# Are Black Representatives Racist **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 30, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188 "2008-07-30T02:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/1 "2008-07-30T02:31:31Z")
Reading an article about the recent House bill apoligizing for slavery, I read this: [QUOTE=Associated Press] Cohen became the first white to represent the 60 percent black district in Memphis in more than three decades when he captured a 2006 primary in which a dozen black candidates split the vote. He has sought to reach out to his black constituents, and early in his term showed interest in joining the Congressional Black Caucus until learning that was against caucus rules. [/QUOTE] If there were a White Caucus that didn’t allow non-whites to join . . . So is exclusion because of the rules racism or not? How can the Black Caucus justify this decision? ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/2 "2008-07-30T03:33:07Z")
Some of them are, sure. Also, stupid, lazy, and corrupt. Which is why they don’t like competition from new blood. They’re so intellectually lazy, and so eager to hold on to their share of political power, that they don’t recognize their enormous hypocrisy. That said, I think the reason that a black caucus exists, because black constituencies have unique problems and interests that other constituencies don’t, is valid. Cohen represents just such a constituency, and he should be welcomed in with open arms. Also, the counterpart to an explicitly black organization - college, caucus, fraternity, beauty pageant, social club, isn’t an explicitly white organization. The counterpart is any organization with a specific ethnic, religious, or regional focus. Say, a Mountain States Caucus, or a Miss Italian America beauty pageant, the Sons of Canute, or Jewish singles clubs. Whiteness doesn’t reference any specific cultural, ethnic, religious, or regional identity. It tends to work more as a structure of power. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/3 "2008-07-30T03:46:11Z")
Because it is really about ethnic/cultural associations rather than the artificial construct of “race.” I doubt that anyone would bother getting upset about an Irish-American Caucus. Similarly, no one seems to get upset about the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. I think that keeping out congresscritters who are not black may be a dumb idea, but it does not seem to be inherently racist, ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/4 "2008-07-30T05:57:45Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] I think that keeping out congresscritters who are not black may be a dumb idea, but it does not seem to be inherently racist, [/QUOTE] excluding a person solely on skin color is not racist? interesting. What I want to know is does the Black Caucus get any benefits from Congress such as office space, discounts at the commisary, etc? ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/5 "2008-07-30T11:14:41Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] What I want to know is does the Black Caucus get any benefits from Congress such as office space, discounts at the commisary, etc? [/QUOTE] Yes, they get public housing and food stamps. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/6 "2008-07-30T11:49:15Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] If there were a White Caucus that didn’t allow non-whites to join . . . [/QUOTE] Oh boy, this game again. But basically I’m inclined to think you’re right: if a white guy represents a black district, he should be let in because the voters chose him. If he doesn’t have the same background as other CBC members and they believe he doesn’t understand their history and other important things, well, he’s a member, so teach him. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/7 "2008-07-30T13:31:15Z")
They do receive taxpayer funding to function. Their headquarters is off the Capitol grounds on Massachusetts Avenue. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/8 "2008-07-30T14:31:56Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] excluding a person solely on skin color is not racist? interesting. What I want to know is does the Black Caucus get any benefits from Congress such as office space, discounts at the commisary, etc? [/QUOTE] Wasn’t there a black Republican rep they wouldn’t let into the caucus a few years ago? Apparently he wasn’t black enough…wonder if Obama would qualify? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/9 "2008-07-30T14:35:26Z")
[QUOTE=What the … !!!] Wasn’t there a black Republican rep they wouldn’t let into the caucus a few years ago? [/quote] There have been Republicans in the caucus. J.C. Watts declined to join, though. > [@](#): > > Apparently he wasn’t black enough…wonder if Obama would qualify? He’s a member, so yes. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/10 "2008-07-30T15:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] excluding a person solely on skin color is not racist? interesting. What I want to know is does the Black Caucus get any benefits from Congress such as office space, discounts at the commisary, etc? [/QUOTE] The problem is that there are overlapping categories of groups. Jesse Jackson was making this point when he and his focus group made the (ill-considered, IMO) call to change public references to blacks to African-Americans. His point was that in the context of urban demographics (such as Chicago), there are references to (and groups supporting) Irish Americans, Italian Americans, Polish Americans, Chinese Americans, etc. However, when references were made to one specific cultural group, only the racial identifier, skin color, was employed. His point was that that was a cultural group in the same way that the other groups were cultually identifiable and to address the issues of that cultural group, it made more sense to use a term that was more like the term used for other cultural groups, hence: “African American.” (The Congressional Black Caucus predated the promotion of “African American” and they simply never changed the name.) There are dozens of Caucuses in Congress and they all receive a certain amount of administrative funding. ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/11 "2008-07-30T15:54:28Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] There have been Republicans in the caucus. J.C. Watts declined to join, though. He’s a member, so yes. [/QUOTE] I was thinking of Gary Franks. Apparently he was in the CBC for a while [but they weren’t very nice to him.](http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1365/is_n6_v24/ai_14779710) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/12 "2008-07-30T23:54:57Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] There are dozens of Caucuses in Congress and they all receive a certain amount of administrative funding. [/QUOTE] This is where I have a problem. A group of Congressmen that eat lunch together or a private organization (like Boy Scouts, Freemasons, NOW, etc.) is one thing . . . but why is any group THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING allowed to discriminate against a protected class? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/13 "2008-07-31T01:10:52Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] but why is any group THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING allowed to discriminate against a protected class? [/QUOTE] Congress is exempt from most employment laws. [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967427,00.html?promoid=googlep](http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967427,00.html?promoid=googlep) ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/14 "2008-07-31T02:43:49Z")
[QUOTE=Saint Cad] This is where I have a problem. A group of Congressmen that eat lunch together or a private organization (like Boy Scouts, Freemasons, NOW, etc.) is one thing . . . but why is any group THAT RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING allowed to discriminate against a protected class? [/QUOTE] Because they are not, despite your fervent dsesire to believe it, discriminating against any protected classes. (And because Congress generally writes the rules in a way that they are not bound by them.) (You might also lose a discussion of your angst on the grounds that no lae is being broken as no one is being discriminated against in terms of hiring or services, since it is, effectively, a private association; no members are hired to join, for example. OTOH, I am not willing to pursue that line of thought, since we are basicaly engaged in a bit of Recreational Outrage, to begin with.) ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/15 "2008-07-31T02:49:57Z")
They have a womans conference too. Do we want to go there. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/16 "2008-07-31T19:04:56Z")
Without even opening this thread, I was positive that this would be about the Congressional Black Caucus and that the words “white caucus” would appear in the OP. I was not disappointed. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/17 "2008-07-31T19:56:24Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] They have a womans conference too. Do we want to go there. [/QUOTE] I don’t know. Maybe we do. After all, every single member of Congress has women in their districts, and every one ought to have some notion of women interests in mind when they attend to legislative business. There is no men’s conference, yet there are issues that affect men only that ought to receive similar direct attention. Selective Service issues and men’s health problems instantly come to mind. I see no reason why these matters should be seen as an exclusive concern of one set of people only, and therefore I see no reason why groups looking at them should be exclusionary. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/18 "2008-07-31T20:13:09Z")
What’s more of a concern is efforts to challenge Cohen in the primary that are motivated by his race and religion. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/19 "2008-08-01T01:20:53Z")
Black leaders believe they have problems that only the blacks experience. They can develop plans on how to tackle problems that whites may not even know about. . ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-black-representatives-racist/458188/20 "2008-08-01T01:59:32Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] Black leaders believe they have problems that only the blacks experience. They can develop plans on how to tackle problems that whites may not even know about. . [/QUOTE] And I understand that. My problem is with a group having discrimenatory practices written in their rules getting any support from public tax dollars.