I don’t usually write about politics in the U. S. because I haven’t lived there for a long time and don’t feel I have enough information to do so, but I saw this in The Guardian, a British newspaper, and it bothers me.
According to the article Willie Herenton, a former mayor of Memphis, is running against incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen in the Democratic congressional primary for the 9th District of Tennessee. Mr. Herenton, who is black, is apparently trying to use race in his campaign against Rep. Cohen, who is white.
The article states:
Willie Herenton is accusing white two-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen of "trying to act black." He tells voters in this majority-black city that they "need to come off that Cohen plantation and get on the Herenton freedom train."
If this is true it is wrong, and even worse it could be used by Republicans to give themselves cover for their use of racism.
--
Link to Guardian Article