The Tea Party is racist, as outlined by some members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Individuals. A resolution condemning the Tea Party for racism was up for a vote Tuesday at the NAACP convention in Kansas City. Some Tea Party members said the NAACP is calling the kettle black. Meanwhile, a black community leader in Atlanta said the NAACP convention could use its time better by following the grass roots example of the Tea Party movement.
Media exposes Tea Party racism
Tea Party racism is an assumption some have formed in response to media coverage showing Tea Party posters of President Obama. The movement's image has been further damaged by reports of black congressmen being spit on by Tea Party members during the health care reform debate. The Washington Post reports the NAACP Tea Party resolution says members of the movement have “displayed signs and posters intended to degrade people of color usually and President Barack Obama specifically” and calls “the racist elements” within the Tea Party “a threat to progress ".
Tea Party comeback – NAACP is racist
The Tea Party is challenged by the NAACP resolution to admit some of its members are racist and to curb their enthusiasm. The resolution also accuses the Tea Party of opposing programs that aid working people and minorities. Two Tea Party members told the Los Angeles Times that a couple of bad actors are responsible for Tea Party racism, not the movement at large. Jenny Beth Martin of the online network Tea Party Patriots admitted to racist behavior at Tea Party rallies but said it was on the record that it wouldn’t be tolerated. Tea Party Patriot Mary Meckler told the Times that accusing the movement of racism was "ironic" coming from a racist organization like the NAACP.
NAACP – Tea Party a role model?
The NAACP is missing the point whether or not the Tea Party or the NAACP is racist, said black Atlanta media personality Charing Ball. Ball doesn’t question the sincerity of the NAACP Tea Party resolution. Writing within the Atlanta Post, Ball wonders why, within the pursuit of racial justice, the NAACP is wasting its time on symbolic gestures, instead of planning and organizing for real change. Ball suggests that the NAACP might do better by studying the playbook of the Tea Party. The NAACP could better meet the needs of the black community today at the grass roots by rallying voters and training and nurturing young candidates.
More details available at these websites
washingtonpost.com
latimes.com
atlantapost.com
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