EDITORIAL
Modern-day lynching
Published Feb 28, 2008 9:27 PM
Yet another “casual” reference to lynching has been made in the
media, directed this time at Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama’s spouse, Michelle Obama.
In response to remarks made by Michelle Obama, in which she said she was really
proud of the United States for the first time, right-wing bigot Bill
O’Reilly of Fox News said: “I don’t want to go on a lynching
party against Michelle Obama unless there’s evidence, hard facts, that
say this is how the woman really feels. If that’s how she really feels
... We’ll track it down.”
Later, O’Reilly made a paltry apology: “I’m sorry if my
statement offended anybody. That, of course, was not the intention. Context is
everything.”
Context. Let’s look at the context of yet another media pundit evoking
the historic lynching of a Black person—and this time, not even receiving
a slap on the wrist for it. Let’s look at the current context of nooses
appearing throughout the country, at the state-sponsored lynchings of Black
people in the streets by cops and on death row by the courts. It’s a
wonder Michelle Obama is proud at all.
In that context, it was easy to predict that if Barack Obama’s
presidential bid gained momentum, the racist attacks would follow. About a week
later, a photo of Obama in the traditional garb of his native Kenya—a
“silly” photo, according to the Washington Post (Feb. 26)—was
distributed. A photo that should have suggested pride was now meant to suggest
“terrorism.”
Anti-racist forces—whether they support Obama’s run for president
or not—will have to remain vigilant against these types of attacks, and
be prepared to come to his defense against racism.
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