Black Groups Condemn Anti-Rice and Anti-Powell Attacks

Over the past few months and peaking this week with her promotion, white liberal cartoonists and commentators have used Dr. Condoleezza Rice's race as a point of ridicule. Same for Colin Powell. Black conservative and black liberal groups alike condemn the attacks as way out of line.

"To hear the leftists tell it, conservative blacks have become the new 'trash class' of American society," said Michael King, a member of the black conservative group Project 21, in its press release. Mychal Massie, another member, added: "The recent racist attacks and mimicry of Condoleezza Rice are infuriating and despicable. Even more insufferable is the deafening silence of the elite liberals. I believe their silence is proof positive of their personal racist attitudes. Obviously condemning racist attacks against a man and woman who are conservative and black is not a worthy undertaking for them."

Kweisi Mfume, president of the NAACP, says radio host John Sylvester's attacks on Dr. Rice and Colin Powell "are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses." Mr. Mfume said Rice is "an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights."

Stanley Woodard, a local radio host who heads up the local NAACP's legal redress committee, said Mr. Sylvester's comments "are at best insensitive and at worst racist." Mr. Woodard, who often disagrees with Dr. Rice and Mr. Powell on his show, said political discussion "does not afford us the opportunity to use the politics of hate, stereotypes and caricatures to weaken an opponent."

The local Urban League issued a statement, and then did a follow-up after Sylvester gave away Aunt Jemima mix to his listeners. "His glib 'apology to Aunt Jemima' demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the ignorant racial and ethnic stereotypes that underlie his comment. Such perspectives fail to allow a diversity of ideas and opinions within the African-American community. We do not feel that African-Americans should be forced to adopt a monolithic point of view, and in the absence of such be faced with public derision."

Good to see black folks of all political stripes condemning these attacks. Hopefully, this will happen when any black leader - conservative, moderate, or liberal - is attacked using his or her race as a point of ridicule.