I believe it was when I was in my late teens that I finally learned of the horrors of racism, and recognized that my beloved country was riddled with hurt and distress from this issue. And since the moment I first learned…I have always hated racism, have understood it to be morally wrong, and have clearly voiced my opinion. It is ridiculous to judge a person–for good or for evil–merely because of his color. It is preposterous.
So, then, I was shocked to hear of the obnoxious racist remarks concerning President Obama that the Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made during the last Presidential campaign. His words are outrageous.
Reported in the recently published book, Game Change, is that Mr. Reid described the Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, as “light-skinned with no negro dialect…unless he wants one.”
Can you image one of our national leaders saying such a thing–even having such thoughts? He has since apologized to our President, and said today that he “could have used a better choice of words.”
Better words? The problem seems less the choice of words than the revealing of the racist philosophy and thought of Senator Reid. For does not pointing to his “light-skin” and his having “no negro dialect” imply that if President Obama were dark-skinned, or spoke with a “negro dialect,” he would be less desirable as President of the United States. Racist. Ugly racist remarks.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gestures during a health care news conference on Capitol Hill Dec. 23. (AP Photo)
Barack Obama… “light-skinned with no Negro dialect unless he wants one.”
7 replies on “Ugly Racist Words”
Anita, I know I cannot fully understand since I have never been the recipient of racist remarks. I am sorry you have been so treated. It is despicable. Shameful.
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I disagree I am tired of people who do not deal with racism constantly saying they are tired of hearing the word racism. Well I am tired of hearing racist words, but I quess it is easy to say your tired of hearing racist words when your not constantly on the receiving end of them.
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[…] here to see the original: Ugly Racist Words « Shirley Buxton Share and […]
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I agree that he will probably not be re-elected. He was way down in the polls before this situation arose, and this surely will not help him.
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Shirley, I think it will be resolved at the polls, and Reid will not be re-elected. But calling every remark “racist” is just silly.
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Senator Reid has a history of not tolerating racist remarks in others. Remember when Trent Lott made what seemed to be racist remarks, Senator Reid joined others who suggested that Senate Majority leader Trent Lott had no alternative but to resign.
Reid told the Associated Press that Lott had “dug himself a hole and…couldn’t figure out a way to get out of it.
It will be interesting to see how this situation is resolved.
And yes, Helen, politics figure in everything in Washington. Inevitable, I suppose.
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This situation is totally NOT about racism; it’s about politics, about Republicans – including black Republicans – wanting to remove the focus from the task at hand: passing legislation that will allow all Americans to have access to affordable health care. Harry Reid’s comment was unfortunate; surely he should have “used a better choice of words.” But why? Not because he is a racist, but because people who have no training in what racism really is will accuse of being one.
Reid was stating a fact. A sad, sad fact. A light skinned Black man had (has) more chance of being elected than a dark-skinned Black man. Observing a fact does not make one a racist; ignoring the fact might. A Black man with “no Negro dialect [unless he wants one]” had (has) more chance of being elected than a Black man with a more obvious accent. Note: Reid knows Obama can speak in a Black dialect if he so chooses. Knowing this doesn’t make him a racist; not knowing it means a person knows nothing of blacks.
Obama knows that Reid is not a racist, that his words choice was unfortunate. Obama has even said he will campaign for Reid in his bid for re-election. Why? Party politics. Obama feels that “there was nothing mean-spirited in what he had to say and he’s always been on the right side of the issues.” http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/11/obama-reid-is-a-good-man/
Now I see the words, “Negro,” “light-skinned” and “dialect.” Which of these are “the obnoxious racist remarks”? Which are the racist words, Shirley?
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