QandO

July 20, 2004

Where's the NAACP when you need them?
Posted by McQ

Apparently being black isn't good enough to involve the NAACP in all cases of bigotry or racism. That so-called "non-partisan" group dedicated to protecting the rights of blacks now requires the black person to be of the correct political persuasion before they'll step in. Otherwise there's deafening silence (or the victims are called "puppets of the white man").

However there are others willing to step into the breach when the NAACP fails to step forward:

Because of the racially-insensitive content of a recent cartoon, members of the African-American leadership network Project 21 are asking Universal Press Syndicate to cease the distribution of comics drawn by Ted Rall. Project 21 also is challenging several other civil rights-oriented groups to join in the demand.

A July 1 comic by Rall suggests "appropriate punishments for deposed Bushists" that parodies alleged treatment of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison. The panel featuring Bush Administration national security advisor Condoleezza Rice has her saying "I was Bush's beard! His house nigga. His..." She is interrupted by a character wearing a shirt reading "You're not white, stupid" who says, "Now hand over your hair straightener."

"Is it OK for Ted Rall to use such vile language because he's using it against a black conservative?" asks Project 21 member Michael King. "I'm beside myself with anger over this comic."

Good for them.

I agree, its despicable .... and it proves conclusively that insensitive and bigoted remarks certainly aren't the exclusive territory of the right by any stretch.

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