Apparently I have been under a rock in the last week, because I completely missed that Michael Steele uttered the words “honest injun.” What the…?? How long before the Republicans get rid of that Negro? Anyway, I was going to write a blog piece about the word Negro, but a piece on my friend’s site BlackGirlGrown did a good job summing up the issue. (Though, I still have some lingering thoughts that will likely turn into part II of this post.) What has really pushed my buttons is this comparison Trent Lott and his so-called unfortunate statement. [Shut up Pat Buchannan! Go away…please!] Chalk me up as one who is annoyed with Reid’s self-described “poor choice of words,” but doesn’t find it in the same neighborhood as praising a segregationist and white supremacist.
I really like The Rachel Maddow Show. Last night Rachel took a look at this Negro issue with Senator Harry Reid. Rachel did a great job review a series of other moments in stupidity by public figures. One of the guests on Rachel’s show was Brown University Professor Tricia Rose. Wow. Instead of writing about it, I thought I’d just post the piece and let you see for yourselves.
I still have some thoughts about this issue, but I need to get ready for work. I’ll post something else this evening. In the meantime, please share your thoughts. Where do you come down on Senator Reid, the comparison to Senator Lott’s statement, and the use of the word negro…or even niggah?