If you were to pile Hollywood’s most talented black actors, actresses, and singers into a room, many of them would echo the same sentiment towards the Tea Party movement — that they are, in effect, little more than a fringe racist organization.
It was Samuel L. Jackson most recently who, while entertaining children at a “Reach Out and Read” benefit that featured other well-known thespians such as Julianne Moore and John C. Reilly, decided to follow in the footsteps of the Congressional Black Caucus, all while chatting up a reporter for the New Yorker:
While we were on the subject, we asked Jackson if he agreed with fellow thespian Morgan Freeman, who caused something of a ruckus recently after he claimed that the tea party is racist. “It’s pretty obvious what they are,” Jackson told us. “The division of the country is not about the government having too much power. I think everything right now is geared toward getting that guy out of office, whatever that means,” he said, echoing Freeman. “It’s not politics. It is not economics. It all boils down to pretty much to race. It is a shame.”
Of course, Jackson did not simply come out and say what he believes. Apparently, he was one of only two beings (the other his shadow) that hadn’t been informed of the “N-head” controversy (if it can even be viewed as such) of Republican hopeful Rick Perry. Jackson made it abundantly clear that he was convinced the “shock rock” (as a close associate referred to it) wouldn’t affect Perry negatively. After all, “He’s a Republican and this is America”. You see, Mr. Jackson not only believes that Republicans are inherently racist, but that the same holds true for the entirety of the United States. That is what the real shame is.
But it was Morgan Freeman who most likely gave Jackson the inspiration to blame everyone else for poor leadership in the White House, because it was just this last Friday that Freeman appeared on Piers Morgan’s dreadful evening slot to espouse the same, illogical view of the Tea Party. Freeman’s inspiration, most certainly, is taking a page from the Maxine Waters “Racism Is For Republicans” handbook.
There is, however, a lack of legitimate criticism by African-Americans of the race-baiting tactics of the CBC, the New Black Panther Party, and the like. Certainly every black person doesn’t prescribe to the delusion that the Tea Party cares only about removing a black man from the White House rather than removing the wrong person for the job from the White House. Not every black person channels the thoughts of Malik Shabazz, Andre Carlson, and the duplicitous Maxine Waters.
It is my belief that the best way to combat falsehoods within the black community is to fight the good fight with blacks whose views lie outside of the majority. Much like people who didn’t vote for either candidate in the presidential election but vigorously attack him and his policies, African-Americans who don’t speak out against the hypocrisy of many of our supposed “civil rights leaders” are openly admitting that it doesn’t affect them enough for them to care. And we must be stronger critics of the President for openly associating with the most vile hypocrites of all.
But while we are focused on issues of race, allow me a moment to comment on the controversy surrounding “N-head” and why I couldn’t care less about the entire situation.
Many liberals seem to have conveniently forgotten about Wallace Jefferson, who is the first black justice of the Texas Supreme Court. This is a post he was granted by Perry, a friend, and Wallace has even stated that the debacle over the name was nothing more than an overreaction. The Left also failed to note that the rock was painted over almost immediately upon the Perry family acquiring the property. Perry has shown nothing but respect to African-Americans and has helped many into high-paying positions (that were earned because they were the most qualified, not because of their skin color). It is irresponsible to assign the title of racist to a man who has a proven record that says otherwise.
But of course, this is what we have come to expect of the Obama administration. Through his words and actions, the President has made it seem as if the greatest single threat to social and economic policy is the Republican base. When our president won’t even approach situations with an even hand, how can we expect the same from his followers? After all, to them, a President that wants to eat and watch Super Bowl games with Congressmen should be immune from all forms of criticism. But as long as the President continues flirting with people who espouse the most racist and divisive views, our critiques of his presidency will remain what they always have been — a great necessity.
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