June 16, 2009 32 Comments

Not Good Enough- Racism in 2009

I never write about political things. I never do. I don’t write about race. But man, I’m pissed. I’m pissed!

An aide to the Tennessee State Senate, Sherri Goforth, sent a racist email (the first post I found about it was here. If you click through, you’ll see the premise. It’s a picture of all the US Presidents with the space for President Obama taken up by a black square with two eyeballs.

They slapped her wrist. What. The. F#ck?

This is 2009. I don’t care that she has a 20 year work record. I don’t care about any of the details. We condone racism? So says the US Senate with that action.

That’s all I want to say. I’m floored.

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  • http://sdquinn.com/ Sean

    Just to clarify, it's not the US Senate, it's the Tennessee State Senate – their own legislative body, not the national one.

  • http://thelostjacket.com Stuartfoster

    Seriously? Pretty unacceptable by any means. Fire that woman asap.

  • http://www.greeblemonkey.com/ Aimee Greeblemonkey

    So NOT OK. I had not seen that, thanks for writing about it.

  • http://bleumoonpress.com/ Sally

    I couldn't agree with you more, Chris. A very sad testament to just how far we haven't come on these issues. It truly makes you say wtf?

  • Chris Sullivan

    If she at least admitted what she did was wrong, there might be circumstances under which she doesn't get fired but that was no apology.

  • http://exilelifestyle.com/ Colin Wright

    Having lived in the Midwest for MANY years before moving back to the coast, I can tell you that the culture in the Midwest and South are very different, especially when it comes to racial matters. I, of course, think that the woman should be fired, but I can definitely see how many in these areas wouldn't think twice about it.

    I had never heard anyone drop the N-bomb before going to college in Springfield, Missouri. After that, it seems like every other joke out of some people's mouths revolved around race. I guess that's what happens when ignorance and a 97% Caucasian population collide.

  • http://bleumoonpress.com/ Sally

    Please do not paint everyone in this part of the country with the same brush. I have spent my entire life (nearly 50 years) in MO, KS & AR and have NEVER called anyone a racist name nor has anyone in my immediate family. My friends are diverse and well educated and do not use nor condone this type of supposed 'humor'.

  • http://exilelifestyle.com/ Colin Wright

    Hey Sally-

    I definitely didn't mean to imply that everyone in those areas are racists. Just that the number of racist jokes and acceptance of such things tend to be higher in areas that were slave states, or that have more people staying-put rather than traveling outside of their home towns. That's why I was careful to say 'some people' rather than 'everyone.' No offense meant, truly :)

  • http://www.ChristopherSPenn.com Christopher S. Penn

    Why is anyone surprised or floored by this?

    There are racists everywhere. Sometimes it's blunt and ugly. A lot of the time it's very subtle. It's not “Whites Water Fountain” any more. It's “That first name on the resume sounds kind of black”.

    Why? It's in our nature to discriminate, to isolate what's different, to pick out what separates, because that's a primal skill that, generations ago, was essential to tribal survival.

    I agree the staffer should be censured and disciplined. I also challenge you to root out your own prejudices and be conscious about what they are.

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  • http://www.nextgenerationlaw.com/ Kevin Thompson

    I agree it's a racist joke. Very inappropriate. But where was the outrage when future supreme court justice Sotoymayor said Latina women are wiser than white males? Where were the “wtf”s? I'm not one that thinks the comment should preclude her from the bench. But how is that particular statement not as egregious as this picture? It's an example of gender and racial stereotyping. As for the solution to racism and bigotry, I can only hope that we're past requiring the government to come to the rescue. I agree with Alan Keyes, a black senatorial candidate, that the government has done more to harm race relations than cure them. These inappropriate emails/messages will always exist. As long as people are different, which will be forever, there will be those that mock others to bolster their own esteem. It will never go away. But as individuals, we can work through our own prejudices to see the value in everyone. Read “Blink” by Gladwell. He's got some good commentary on it.

  • http://twitter.com/thewildjoker Allen Resha

    This is just another example of how Government is corrupt. For ages now we have fought to get rid of racism and racist ideas and situations like this show just how low people can be. We are all human. We are all born into this world. Each person has a place. It does not make a difference the color of your skin, but instead it matters what you do with you life. It matters how you affect the world around you. This just goes to show that we have a long way to go and that racism is still very prevalent in the US.

  • Trevor

    Huffingtonpost Picked it up. over 700 comments of disgust. You're not along in your rage.

  • Trevor

    Oh, and here is some contact info if you'd like to personally contact her:

    Contact Diane Black: sen.diane.black@capitol.tn.gov

    District Address:
    819 Plantation Boulevard (yes “Plantation”)
    Gallatin, TN 37066
    Phone: (615) 230-8586

    Nashville Address:
    5 Legislative Plaza
    Nashville, TN 37243-0218
    Phone: (615) 741-1999

    Fax: (615) 253-0207
    Staff Contact: Sherri Goforth (this is her!)
    Research Analyst – Valerie Yancey
    Caucus Press Secretary – Darlene Schlicher

  • http://beyonditall.net/ Carla

    Colin,

    Living in the SF Bay Area my entire life has not shielded me from racism either. I know its more prominent in some areas than others though.

  • http://www.mattsnod.com/ Matthew Snodgrass

    Not only racist … it's not even funny. Amazing how stupid some people still are.

  • http://twitter.com/jrep Jack Repenning

    *I* care about her 20-year work record, if this sort of attitude was evident for 20 years: the long service appears to constitute sanction or permission for such behavior.

  • http://www.bigpictureweb.com jlbraaten

    I'm guessing she hasn't read anything about presence management. Oh look… you wrote about it today!

  • http://lifeisawalkinthepark.blogspot.com/ Ellen Feinberg

    It's amazing that Letterman would get more flack for his comments on a comedy show then an elected politician for a hateful act such as this.

  • http://www.transplant-1.com/ Michael Calienes

    thanks for consolidating my everywhere-but-coherent feelings by seeing that image on tv this morning. completely ridiculous. more ridiculous was that her superior said she was comfortable with the action taken. WTF is right.

  • Jack

    Chris:

    You're a douchebag. Go back to pontificating about things you don't really understand like social media.

  • BiRacial

    Chris, being from Tennessee and a southern all my life, I understand why she did it, not that I condone that she did it. The problem in Tennessee and around the country is NOT incidents like this. It's the belief that it's ONLY whites who are racists. Black politicians do this sort of crap too. Were you not aware of Obama's connection to the most racist, white hating preachers in this country? Preachers who told their congregations that white babies should be murdered? Or perhaps you never heard of Louis Farrakhan? He was a black man who hated Jews, whites, Latinos…
    Why is there no uproar and indignation when a black politician calls a white one “Honky” or “cracker”? And worse. They do. I've heard them. Racism runs both ways. ONLY pointing out the faults of one side does no one any good. If you're going to talk about racism, question why the current supreme court nominee threw out the promotion of white firefighters over black firefighters. The whites scored higher and deserved the promotion, but were denied it because they were the wrong color. That's racism too. But no one talks about that. It doesn't matter if whites have held the reins for centuries. Saying, well, “It's payback time,” as many races do – only perpetuates racism. If you want to get up in arms about “Racism,” then talk about it from BOTH sides – white on black and black on white.

    When five black men and a black woman kidnapped, tortured, raped and sodomized a white couple in Knoxville, TN the media barely covered it. The woman was raped, sodomized, tortured for three days and eventually dismembered and stuffed in a plastic trash can. The man was sodomized, beaten, tortured and set on fire and put on the railroad tracks. Gee….didn't hear about that (2007). Of course not. It was black on white crime. If a white gang had done the same to a black couple we'd still be hearing about it. The media's response is, “Poor black people. They're not to blame after all the years of racism in this country….let's not inflame white people.” Bullshit. Racism is racism – no matter what the color. Either get your panties in a wad over ALL racism, or don't comment.

    I'm not signing my name on this one because I don't need or want all the liberal bullshit attacks (from peaceful liberals) about my opinion. I am bi-racial so it's moot. But it's true. Blacks hate whites and retaliate daily against innocent whites as well. Whites hate blacks and do the same. Neither side is right OR justified in doing it. Hate and Racism is either wrong across the board or its not wrong. I think you'll agree….It's WRONG ACROSS THE BOARD. When you can comment on the current Supreme Court Nominee being racist for denying white firefighters promotions based on their color, THEN you can be outraged about a stupid email.

  • Vivian Stroman

    Chris, I am sorry to say that that behavior is not such a big thing. As a so called African American (and I say so called because I am describing myself by terms others may use for me, even though I proudly claim all my heritages; african, irish, french, blackfoot and cherokee) I have been dealing with such evil snide comments, remarks and outright offensive language at least once a day by such people my entire life. People, who, through the benefit of education, ought to have a better understanding of the diverse ethnic makeup of our country and all the positive contributions that those ethnicities have brought to the table here in America. It's a sad commentary on how entrenched racism is in America.

  • Vivian Stroman

    You are so right. We all have racist tendencies, thoughts, prejudices. Everyone needs to look deeply into their own motives and belief systems. I have racist tendencies, even though I am multi-ethnic. Merely believing that I dont have these prejudices because I AM mult-ethnic doesnt wash – I have examined my prejudices and when I find I am crossing that line, I am sure to correct myself.

  • http://therealestatemarketingmaven.com Peter Fletcher

    You're right to be angered by this email Chris. It is offends the ideals of one of the worlds most advanced democracies. People in positions of leadership must hold themselves to higher standards of behaviour; and sweeping such a poorly thought action under the carpet does nothing but harm.

  • SaraKate

    I don't know how I missed this entry before, but I am beyond enraged about this. How did I not hear about this on tv? The radio? This is completely unacceptable regardless of the details.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-Batchelor/717438536 Karen Batchelor

    Sorry to be dropping in so late to this dialog but just came across it. Chris – first thanks for writing about race – from the other side of the fence. As a Black women with 58 years of experiencing racism in America, I find that people's eyes glaze over when someone of color complains about inequities.

    So when someone who isn't Black challenges racial bias – well, society listens. You may not think it makes a difference, but if more people took a stand like you did here in your corner of the blogosphere, maybe racism will stop being the elephant in the room that everyone pretends isn't there.

    Bravo for saying what needs to be said day in and day out. Hope you'll write about racism again. You're pretty good at it:-)

  • anonymous

    I agree that this woman did something heinous and inexcusable, but sometimes the best thing to do is turn and walk away. Ignore her. Don't waste time trying to punish her for her opinions, simply give her NO respect. She does not deserve your attention Chris, she deserves to be lonely in her bigotry.

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  • http://modestadventurer.com Traveller_Adventure

    Great post, really help me alot. Thanks.

    Cheers,
    backyard gardening

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  • http://www.uprintingcoupons.com/ UPrinting

    The photo is actually really small, but the part that you're talking about is still evident.
    This is another low for the Republicans.
    This is not the kind of image they want to be portrayed so they better not tolerate such actions from their officials.