Shades of Paula Deen reflects itself in a MN Legislator's recent "Uncle Tom" tweet.
A
Democratic legislator from Minnesota swiftly apologized Tuesday for a tweet he
sent that referred to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as “Uncle Thomas”
following a major ruling on the nation’s landmark voting rights law.
Thomas,
who is black, was part of a 5-4 majority that invalidated part of the Voting
Rights Act meant to deter racial discrimination in elections. The ruling makes
it tougher for federal officials to prevent states and localities, primarily in
the South, from adopting policies that add barriers to voting.
In
response, state Rep. Ryan Winkler tweeted: “#SCOTUS VRA majority is four
accomplices to race discrimination and one Uncle Thomas. Marriage decision may
blur Court’s backsliding.”
“Uncle
Tom” is a connotation to describe someone subservient to another and has its
roots in Harriet Beecher Stowe’s pre-Civil War novel about slavery, “Uncle
Tom’s Cabin.” The latter part of the tweet refers to the high court’s expected
decision on gay marriage.
Winkler,
who is white, deleted the tweet and told followers in his feed that he didn’t
understand the phrase to be a racist term. He later told The Associated Press
that he was trying to make a point about institutional racism resulting from
the ruling.
“I
used a term that was too hot for the issue, but I didn’t intend for it to be
derogatory,” said Winkler, who holds a history degree from Harvard.
Chris
Fields, secretary of the Minnesota Republican Party, said Winkler’s comments
were “beyond the pale” and his apology wasn’t enough. “If he had any personal
integrity, he’d resign,” said Fields, who is black.
Winkler,
of Golden Valley, had been weighing a run for Minnesota secretary of state,
whose office oversees elections. He said he ruled that out several days ago but
hadn’t announced it.
The
four-term lawmaker represents a district that covers western Minneapolis
suburbs and is an attorney. He is known for rhetorical clashes with Republicans
while on the House floor and on Twitter.
It should be noted that Justice Clarence Thomas did something at a Supreme
Court argument Monday for the first time in nearly seven years — he spoke. Thomas
hasn’t asked a question in court since February 22, 2006.Source: The Associated Press; The Grio
