The Dixiecrats are at it again.

Through years of practice, they have perfected the art of grooming assimilation-hungry blacks to push agendas in our communities that could potentially be viewed as racist coming from white politicians.

Though this strategy has consistently worked in their favor, South Carolina state Sen. Robert Ford (pictured), took his token status a tad too far when he shared his opinion that African American men are lazier than Mexican men during a Senate committee debate over stricter immigration laws:

"Brothers won't work hard like Mexicans will, so we need to make sure enough Mexicans are here."

"We need these workers here. A lot of people aren't going to do certain type of work in this country," Ford said. "The brothers are going to find ways to take a break. Ever since this country was built, we've had somebody do the work for us."

We've had someone do the work for us? Really, Sen. Ford?

Maybe Ford doesn't realize that "Black Ivory," as valuable slaves were called, practically built his state of South Carolina with their bare, bleeding hands.

Slaves worked in the rice fields of Carolina under inhumane conditions, dying in unfathomable numbers from malaria due to the disease-infested waters.

Records have shown that more than one-third of all slave children died before their first birthday, because pregnant women were made to toil in scorching temperatures.

African slaves not only worked in rice and cotton fields, but they also built railroads and worked on docks; they were carpenters, painters, shoemakers and miners. This country was built on the backs of slaves, and this Sambo senator has the audacity to say that "since this country was built we've had somebody do the work for us."

I shouldn't be surprised.

This is, after all, the same senator who said that Obama would "drag down" the Democratic ticket in 2007.

This is also the very same man, who in 1999, stood before the Senate and described a Confederate event called a "Ghost Walk" that took place in Charleston one Halloween night. In a crowd of "25,000 screaming Confederates" only two African-Americans were present- the senator and a young man "taking part in the activities as a slave." Ford declared that it was then that he learned to "respect [his] heritage much more because of the love they have for their heritage and culture."

I hate to break it to you, senator, but your fellow black man wasn't the only slave there; he was just the only one in costume.

Joel Sawyer, executive director of the state Republican Party, said Ford should apologize:

"It's disgusting and abhorrent that any elected official would say something that offensive," Sawyer said. "He needs to apologize immediately, and hopefully the condemnation of his comments will be equally as loud from both sides of the political aisle."

Even with this scathing criticism, Ford refused to back down. Including his "blue-eyed brothers" in his prejudicial remarks, Ford made it clear that when he was reached by cell phone for clarification, his racism is colorblind:

"Black guys and white guys are going to get out there and do the hard work? No. I'm for America, and America's a country of immigrants," Ford said. "Everybody in America finds ways to take a break."

I'm not so naïve nor narrow-minded that I can't see the grain of truth in Ford's remark. Asian, African, Jewish, Italian, Indian and Hispanic immigrants have all come to this country willing to work for the American dream.

That their dreams may have been slightly more attainable, because they didn't have to break psychological and physical chains, is a different discussion.

Mexicans, in particular, have carved out a niche in U.S. society that only they can fill. Fearful of immigration laws, many are willing to work for pennies, and many black citizens, after years of struggling for equality, refuse to do that.

True, in these difficult economic times, it is irresponsible to turn down employment, especially if you have familial obligations, but there is a fine line between admirable work ethic and labor extortion.

Ford also added that throughout generations, whenever one immigrant group becomes "Americanized," they stop working hard. If by "Americanized" he means that immigrants begin to mimic the time-honored tradition of finding people to work hard for them -- so they can work less -- I completely agree.

Still, that does not stop Ford's comments from being a frightening blend of Republican capitalism and Dixiecratic racism all rolled up into one self-loathing politician.

What his statement says is that now that black Americans are demanding to be properly compensated for their work, this country needs a new slave. We need a new "minority" so we can hold freedom over their head, their families in limbo and their education in jeopardy.

Brown is the new black.

During black power rallies in the '60s, Stokely Carmichael said, "America has no more use for her ni**ers."

Unfortunately, Sen. Ford -- in his ignorance -- is perpetuating that sentiment.

It will be interesting to see his chickens come home to roost when his colleagues have no further use for him.