A sitting member of the U.S. Congress,
Robert Pittenger, did a widely televised interview on the
BBC, regarding current North Carolina protests and riots, in
response to the shooting death of black man Keith Lamont
Scott at the hands of an unnamed police officer. Congressman
Pittenger, of North Carolina, caused a great deal of offense
with his degrading racial statements that are a poor
representation of the U.S. Congress.
The interview started quite normally, but
then Pittenger began making race based statements that were
uncomfortable. BBC newscaster James O’Brien tried to steer
him back on the right track, to refocus on the protests and
riots that occurred due to the murder of Keith Lamont Scott.
However, congressman Pittenger veered off course again,
crashed and burned by stating of the black protesters, “They
hate white people because white people are successful and
they are not.”
Wow. Just wow.
O’Brien, squinting in utter disbelief then
asked, “So a black man gets shot by a black police officer
and the people protest because they hate white people?”
Pittenger reiterated his statement and blamed it on the
brother of murder victim Keith Scott having stated he hates
all white people.
The BBC is one of the largest newscasters in
the world. Their broadcasts are translated into many
languages and beamed out across the world to countless
millions. Therefore, many people witnessed the ignorance
Pittenger stated and as a member of Congress. Pittenger
apologized last night, but the damage was done. People are
now wondering how many other people in Congress hold his
ignorant, incorrect view of black people.
Robert Pittenger
Yesterday morning in the article “Oklahoma
Police Killing Unarmed Black Man Terrence Crutcher For
Having Car Trouble And Looking Like 'A Bad Dude' Is Racial
Profiling” I stated members of government such as the police
are representing America in the world and should be mindful
of their actions.
Pittenger would do well to keep that in mind
as well, especially when he decides to do an international
interview and defame black people to countless millions
around the world. He has poorly represented America on the
BBC giving a false, defamatory and offensive impression of
black people. The average black person does not hate white
people. Black people dislike being singled out for harmful,
abusive and deadly treatment, as we repeatedly see with
African Americans men being summarily murdered by police.
Basketball legend and successful businessman
Michael Jordan grew up in North Carolina and I can tell you
right now, he wouldn’t switch places with Pittenger, me or
anyone else, black or white. So please, desist with the
egotistical, self-aggrandizing, crazy crap on television
like there are no successful black people in existence.
For the record, I’m a black woman and I
don’t hate white people. I love white people and all races.
Therefore, it is disappointing and offensive to hear people
make the type of statements Pittenger did on television.
