Anti-Southern Bias In The New York Times

[Syrinx]

I just came across an article in the Times about Harold Ford's Senatorial campaign, thanks to DU's DeepModem Mom.

This passage stood out to me:

He is an African-American in a region that has not sent an African-American to the Senate since Reconstruction.

Quick. Can anyone name all the African-Americans that have ever been elected to the U.S. Senate?

If you said "Edward Brooke, Carol Moseley Braun, and Barack Obama," I think you are correct. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

There have been a grand total of three black elected senators. Two from Illinois, and one from Massachusetts. That's all.

Yet, the reporter feels the need to put the above passage in her article. I think it says a lot about ignorance and a certain type of prejudice.

EDIT: Forgot to linky-link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/31/us/31tennessee.html?hp&ex=1149134400&en=00cc140f444da136&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[RoyGBiv]

1. This irritates me to no end ...

Even more interesting is what this implies, to wit that Black Senators were elected from the South during Reconstruction while they were not from any other area of the country until Massachusetts elected Brooke in the 60's.

I see this a lot on other forums I frequent, particularly ones devoted to the discussion of the Civil War and its aftermath when some, well, Yankee type goes off on the inherent immorality of the South, using as an example the fact that with the end of Reconstruction came the end of blacks in the US Senate. While it is true enough on its face, the information is presented in a way that silently absolves other areas of the nation of any taint in this matter.

This is what a friend of mine would call the "Other-ing" of the American South.

I'll say in this case what I say in those, racism is a national problem and always has been.

[Syrinx]

2. Well, RoyGBiv, I Just Fired Off This Email To The Reporter

If she replies, I'll post it here. But don't hold your breath. :)

EDIT: Damn it! I just realized I left out the "African-American" qualifier! Maybe she'll understand what I meant anyway. Damn it!

Hello, Ms. Toner.

I read your article about Harold Ford's race for the U.S. Senate with interest. I generally liked it. However I was troubled with one particular detail.

"He is an African-American in a region that has not sent an African-American to the Senate since Reconstruction."

While this is technically true, I think it is misleading. As far as I can tell, there have been only three popularly-elected US senators in the history of the country.

If you were writing about the Pacific Northwest, for example, would you have included that statement?

Eagerly awaiting your reply. Thank you.

[Debau2005]

3. Good point!

Don't place this necessarily on the South, it is a trend nation-wide.

[Syrinx]

4. as promised, I think she's evasive

interesting point. but the fact is, african americans make up a large proportion of voters in the south -- much more than in the pacific northwest. the lack of statewide elected officials, given those numbers, is more striking in the south.
robin toner



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Hello, Ms. Toner. I read your article about Harold Ford's race for the U.S. Senate with interest. I generally liked it. However I was troubled with one particular detail. "He is an African-American in a region that has not sent an African-American to the Senate since Reconstruction." While this is technically true, I think it is misleading. As far as I can tell, there have been only three popularly-elected US senators in the history of the country. If you were writing about the Pacific Northwest, for example, would you have included that statement? Eagerly awaiting your reply. Thank you.

[RoyGBiv]

5. Both evasive and ignorant ...

A striking difference exists between "voters" and "voting age population" amongst Blacks in the South.

In any case, all she she seems to be saying here is that naturally the larger proportion of White voters in other areas of the country can't be expected to vote for a Black person.

[Syrinx]

6. exactly right, now that I think about

I quite even thinking after reading about half of her reply. Her argument (if you can call it that) is kind of ironic.

[Vorta]

9. Self delete- didn't notice thread age

[Rowdyboy]

7. It would be funny if it weren't so sad....I'm a native Mississippian.....

and a lifelong liberal Democrat so I know all about being unfairly stereotyped. Geography is no more important that sex or race in determining a person's political views.

[Vorta]

8. Self delete- didn't notice thread age