Posted on 11/19/2004 10:27:24 AM PST by squirt-gun
U.S. National - AP Radio Host Calls Rice 'Aunt Jemima'
Fri Nov 19,12:33 AM ET
U.S. National - AP
By JAMES A. CARLSON, Associated Press Writer
MILWAUKEE - A radio talk show host drew criticism Thursday after calling Condoleezza Rice (news - web sites) an "Aunt Jemima" and saying she isn't competent to be secretary of state.
John Sylvester, the program director and morning personality on WTDY-AM in Madison, said in a phone interview Thursday that he used the term on Wednesday's show to describe Rice and other blacks as having only a subservient role in the Bush administration.
Rice has served as President Bush (news - web sites)'s national security adviser and was named this week to replace the departing Colin Powell (news - web sites) as secretary of state.
Sylvester, who is white, also referred to Powell as an "Uncle Tom" — a contemptuous term for a black whose behavior toward whites is regarded as fawning or servile.
He said Thursday night that he was referring to remarks by singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte that the price of admittance for blacks to the Bush White House was subservience.
As for Rice, "they're using her for an illusion of inclusion," he said, adding that he feels her history as national security adviser showed a lack of competence.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz called the remarks "racially insensitive," while Sen. Russ Feingold (news, bio, voting record), D-Wis., said in a statement he joined "all Wisconsinites in rejecting" the statements.
Linda Hoskins of the NAACP's Madison branch said she could not comment on Sylvester's remarks until she had heard them in their entirety.
The station's corporate office received about 100 calls about his comments, Sylvester said.
He added that he has a long history of commitment to civil rights and has supported Madison's black community.
He said he was planning a giveaway on Friday's show of Aunt Jemima pancake mix and syrup. "I will apologize to Aunt Jemima," he said.
The incident came after a radio host in Milwaukee had his talk show taken off the air all of last week after he used word "wetback" to refer to undocumented Mexican immigrants, sparking protests from Hispanics.
___
Associated Press writer JR Ross in Madison contributed to this story.
Pancakes and syrup? Listen, bud, Aunt Jemima has a new image. She's no longer the fat tub with a bandana. She now looks like someone's Aunt Mary from church, and she has a profession: registered dietician! She goes to seminars and instructs families in proper nutrition!
er..this IS Madison, Wisconsin after all..
Kinda like Jersey without the smell?
This is not just belittling -- this is insulting anyone who worked hard to succeed.
The message is: If you make it as a black, you are a token. The only acceptable way for blacks to succeed is in entertainment and race pimping. There is glass ceiling in the Domncrat party. Look at Klintoon's staff -- all lily white and mostly male.
Yes, that's the one....the highly intellegent, very nervous, black woman with the druggy son who was arrested more than once. She did a fine job raising him, so maybe we should have turned all our children over to her ideas
Odd considering the fact that he prefers a lot of female company. I guess he feels they're only good for one thing.
She wore a sailor suit and wanted all elementary school children to be taught how to have safe sex(as well as how to masturbate in order to relieve tensions)......A very nice Dem!
She was also against drug legalization, until her son was arrested for dealing at college. Then she was for drug legalization.
And she was a big Eric Clapner fan.
It was long ago... before the hate really surfaced and the politicians ran with it. The turning point, of course, was Johnson and his "great Society" (which essentially destroyed black families north and south).
But it is surely better for Black people now....aunt 'Jemia' or not.
Clapner!!!
Priceless! I had forgotten about that!
Ding ding ding!
If you scratch a liberal, you will find a racist and sexist just under the surface. That is why they are so easily maniplated by race baiters. Because they feel guilty about their feelings of superiority.
Yep, them Secretaries of State and National Security Advisors are just token figureheards! Gee, I thought they were so enlightened, tolerant, and well-educated up there in Wisconsin! I guess this guy doesn't realize how important the Secretary of State is, or how high up in the line of succession he/she is if the president should be unable to fill out his term. Good thing I's been edjy-kated down here in ol' Virginny!
What role SHOULD Cabinet members play in ANY President's administration? Since I mostly attended public schools, please remind me which Democrat Presidents made sure to choose only Cabinet members who held opposing viewpoints, and who made sure to delegate all presidential authority to their Cabinet and staff.
If you can't find any examples, I will be left in the awkward position of thinking these leftwing critics are utter racists.
A nice place not to visit but I wouldnt want to live there.
You mean those racist terms came from Wisconsin.....up North? Hmmmm
This person is not fit to shine Condi's shoes.
Yeah - they'll get right on it . . .
And she was a big Eric Clapner fan
LOL I'd forgotten about that.
I guess you could say that some northerners are quite niggardly when it comes to following the dictates they put down for the rest of us! ;>)
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