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Normally, Don Black would be a footnote and not even worth mentioning on this website. But Don has suddenly become relevant because it turns out that Arizona State Senate Majority Leader Chuck Gray (pictured below) actually follows Black on Twitter.
The inferences from this finding are quite telling. By hanging out with former Klansman on Twitter, Senator Gray is giving credibility to those who accuse him and other Republicans in Arizona of being nasty racists. Their recently passed law allowing for racial profiling in the state in response to illegal immigration is a great example of Arizona's latest effort to label itself the most racist state in America. One should also mention, however, that we can't be responsible for the actions of those we follow on Twitter. This opens a dangerous door to guilt by association, since I don't know half of what most of my friends on Twitter are doing in their spare time. But given that Black is a well-known racist and regularly speaks up about his hatred of minorities, Chuck Gray certainly should have known better than to actively decide to follow Black on Twitter. I can't wait to hear his explanation.
The comedian Bill Maher made a very interesting statement recently. He said that "If you're a Republican, you are probably not racist. But if you're racist, then you're probably a Republican." One of the great challenges of the Right Wing is that it can be very difficult to differentiate Republican policies, which appear to embrace exclusion and oppression, from the subtle racism that continues to infect the fabric of most American institutions. The lack of tolerance shown by the Republican party is going to push them into oblivion if they do not find a way to overcome their tendency to embody that which is most damaging to our society. That is a simple fact.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book, "Black American Money." To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (36)
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By: Andre on 5/10/2010 11:48PM
Well another republican has been link to racisim. This isn't even shocking to me. Truthfully, I don't really like politican regardless of their political affiliation. When I here the word politican first word that comes to mind is fake. Only thing they care about is getting elected and not the well being of the country. This issues of illegals immigrants coming into this country should have be taking cared of years ago. You know why it wasn't? Well it was because the rich was making to much money off them. They would rather hire an illegal than an American born. Just like they would rather send jobs over seas to other countries. Greed has put America in the position that it is in today. What is our position? Well we are in debt, and our country is in a ressesion. I have mixed feeling on the subject of illegals. I don't like the idea of kicking a group of people out this country, but not doing so is also hurting our country. This issue has to be delt with now. We can't wait another ten years to do so. A lot of whites want them out because of their growing population. They don't like the idea of becoming an minority. Blacks and browns have a shaky relationship. Mexcians have been just as racisit toward blacks as whites. In the past Mexicans would call blacks n****r as quick as whites in public. A lot of the Mexicans that jump over the boarder have hatred towards blacks. In Mexico blacks are treated with disrespect. They are not veiwed as equals and when Mexicans jump the fence they come with the same veiw of blacks to this country. Not trying to spread hatred with this post but it's the truth. I agree about blacks being rasict also, but with the history we have had it's only logical for some to be racsist. You can't just expect a group of people that have expericence the level of hatred blacks have been delt to just up and get over it in a decade. Let be real here. Blacks knew nothing of rasism intil they were intoduce to whites and other races. Thats a fact. So the hatred that some blacks display was taught by other races. Anyway this issue of illegals should not be an issues of race like many are making it. The truth is that illegals are not good for the country period. I don't care if they are latin, black, arab, or white. We can't just have people just jump over here because they live in a poor country. By letting them do so we will join them in becoming one. America can barely take care of it own. So what since does it make to have people come over here draining more money out of the country?
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By: RAY on 5/11/2010 12:17AM
DR WATKINS IS NOT A RACIST HE JUST KEEP COLOR PEOPLE INFORM ABOUT THOSE GROUP.
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By: Dan on 5/11/2010 2:12AM
Peabody, You are right on time with your comment. I worked for a large financial services corp that routinely promoted "Young White Males". Most of them could not spell Cat even if you spotted them the C and the T, ie "C_T." They just needed to know how to PLAY GOLF. Ocassionaly a white female would get promoted but only if her production numbers 150+ % higher than the White Male. Any other race should just forget it even if your production numbers were 400 % over the White Male. Thats Life!
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By: Ed Wise on 5/11/2010 9:29AM
You know, I agree with a lot of the comments, but I must say that I am really not surprised. Take a random sampling of the Klu Klux Klan, say about 50 random Klansmen, and interview them. What you will find will astonish you to know end. 50 of 50 will be Republican, or of some other Conservative backing. Approximately 45 to 50% will have some realitive in some elected office, be it Government, or local law enforcement. Some of you should realy watch the PBS documentary of the Lynching of Leo Frank, and I guarantee you will receive a true perspective of the KKK.
Now, let us consider the Republican Party, especially those currently sitting in Congress. Many, if not all support the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution, which is the same for the Klu Klux Klan. Many sitting Republican law makers support legislation which keeps a thumb on the poor and lower middle class, as do the Klu Klux Klan. Many Republican law makers are staunchly against Gay / Lesbian rights, as if the Klu Klux Klan. 97% of the Republican Party is white men, and the Klu Klux Klan prides themselves of being a culture of what is supposed to be pure white men (regardless of the fact that there is nothing truly pure in America anymore).
These are but a few simularities between the Republican Party and the Klu Klux Klan, and these are facts based on more than 40 years of observation.
Do I think Dr. Boyce was a little presumptious with his Ad-Homen attack on Sen. Grey? Yes, my brother, I do; however, it does not negate the fact that Dr. Boyce's point was 99.75% dead on target. Still, I must agree with Jerome, in that the least you could have done was interview the man, that way your would have been able to Katie Couric him.
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By: Boanerges on 6/08/2010 10:50AM
Republican and Klansman aren't the only people that are Pro Second Amendment. Remember the old Motto: "God made Men, and Samuel Colt made ALL MEN EQUAL"
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By: j mcconnell on 6/04/2011 9:53PM
barrack obama hates jews liberal jews hate jews bill maher is a wimp he will side with black panthers and their racist rant but slam a republican he thinks he's accepted by the brothers if he slams his own he's a puss hey watkins your a racist just as the people you slam as racist hows that welfare working out for your people
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