Black political activists who also call themselves members of the Tea Party movement on Wednesday rebuked charges of racism running rampant in the group.

At a news conference in Washington, the black members asserted that the Tea Party is not at all racist and that the accusations come from outsiders trying to discredit and sabotage the movement.

"The injection of race has come from those who want to destroy us," said Selena Owens, an regular speaker with the Tea Party Express, one of the many libertarian, anti-tax groups in the movement that organized the news conference.

Herman Cain, a radio talk show host, said the accusations are "hurled at us to divide us and to deflect attention away from the failed policies of this congress and this president."

Kevin Jackson, author of "The Big Black Lie" added, "There are two kinds of people I have never seen at a Tea Party: a racist and anyone who owns a yacht. And if they do own a yacht, they pay their taxes."

The Tea Party Express organized the news conference to refute accusations of racism that have been heightened by the recent split with former group leader Mark Williams. Recently, Williams posted a letter on his blog written from "Colored People" to Abraham Lincoln, which suggested that black people would choose slavery over having to do real work.

"Our slowness to split with Mark should by no means condone racism. It was just out of loyalty to our friend," said William Owens, a black conservative author who has also been a featured speaker on past Tea Party Express tours.

The letter Williams wrote on his blog immediately led to a war of words between him and the NAACP, or National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which specifically called Williams a racist and suggested there are many more inside the Tea Party movement.

The black activists at Wednesday's event were at some times dismissive of the NAACP, and at other times outright hostile toward the organization.

"I don't think the NAACP are even relevant anymore," said Tim Johnson, vice chairman of the North Carolina GOP. "I think they just did that to get some news coverage."

Niger Innis, a spokesman for the Congress of Racial Equality was more direct.

"I have nothing but respect for the tradition of the NAACP, but I have nothing but contempt for the current leadership and tactics of the current leadership," he said. "There's still a need for the [group], but not if they continue to let themselves be prostituted by some elements of the Democratic party."

When asked about an incident where Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a black Democrat from Missouri, was allegedly spit on during a Tea Party rally on Capitol Hill last march, Robert Broadus, who is running for a U.S. congressional seat in Maryland, said, "It never happened."

"There's no evidence, and we are a country of laws," he added.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/08/04/black-political-activists-tea-party-racist/?test=latestnews

people are and can be racist, these people have the freedom to join whatever organizations they choose,,, some organizations are more appealing to a racist than others,, but that is not cause to label the organization racist


it never hurts though, when racism is spotted, to say something against it(although I have never agreed that not speaking up was the same as condoning)

I dont believe organizations like the Tea Party or NAACP are racist or founded in any racist ideals, but I do believe they are bound to have some people who join believing their racist opinions will be reinforced and supported,,

like minds think alike...

Jackson and Sharpton aren't members ...

are they racist?

How about the call of racism comes from outsiders who saw members of the tea party being racist and called it what it was?

That is more likely.

You know they can hire people to say whatever they want them to.

I have to believe what my eyes have seen and my ears have heard because I can truthfully say I saw and heard racism.

yea, when they burn those crosses at their rallies, and wear the white sheets, it's pretty obvious.

at some points in their life, IM sure(having both lived through segregation and jim crow),,, but I dont know them personally

Believe nothing you 'hear' and only half of what you see.............

Of course not, they don't associate with Whitey.

Yea because CNN and MSNBC is so accurate. By the way, have you been to one of these rallies? Hell have you ever been to a political rally or event in your life? Watching CNN, MSNBC, Youtube, DU, KOS or the internet doesn't count.

and this is the argument about most racist claims against organizations,, people who make the claims have rarely attended a meeting(why would they if its not a cause they are interested in and they think the people are bigoted?)


BALANCE is when we try to listen to what people with experience say and balance that with common sense and what history has taught us(personal or any other type of history)

They can be part of the counter meeting\portest and actually see whats going on.........

a good suggestion, I dont choose to go because Im not a fervent constitutionalist and dont agree its an unchangable and sacred document

but I have read their mission statement and nothing in it is overtly racist, although I can see where some racists might see an interest

Not to mention there is a lot of African American's and other minorities who are involved in the Tea Party movement and are leaders of the movement.

just as there are whites benefitting from UNCFs and Affirmative Action and whites in the NAACP,, but all still face charges of racism from those who havent experienced or researched,,,


and there is that tricky minority of people who actually are racist against their own race, and their presence is sometimes mistaken for proof that racism isnt existent,,, but thats another topic for another day