The Inequality of Racial Slurs

The story of the New Hampshire police commissioner who called the President of the United States the "n word" is getting major attention.  The old white racist initially refused to apologize, then today--following an appeal by Mitt Romney--submitted his resignation. This made big headline news at CNN.com:

Last Thursday, Copeland, 82, sat with his arms crossed at a packed town meeting while a crowd of angry residents in the predominantly white town called for his resignation. Copeland acknowledged in an email to his fellow police commissioners that he used the racial slur to describe Obama.

So he resigned.  The idiot got what he deserved.  But what about this idiot:

Brooks got into a heated dispute over race relations with a Hispanic business owner at Tuesday’s meeting, and lashed out at other commissioners, referring to Caucasian member as “the man in the sheet.”

Similar situation.   She made racist comments at a council meeting then refused to apologize.  But calling a fellow council member a Klansman was not all she said:

Pablo Pereya with the Hispanic Republic Alliance was at the meeting to discuss something else, but took the opportunity to speak up when he heard this debate. “I see you guys smirking and laughing, like I’m not a minority,” Pereya said, addressing the commissioners.

“I know what it’s like to be a minority. I grew up in Memphis, and I can tell you being a Hispanic in Memphis is definitely the minority of the minority.”

Commissioner Brooks fired back at Pereya, saying the struggles of Hispanics and African Americans are not the same in this country. “Don’t ever let that come out of your mouth again, because you know what? That only hurts your case,” she told Pereya. “Don’t compare the two. They’re not comparable.”

Emphasis added throughout to point out that Ms Brooks, a black lady, inferred that a Hispanic citizen was somehow not an authentic minority because his ancestors weren't slaves. Then she told him to basically never to consider himself a minority again as long as she's around.  And this woman has power. 

Wow. But there's even more. A local conservative black talk radio host criticized the remarks. Later, he was a guest on a TV show discussing community blight and said the following.  The local NAACP called for him to be fired or resign.  So they defend her then ask him to quit. Later they gave a press conference to defend Ms Brooks and the black radio talk show host showed up asking why he should be fired. One of the guys running the presser was overheard saying this at the podium...

I would like to know why WREG has not released the audio of one of the leaders saying “we can’t let this NEGRO take over the press conference.” I find that the most offensive. Way to not tell the whole story WREG shame on the station. And many people wonder why news media cannot be trusted.

Notice the above is a comment to the story.  Even the local TV news stations would not publish the "negro" comment.  It was pretty clear when played over the air this morning.  There's really no need to make this stuff up--it's Memphis.

But what happens in Memphis apparently stays in Memphis.  The idiot old white racist in New Hampshire calls the President the N word during a public meeting, Romney gets involved, he has to resign, and CNN and other mainstream outlets blare the headline. Idiot black politician makes racist comment at a Memphis public meeting, she refuses to apologize, NAACP compares politician to Malcolm X, and the national media is nowhere to be found.   Meanwhile Ms Brooks continues her campaign to win a seat as Juvenile County Court Clerk.

SOLUTION FOUND!  5/19/14

Somebody needs to sick Michelle Obama on the Shelby County Commission...

And that’s really my challenge to all of you today. As you go forth, when you encounter folks who still hold the old prejudices because they’ve only been around folks like themselves, when you meet folks who think they know all the answers because they’ve never heard any other viewpoints, it’s up to you to help them see things differently . . .

Will she weigh in here? Maybe pigs will fly.  But we're still waiting on the president to decide whether the Abramson firing was part of the war on women, the war on income inequality, or just cause because it's the New York Times.