I like satire as much as the next guy. But this letter–on the heels of the mini-controversy brewing over the NAACP-Tea Party resolution–may be pushing a little too much. Okay, I believe it is unbelievably insulting, but you be the judge. Here’s Tea Party “leader” Mark Williams writing a letter as Ben Jealous, NAACP president to Abraham Lincoln:
Dear Mr. Lincoln
We Colored People have taken a vote and decided that we don’t cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!
In fact we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week. We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the ‘tea party movement’.
The tea party position to “end the bailouts” for example is just silly. Bailouts are just big money welfare and isn’t that what we want all Coloreds to strive for? What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare? What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us coloreds! Of course, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.
And the ridiculous idea of “reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government.” What kind of massa would ever not want to control my life? As Coloreds we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves and make decisions!
The racist tea parties also demand that the government “stop the out of control spending.” Again, they directly target Colored People. That means we Colored People would have to compete for jobs like everybody else and that is just not right.
Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government “stop raising our taxes.” That is outrageous! How will we Colored People ever get a wide screen TV in every room if non-coloreds get to keep what they earn? Totally racist! The tea party expects coloreds to be productive members of society?
Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever. We had a great gig. Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by the massa in the house. Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we belong.
Sincerely
Precious Ben Jealous, Tom’s Nephew National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Head Colored Person
Some may feel that this isn’t terribly offensive. I do. Mark Williams is a bigot, and an intolerant piece of crap. It’s well documented here. With him this is not a satirical meme. This is proof positive of his position as a racist demagogue. Is it just me, or is Williams having a hell of a time using the “colored” moniker? This is totally unacceptable, and if the Tea Party allows this nonsense to go unfettered, then they are what some have suspected them of being: Racists.
major h/t: political correction
UPDATE: Williams has taken down his racist blog post.
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I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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All Around the World News // Jul 18, 2010 at 6:23 pm
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I found your entry interesting do I’ve added a Trackback to it on my weblog
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Thanks for posting this.
I searched for this item, but it was apparently removed by the time I heard about it.
It is not that I doubted the news reports.
It is that, sometimes, in my opinion, it is important to actually witness the intolerance.
You have also added some thoughtful remarks that I appreciate.
Thanks again.
My pleasure Mike. Thanks for stopping by. I think more voices should speak out against intolerance of any kind. It binds us all together.
I think its a shame this was taken down. I can see how it could seem offensive, and maybe it was meant in that way, but maybe it wasn’t. If a trend emerges where black people are more likley to have a political opinion, then it should be ok to mention that, and even beyond this to make a satire of it by phrasing it in a deliberately offensive way, which is what this sounds like to me (even though I have only read this post not the original ‘letter’. It seems to me that the humour is specifically in the fact that it is written in this way of refering to black slavery – which would mean that the thing people are offended by is actually the object of ridicule here and not a statement of actual opinion.
Thanks for the comment. I managed to replicate the original letter written by Mr. Williams in its entirety. I’m all for satire, but I think it showed poor taste in my opinion. His opinion here was couched in a pandering, belittling tone. Plus, his track record is not one of racial reconciliation or even one of tactful speaking. I have no issues with anyone who expresses their opinion in this manner, but they should fully expect to be called on it–especially considering their past for the same type of divisive talk.
I guess a persons past statements do have a bearing, but I just think that poor taste should not be censored – and that includes people being given such a hard time for their comments that they have to censor themselves. One of the negative impacts of the internet and other communication technology which I have noticed is a tendency for something to get picked on and for lots of people to then get offended about it just because they are told they should be. I don’t know this bloke so maybe the offensive thing is that he is revealing what people already knew to be his real opinions, but based purely on the letter it seems like a legitimate satire to me. Maybe im just on my own mini crusade though, with a chip on my shoulder about people getting offended by humour.
I see your point, and I respectfully disagree. I think satire is based simply on amusing and entertaining. While I don’t truly know Williams intentions, I don’t believe that’s what he intended to do here. I think his malice was implicit in his words. I’m not here to censor him–I’d never have anything to write about if I wanted to censor anyone–but that letter offended me, not just for what it said, but his mocking, dismissive tone behind the words. Again, taking offense to something doesn’t mean it’s censor-worthy. It just means I will vehemently respond, and discuss why I am offended.