Fired Up - Ready To Go

Hillary Clinton's moment of truth came yesterday for me. During an interview with KTVT, Mrs. Clinton was asked about comments made by one of her supporters, a Hispanic lawyer named Adelfa Callejo a prominent leader in the North Texas Latino commuity.

Here's a clip from the interview in question:
Adelfa Callejo - Hillary Clinton's Reaction

Here was an opportunity for Mrs. Clinton to set a clear signal to those who would utilize her campaign or any other public forum to foster racist notions and ideas. It was an opportunity for her to take a hard line on something that she attempted to take a hard line with Senator Obama on at the Ohio debates where she clearly went on the attack about Senator Obama not repudiating the endorsement of Minister Louis Farrakhan. She went on to pick and pick about this and I find it unconscionable that even when faced with video tape evidence of one of her supporters making racially insensitive and inflammatory statements, that the best she was able to do was brush it of f in person and eventually much later that evening issue a statement through a spokesperson.

As an African American woman I of all people hold no illusions about racism in this country. Having been exposed to it in one form or another most of my life I know all too well that its there and is an undercurrent to many things. I knew for example that it would only be a matter of time during this campaign that somehow race would be injected into things. Sorry to say I didn't have to wait long.

Ask any African American in this country today they will probably tell you the same thing. Racism is alive and flourishes well in this country today. As much as it is frowned on in the public eye  - what goes on behind the scenes is arguably generally different. There is a misapprehension that just because you do not advocate lynching or cross burning that you are automatically excused from being prejudiced or biased.  In fact most people who would fit the criteria for being racist will tell you that they don't think they are reasoning that they have "black friends", or at least they think they do. That they can calmly and rationally explain their reasoning to them mitigates them from being labeled racist.

Is generational racism still an issue in America though? The answer when considering the facts is a resounding yes. Although, many White Americans would like to feel racism doesn't exist or that African Americans like to play the race card, and sometimes there are instances where one does play the race card but that is not always the case. The fact of the matter is that racism does, and unfortunately due to generational racism, will continue to exist in America.(read entire article here)

Counting as part of her "35 years of experience" im sure is her term as wife of the Governor of Arkansas, which was actually at one time a confederate state. Harrison, Arkansas was featured recently in a documentary called "Banished" that debuted in 2007 at the Sundance Film Festival and is currently being broadcast on PBS stations across the country.

A hundred years ago, in communities across the U.S., white residents forced thousands of black families to flee their homes. Even a century later, these towns remain almost entirely white. BANISHED tells the story of three of these communities and their black descendants, who return to learn their shocking histories.

Harrison Arkansas is one of those communities mentioned in this film. AT the date the movie was filmed (2006), they were still flying the confederate flag  outside the Chamber of Commerce Building. Harrison also is purported to be the headquarters of the Klu Klux Klan.  Of all people that should have been quick to respond to racist comments with a strong and clear rejection - Hillary Clinton, former First Lady of Arkansas - should have done so without hesitation. It's what great leaders do - lead by example. Right now the only example she's leading this party and unfortunately this country to is divisive, racially inflammatory behavior that for her part she did not create but - not speaking out forcefully against it is the same as cultivating it.