rest of us the Negro experience in the United States.

Harry Reid should come out and do a Kofi Annan: When Annan was brushed with some ginned-up scandal his son was involved in, someone asked him if he was going to resign as Secretary General of the UN, as some were suggesting. With a little smile, Annan simply said, "No way in hell." Now, let's get back to work on important things that really matter.

[GoCubsGo]

7. How ironic....

People of Cornyn's and Scarborough's ilk have been deliberately darkening photos of President Obama to make him look BLACKER in order to scare people away from him, yet here they are criticizing Harry Reid for pointing out that white people are more likely to vote for a lighter-skinned black man? Hypocrites. But, you knew that already. ;-)

[cali]

8. whited sepulchers

pun intended.

[cali]

5. I'm gonna kick this because I think it's pretty important.

[Solly Mack]

6. K&R

worth the read

[Generic Other]

9. Reid exposes white America's racism

Truth hurts. Doesn't make it less true.

[democrank]

10. There`s something troubling about

just nodding that it`s easier being a light-skinned black person in America. Harry Reid isn`t some barely-known Democratic operative from East Puckerdoo, he`s a party leader.

African Americans support the Democratic Party in a big, big way. The very least we can do is not make excuses for leaders when it comes to race issues...or anything else. Nobody is perfect, including me, but I expect a little more out of a DEMOCRATIC leader.

[cali]

12. Do you disagree with Reid's essential point, that white Americans are

less likely to vote for someone they perceive as being "too black"? You realize, that there's abundant data to back up that claim, right?

His phraseology sucked. His point is on target.

[democrank]

13. We should be talking about "too black" instead of

making excuses for Harry Reid....regardless of any data.

[cali]

14. so that's what you got out of the posted article? really?

[HipChick]

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

I have a friend who is British..she's mixed race..her experience after being interviewed on the phone..people are shocked when she shows up for an interview..they are expecting an blonde,blue-eyed English Rose..however,she has excelled in her field - a field otherwise dominated by males.

[Captain Hilts]

15. YES. The Lott comparison is a farce. Reid supported Obama's candidacy early. nt

[bigtree]

17. I think the article holds true

What Reid said many of my friends and family would readily admit or argue. I am dismayed, however, by the inartful and throwback language he reportedly used. I do think that particular election may have been an anomaly, although I also believe that many preconceptions about the potential of black candidates have been largely erased from most Americans' psyche. As Chris Rock said, it's hard to get any blacker than a guy named 'Barack Obama' (despite the shade of the president's skin).

[cali]

18. kick for the ignorant who think that what Reid said is the equivalent of

Lott's comments about Thurmond.

[JoeyT]

20. Wait a minute.

Steele, who openly used a racist phrase a week ago is now demanding apologies for someone using a racist phrase?
Steele can go back to demanding apologies from Reed just as soon as we get our apology for the "Honest Injun" thing.