With the confirmation hearings of Judge Sotomayor coming to an end this week and the NAACP celebrating its first Birthday, there's no doubt this post racial society that we were supposed to be living in far from nonexistent. While race has typically always been an issue for people of color, it appears that white America is slowly adding themselves to the conversation in subtle ways, and apparently its not always warranted. Below is a video of Senator Barbara Boxer in a hearing with the CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce, Harry C. Alford in which they discuss job creations with climate change.
Boxer insists that jobs are present in California and she has a statement from the NAACP and 100 Black Men President in Atlanta to convey this success. However, these are both civic groups and Alford was offended that Boxer turned this into a racial issue.While I simply interpreted Sen. Boxer to be rude, (which she is often characterized as), many, including Alford are labeling her a racist for this exchange.
The question of whether or not she would have used race groups for a white man in his position has arisen and I found that I could not legitimately say yes, the hearing would have continued in the same manner. Nonetheless, I am acknowledging that Mr. Alford is the President of a race specific group that could have contributed with her using those two examples as a litmus test. Honestly, I still have mixed feelings about it, so I would like to solicit your responses on this spectacle.
No comments:
Post a Comment