It hasn’t taken long for racism to rear its ugly head since the United States election ended over a week ago. Racist graffiti popping up all over the United States is terrible, but yesterday’s Facebook post by a director of a state and federal-funded nonprofit in West Virginia is inexcusable.
Clay County Development Corp. director Pamela Ramsey Taylor posted :
“It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”
To make matters worse Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling replied to the comment, “Just made my day Pam.”
Of course they deleted their posts soon after– but it was too late- screenshots were taken all over the world. At 5:35 yesterday it was announced that Beverly Whaling, would be resigning as mayor of the town of Clay, effective immediately. Both women insisted it wasn’t meant to be racist– and they expect people to believe that–that’s the second insult. Only difference is: unlike the first insult, the second insult isn’t racist–it’s an insult of people’s intelligence.
What’s worse than a racist? One that turns around and denies what they said or did. If you said it, then own it and deal with the consequences. Is she aware that the future first lady posed nude, allegedly worked illegally in the US, and lied about her education? No other First Lady in history has that dubious distinction. Classy is not the word that comes to mind either–but hey, that’s just my opinion.
This is only going to get worse, and the level of racism, homophobia, and xenophobia has reared its head in less than a week. In the words of the late Gwen Ifill: “They decided this culture of meanness was fine — until they got caught. My concern about a lot of people and a lot of the debate in this society is not that people are sorry that they say these things, they are sorry that someone catches them.”
But, maybe a Trump win needed to happen so the United States could be exposed, and now they need to decide where to go from here. Of course racism is a thing of the past right? The Supreme Court in its 5-4 decision eliminating a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, said so. However I am reminded of what one southern gentleman, William Faulkner, once said…“the past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.” But if the Supremes say, we live a post-racial society, it must be true, right?
Maybe we can add a new cycling event to the Olympics–racist backpedalling.
Linda, I have only to remind you this has nothing to do with Carleton Place, your chosen topic for these little daily thoughts. Further, these ‘racists’, as you brand them, are the same ‘racists’ who voted twice for a black man to occupy the same office to which Trump has now been elected. You can’t have it both ways. Take a deep breath, try to imagine that not all folks are like that crazy lady who made such a disparaging remark about Mrs Obama. At least give Trump the benefit of doubt you and I were willing to give to Obama when he was first elected. We may not share the same view on the outcome of his eight years but I think we owe Trump the same courtesy.
Mike my wordpress site is not all Carleton Place 95 % is.. but I do write for other venues–so I post them here as it is my domain. We all have different opinions.. and I understand that. But this is mine.. and I appreciate all comments..:)