By John W. Lillpop
In the summer of 2008, Dallas County commissioners discussing traffic ticket collections were jolted when Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield, who is white, used the term "back hole" to describe the recurring problem of lost paperwork.
Mayfield's statement was immediately challenged by Commissioner John Wiley Price, who is black. Price belted out a loud "Excuse me!" and proceeded to upbraid Mayfield by saying that the problem of lost paperwork was the unwelcome byproduct of a "white hole."
That caused Judge Thomas Jones, who is black, to demand an apology from Mayfield for his racially insensitive analogy.
This dust up provided a keen insight to the precarious state of race relations in America and the obvious need for change.
Those who believe in fairy tales thought that Barack Obama, although the least qualified candidate for the presidency in decades, would bring healing to America in the area of race relations.
Unfortunately, Obama's "post-racial" America is not even close to being reality, partially because of missteps by Obama himself.
It was he who accused a white police officer of "acting stupidly" for arresting a black man who appeared to be involved in a crime.
In addition, the Obama administration's refusal to prosecute New Black Panther members for voter intimidation during the 2008 election serves to deepen the wounds of racial unrest and distrust.
Clearly, when it comes to race relations, Barack Obama is no "healer" nor even a reasonable voice. He would do well to heed the counsel of black entertainer Bill Cosby by keeping his mouth shut.
What to do, then, about the day after Thanksgiving? Traditionally, that day heralds the start of the Christmas shopping season, and is known far and wide as "black Friday."
Is that a racist term?
What of black sheep, black clouds, black box, black humor, black Monday, black magic, and black helicopters?
Indian summers, Mexican stand-offs, and white washes?
All to be stricken from the vocabulary of those who practice PC speech for fear of being of being regarded as racist?
I say to heck with it all.
Let the whiners and weasels debate the issue all they want.
Just don't get in my way when I have that $500 46" HDTV in my sights on Black Friday, mate!
