Belated Happy Juneteenth . . .

to all.

Michelle Obama Likened To A Gorilla

A recent Facebook report noted that a gorilla had escaped from a zoo in Columbia, South Carolina. This from South Carolina Republican Rusty DePass: "I'm sure it's just one of Michelle's ancestors--probably harmless."

When busted for this racist and supremacist idiocy, DePass gave one of those anticipated and ridiculous "apologies": "I am as sorry as I can be if I offended anyone. The comment was clearly in jest." Yeah, that's funny. Hilarious.

Hate Items For Sale

Want to buy a "Scott Roeder American Hero" design? Or an "Impeach Barack Obama" poster complete with a picture of an assault weapon? Crooks and Liars reports on this sickness.

Sherri Goforth's Racist E-Mail About President Obama

Check out this story (and picture) on an e-mail sent by Sherri Goforth, an administrative assistant to Tennessee state Senator Diane Black, to other Republican staffers. The e-mail has portraits of the first 43 presidents; President Obama is depicted as two white eyes set against a black background.

Was Goforth (who said that she sent the e-mail "to the wrong list of people")fired? Nope.

"The ugly consequences of open hatred"

A recent column by Leonard Pitts begins with the following quotes:

"Them Jews aren't going to let [President Obama] talk to me.": Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"I hate gay people . . .": Tim Hardaway, former NBA player.

"She's frightening. And she's racist.": former Christian Coalition executive director Dennis Baxley on Judge Sonia Sotomayor.

"Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.": Glenn Beck to Rep. Keith Ellison, a Muslim

"Fifty years ago they'd have you hanging upside down with a [expletive] fork up your [expletive].": Michael Richards ("Seinfeld's" Kramer).

From the column:

"We act as if it were all a game, as if it means nothing when people of position and visibility spew garbage, validating and galvanizing the unhinged and the disaffected who need little encouragement to believe all their problems are caused by Them. We act as if we do not toy with fire when people of authority claim white Christians are a vicimized minority or Hispanics a threatening and faceless Other. We act as if we were not heirs and witnesses to a blood-soaked history that tells us exactly where this hate some of us so fecklessly stoke will logically, inevitably lead."

Frank Rich On Haters

Recommended: this Frank Rich op-ed. Interestingly, Rich notes Fox News anchor Shephard Smith's comments on the frightening and hateful e-mails Smith has received and the Americans who are, in Smith's words, "out there in a scary place."

Changes To The Texas Top Ten Percentage Plan

The legislature of the state of Texas has voted to change the program under which graduates in the top 10 percent of their high schools were automatically admitted to the Texas university of their choice. The law caps the number of top ten percenters at three-fourths of a university's incoming class.

Overheard

"Absolutely not necessarily"--Alaska Governor Sarah Palin last week on the Today show.

Crack News

Miss California. Please go away. Now.

Just Asking

OK, I'm watching various NBA playoff games and this thought came to me: why do they call them "free throws" and not "free shots"? "Throws" just doesn't sound right.

On Watching "The Wire"

Click here for an interesting and touching story of "interracial" love, marriage, and HBO's "The Wire."

The Passing Of John Hope Franklin

See this story.

Beyonce On The Cover Of Vogue

Why is it a big deal that Beyonce is on the cover of the April issue of Vogue? She is "one of a handful of black celebrities to appear on the cover of the storied magazine in its 117-year history." Beyonce joins Oprah, Hallie Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Michelle Obama, and Lebron James on the short list of African Americans appearing on Vogue covers.

"Luck Of The Irish": An Ethnic Slur?

According to this story, the phrase "luck of the Irish" is "an ethnic slur from the days when immigrants were pouring into the United States. The idea was that any Irish man or woman who made good must be lucky rather than smart, hard-working or talented."

Bernard Monroe, Rest In Peace

According to a story in the Los Angeles Times, Bernard Monroe, a 73-year-old retired electric utility worker, was the host of a cookout for family and friends at his home in Homer, Louisiana. Monroe was unable to talk as the result of throat cancer. Two white police officers appeared at Monroe's home. Moments later he was shot to death by one of the officers in front of his family. The Louisiana state police and the FBI and federal Department of Justice are investigating the shooting. Read the linked story for an account of what supposedly happened. Sad.

On A Celebration Of African-American Culture

Check out this Wall Street Journal story on the festival "Honor! A Celebration of the African American Cultural Legacy" and soprano Jessye Norman.

The Bobby Jindal Watch

(Assuming that people are still watching), Louisiana Governor Jindal has appeared at and is scheduling additional fundraising dinners outside the state of Louisiana.

Senator Grassley On AIG

Said the Republican Senator from Iowa: "The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them if they'd follow the Japanese model and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say I'm sorry, and then either do one of two things--resign, or go commit suicide."

Jackie Mason: Obama Is A "Schvartze"

Some fans at a recent Jackie Mason show in New York booed and walked out when Mason called President Obama a schvartze. Mason later explained that he was raised in a family where the word was used, and said, "If it's a racist society, the white people are the ones being persecuted because they have to defend themselves."

"Obama Fingers"

A German company is marketing "Obama Fingers," a fried chicken product. Some African Americans have complained that the product is racist and inappropriate and have called for a boycott; the sales manager for the company has stated that a connection between President Obama and fried chicken never occurred to her.