Friday, July 16, 2010

Epic Fail: Mark Williams’ [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People change minds about emancipation

Mark Williams, radio host and Tea Party Express spokesman has been out in the media firing back at the NAACP for the anti Tea Party resolution. While calling out the NAACP for their divisive racial politics is generally a good thing, Mark Williams has made a fatal mistake with his blog post titled: NAACP Resolution: [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People change minds about emancipation.

Basically the post is a fictional letter written to Abraham Lincoln by Ben Jealous of the NAACP speaking for its members. 
Dear Mr. Lincoln
We [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People have taken a vote and decided that we don’t cotton to that whole emancipation thing.  Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards.  That is just far too much to ask of us [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People and we demand that it stop!
In fact we held a big meeting and took a vote in Kansas City this week.  We voted to condemn a political revival of that old abolitionist spirit called the ‘tea party movement’.
The tea party position to “end the bailouts” for example is just silly.  Bailouts are just big moneywelfare and isn’t that what we want all [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People to strive for?  What kind of racist would want to end big money welfare?  What they need to do is start handing the bail outs directly to us[National Association for the Advancement of]Colored People!  Of course, the NationalAssociation for the Advancement of Colored People is the only responsible party that should be granted the right to disperse the funds.
And the ridiculous idea of “reduce[ing] the size and intrusiveness of government.”  What kind of world would we have is I  ever  to control and be responsible for my life own?  As [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People we must have somebody care for us otherwise we would be on our own, have to think for ourselves and make decisions and if you do not agree than there is not enough Colored in your People, as we labeled Ken Gladney [source]
The racist tea parties also demand that the government “stop the out of control spending.”  Again, they directly target [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People.  That means we [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People would have to compete for jobs like everybody else and that is just not right.
Perhaps the most racist point of all in the tea parties is their demand that government “stop raising our taxes.”  That is outrageous!    Totally racist!  The tea party expects [National Association for the Advancement of] Colored People to be productive members of society, especially when our mission is to convince them that progress is impossible for them based on the color of their skin?
Mr. Lincoln, you were the greatest racist ever.  We had a great gig.  Three squares, room and board, all our decisions made by someone else.  Please repeal the 13th and 14th Amendments and let us get back to where we say that belong.
Sincerely
Ben Jealous, Tom’s Nephew  National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Head Colored Person 
While I understand that Mark Williams is trying to make a point of how backwards the logic of the NAACP has become, the execution of that point is a complete failure. This “letter” is the kind of thing that simply strengthens the left’s argument about racism in the Tea Parties. So much of it reads like the stereotypical accusations that have been leveled at blacks for eons. Without full background behind the debate between Williams and the NAACP, it is too easy to read this letter and assume the charges are being leveled against all black people. It’s an Epic Fail in execution.

Another reason why this letter is a failure is because it doesn’t directly address the true problem with the NAACP. The NAACP’s problem is that they are using the good they did in the past like a mask.  The mask is designed to look like they are defending or advancing the black race, when what they really are doing is launching racial attacks in order to defend the liberal agenda. Getting into a battle over the term “colored people” does little to remove the mask and expose the true goals of the NAACP.

It is high time we all started challenging those who play the race card for political gain. However, race is still a flashpoint for controversy and thus requires a very thoughtful and tactful approach. Sloppy ill-conceived approaches like this one can only backfire and end up doing way more harm than good.

7 comments:

KOOK said...

I agree totally Cliff, while there are valid points, basically the premise that the Tea Party is a whole lot of what the NAACP stood for...freedom, liberty, having choices...having a voice in government...

This letter was poorly conceived and executed.

I am certainly no expert, and have my own failings when it comes to sensitive issues; In order to make people understand that the organizations that worked for them in the past to liberate them and improve their lot in society; are now the enemy...is a tough sell that must be carefully contructed and logically laid out...I think it is better to come at these things more obliquely instead of straight on.

billd said...

exactly right - as george will likes to say "too clever by half" - though in this, just plain an unfortunate, unforced error...

Anonymous said...

I agree with the frustration, and wish that before that "letter" had been written there had been a wider discussion across the tea party community on the subject.

The left and their cohorts in the democrat party are pulling the same garbage, whether it's the race card, regarding issues that impact women, across the board. The so called "women's' movement don't recognize you as validly being a woman or being cognizant on or your issues being relevant, unless you give up your right to think and decide for yourself, and adopt the hive or plantation mindset.

Again, I can understand Mr. Williams feeling the need to respond, but he shouldn't play into their hands.

Mary

trinity said...

I find this letter really offensive. I can't imagine what this guy was thinking or if he was thinking at all.

Joe said...

This is a common mistake [fiscal] conservatives make with unions. Read the history of labor in this country and you'll quickly see that unions were a great step forward in the health and welfare of the common man. Even today, some unions do truly represent their members. Unfortunately, most of the mega-unions do not.

Many modern organizations were founded on valid, justifiable principles and then outlived their usefulness and became parodies of themselves.

babyboomer59 said...

Cliff I totally agree with you. We must be gentle as a lamb. But wise as a fox. although he makes a valid point. His point was lost in the contents. He appeared as racist as the NAACP accused. That's too bad.

Unknown said...

Spokesman?... says who? And again the inept fools and hucksters seek to anoint themselves "Official Tea-Party Representatives". In politics the dregs rise to the top. Morons in the leadership of the Republicans have rendered that party a joke...Mitch (mumbles) McConnell??

And as Foxnews tried to make the grass-roots, citizens initiative a Foxnews event, the little wannabes rush to grab a seat up front. Republicans think the tea partiers are "the really angry wing of the Republican party" another glaring example of their silly naive wrong picture of what is happening in our country...the parade of the little bigshots is about to begin.

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