“…I intend to do whatever I can to wake up those White Americans who have become ‘bamboozled’ into believing that a moderately educated, southern black woman will do something for them. Obviously, they have forgotten what Atlanta was like for our people before we had a White Mayor…”

Imagine me saying this in today’s world. What would I be called? A racist? A bigot? A hater? Would this be labeled hate speech or punishable by the new hate crimes legislation? Would I face any public backlash for saying these words?

The answer to all is a resounding “yes!” (except for the legal ramifications, I’m not a lawyer so I’m not too sure if it would qualify.)

The fact of the matter is that these words were written by the wife of former Atlanta City Mayor Maynard Jackson, Bunnie Jackson-Ransom. The only difference was that instead of “white” she used the word “black” and “African.”

“…wake up those African Americans…”

“…a moderately educated, southern white woman…”

“…for our people before we had a Black Mayor…”

Her response when questioned? She said she didn’t know her words would become public. Oh, okay. That’s a good excuse.

Folks, the bottom line is that when race becomes the focus of any election instead of results and candidate qualifications, nasty things like this come out…from both sides. My biggest problem is that the side increasing racial tensions is the same one quick to play the “race card” when they are losing.

And now for a moment of insight: Did Barack Obama winning the 2008 election show that America is finally seeing past racial lines (though, evidently, it didn’t) or did it really show that America is more sexist (e.g. Sarah Palin = woman) than we are racist?