Matt Ortega

Congressman Lynn Westmoreland (R-Sharpsburg, Ga.) told reporters that Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) was a member of an “elitist class” who were “uppity.” The term, “uppity,” is viewed as remarkably offensive in communities of color for someone who does not know “their place” in society — typically subservient to the dominant, white culture.

Westmoreland, who grew up in the segregated south, claims he did not know the word “uppity” was offensive. That strikes me as completely impossible. And after being made aware, supposedly, for the first time that the word was offensive, Westmoreland press flacks told reporters, basically, that although he did not know it was offensive, he stands by the characterization.

In a statement Friday, Westmoreland - who was born in 1950 and raised in the segregated South - said he didn’t know that “uppity” was commonly used as a derogatory term for blacks seeking equal treatment. Instead, he referred to the dictionary definition of the word as describing someone who is haughty, snobbish or has inflated self-esteem.

“He stands by that characterization and thinks it accurately describes the Democratic nominee,” said Brian Robinson, Westmoreland’s spokesman. “He was unaware that the word had racial overtones and he had absolutely no intention of using a word that can be considered offensive.”

This is someone’s idea of a funny joke?

Police are investigating a racist incident involving a sign near the post office on Alcosta Boulevard.

A prominent sign in a parking lot shared by private businesses and the post office was spray painted to say “Whites only.” It is unknown when the sign was painted, but it was reported to police on Monday.

The sign has since been painted over.

Former Senator Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina) died of natural causes in the early morning hours yesterday.

A leading icon of the resurgent conservative movement, right-wing commentators are determined to whitewash the horrible stories of deep-seeded racism and homophobia similar to what the media did when Helms retired in 2001. David Broder of the Washington Post penned a column entitled “Jesse Helms, White Racist” about the polite coverage of Helms’ record on August 21, 2001. Helms’ Wikipedia page is no exception. Notice that the “Controversies” section on the profile no longer exists.

Conservative commentator Mark Levin wrote at the National Review yesterday:

I have noticed some of the smears lobbed at William Buckley in other places since his death; Jesse Helms is in for even more of it. Other prominent conservatives will face the same.  Unfortunately, such is the nature of these things now.

Helms was infamous for blatantly racist and homophobic comments and nearly seven years ago, in response to the downplay of such views of his by the media, Fairness and Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR), produced a fact sheet with all the greatest hits.

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On August 28, 1955, Emmett Till was lynched in Mississippi. On August 28, 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke at the March on Washington of dreaming of a new day. On August 28, 2008, Barack Obama will be declared the nominee of the Democratic Party. What a tremendous growth for our country.

–Reverend Jesse Jackson
(Essence, 06/05/08)

The History Channel updates visitors on historic events throughout world history with “This Day in History.” Here are a few notables for April 13:

1964: Sydney Poitier became the first African-American actor to win Best Actor at the Academy Awards for his role in the 1963 film, Lilies of the Field.

1970: The second oxygen tank aboard the Service Module (SM) of Apollo 13 exploded and put the lives of the three NASA astronauts in grave danger. Commander Jim Lovell reported back: “Houston, we have a problem.” The mission, considered a “successful failure,” was dramatized in the 1995 film, Apollo 13, starring Tom Hanks.

1997: Tiger Woods was the first person of color to win the Masters at August National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. The golf club admitted its first black member only seven years prior.