One of the largest celebrations of Martin Luther King Jr.'s
birthday was held on Monday at the Sheraton New York Hotel &
Towers. Among the honored guests were the embattled American
representative to the United Nations, John Bolton; the governor
of Mississippi, Haley Barbour, and recording artist Usher.
Unfortunately, because the words "plantation" and
"chocolate" were not used, this highly respectful and
distinguished event did not garner any news coverage. It was
hosted by the Congress of Racial Equality, a civil rights
organization that concentrates on the positive news about race
relations, not in playing the race card.
Senator Clinton can be excused for saying, "When you look at
the way the House of Representatives has been run, it has been
run like a plantation, and you know what I'm talking about."
After all, she was speaking to a predominantly African-American
crowd at a Baptist church in Harlem, and Democrats seem to feel
obligated to inject slavery references whenever they give
speeches. Vice President Gore's imitation of a black preacher
while on the campaign trail may have been unintentional, but it
was downright hilarious to hear him sputter and shout hellfire
when addressing a black audience.
Meanwhile, the Democrats are completely ignoring the strides that
have been made in civil rights. CORE's chairman, Roy Innis,
attributed this to a new form of racism that he says afflicts our
nation today. He noted that the 19th century philosopher John
Stuart Mill said that we should hear opposing ideas, but we must
hear them from equally eloquent exponents.
Mr. Innis continued: "The black community in America has not
benefited from Mill's dictum. Media, academia, and the political
institutions in both the white and black communities ignore
Mill's wise advice. This is unfair and disrespectful to the black
community and bodes ill for the country at large. Decent,
thoughtful, eloquent expressions are stifled or outrightly
censored. On the other hand, the coarsest, the most hateful and
outrageous statements are allowed to permeate and emanate from
our community. Those not properly acquainted with the true nature
of the black community could conclude that it is the most
negative , isolationist, hostile part of America. Tragically
neglected in the midst of all of this is the outpouring of love,
decency and optimism that reside in the hearts of our people.
This invidious censorship of decency in our communities must
stop. This is the real racism in America today. It is the
neo-racism of the 21st century. A society that continues to
proceed along this path does so at its own peril."
The proof of his statement was apparent by Tuesday, when the
press, both left and right - with the exception of The New York
Sun's Out & About column - ignored the substantive, positive
speeches made by the speakers at the CORE event. When I contacted
a CORE spokesman, Niger Innis, for his reaction, he said,
"Obviously both sides of the print media have a stake in
racial divisiveness and the utter isolation of black Americans:
liberals to apologize for it, conservatives to bemoan it. But
both do much to promote it and censor those of us, like CORE, who
plan to stop it."
Those three civil rights workers who were murdered in Mississippi
on June 21, 1964 - Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner - were CORE
volunteers. Now, CORE has honored the governor of that state, Mr.
Barbour, with the Civil Rights Award. He spoke with pride about
the fact that his state - once "Mississippi Burning" -
now has more elected African Americans than any other state in
the nation. This is huge progress, and while there is still more
to be made, isn't this more newsworthy than covering the sad,
patronizing rants of self-serving politicians who try to stir up
a bitter past because they really offer nothing that truly
benefits the black community?
More than 1,500 good people from diverse backgrounds came
together on Monday to celebrate the birthday of King, whom Roy
Innis calls "our Prince of Peace." Mrs. Clinton, in
your haste to besmirch the Republicans, you sullied everything
that King stood for.