to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask, why?

[The Straight Story]

Prescott school mural's racial themes spark debate

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (AP) — A new mural at Miller Valley Elementary School that depicts children of several races using "green" transportation methods appears to have struck a nerve among some Prescott residents.

....

Although many of the comments on the Courier's website offer unqualified admiration for the mural, others are harshly critical, using words such as "tacky," ''ugly" and "ghetto."

The subtext in some of the comments: race.

.......

On his May 21 show, for instance, Blair said, "I am not a racist individual, but I will tell you depicting a black guy in the middle of that mural, based upon who's president of the United States today and based upon the history of this community when I grew up, we had four black families — who I have been very good friends with for years — to depict the biggest picture on that building as a black person, I would have to ask the question, 'Why?'"

On Wednesday, Blair again emphasized that "I'm not a racist by any stretch of the imagination, but whenever people start talking about diversity, it's a word I can't stand."

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Prescott-school-mural-s-racial-themes-spark-debate-511142.php

[YOY]

1. "whenever people start talking about diversity, it's a word I can't stand."

Sorry Blair...you indeed are a motha fuckin racist if you cannot stand the word "diversity".

[hobbit709]

2. How about we call him total all round asshole instead of racist.

would that make him feel better?

[MrScorpio]

3. That's a black guy?

Are they sure that that's a black guy?

I don't know. Like it really matters.

And, uh... when did black guys on murals become controversial all of the sudden?


Oh yeah... Blair, you're a racist.

[DevonRex]

7. Nope, it's not. The article goes on to say,

"The boy in the center is of Mexican descent, Katan added."

And apparently the artists are being told they have to lighten up the faces. Because only light is good, you know. ::grr:

[gateley]

8. Yep. Doesn't matter. He's not white. nt

[DevonRex]

20. Disgusting, isn't it?

I swear that state gets worse by the minute. I'm doubly glad I'm boycotting. I actually checked on political contributions for a company that I do (did) some online business with, and sure enough the owners are huge Republican donors.

edited to add (did)

[struggle4progress]

16. Well, you know. Integrated groups of school kids. And then transportation.

It's got to remind you of buses, I mean, integrated buses, you know. And then, that word "diversity." And the kid is big. So with the integrated buses and the diversity, who wouldn't think "Yikes, it's a really big bad scary black guy! And why is he grinning? What's up with that?" Plus, it's painted. On a wall. Just like graffiti is painted on walls. And there are all those kids, just like in a gang. So it's, like, gang graffiti. And naturally, when you see gang graffiti on walls, you think of big bad scary black guys. Just like when you hear the word "diversity" you think of gangs of big bad scary black guys spraying graffiti on walls. Like this wall. So, anyway, why is the government using tax dollars to encourage people to spray graffiti on walls here in real America?

[damntexdem]

4. A modern racist's favorite way to start a comment: "I am not a racist, but."

It ain't just hating the word "diversity," it's especially the defensive "I'm not a racist, but" that tips us all off.

[Bill McBlueState]

5. AND

"this community when I grew up, we had four black families — who I have been very good friends with for years"

Get out your Things Racists Say bingo cards, everyone.

[EFerrari]

15. No kidding! Omg.

[Caliman73]

22. A not so subtle way of saying....

"Now look at this place, you got a big 'ol Negroe on a painting on Main Street. There goes the neighborhood.":puke:

[DefenseLawyer]

6. Don't forget the "finger quotes" when saying "Maybe I'm not 'politically correct' but..."

followed by what ever racist crap is blowing out of his pie hole.

[rurallib]

11. fill in the blank "Some of my best friends are ___________"

[Parker CA]

10. Bill Maher had a great line about that last week. Something to the effect of,

whenever you hear someone being a sentence by saying 'I'm not a racist,' you're about to hear some racist fuckin' shit.

So true.

[The Doctor.]

9. Unreccing trolls apparently don't like criticism of racists.

[DevonRex]

19. Not if the racists live in AZ.

Apparently all other racists are fair game, though. :shrug:

[madrchsod]

12. blair is a racist pig....i hope the good people of prescott are better than him

[LeftinOH]

13. "I'm not a racist by any stretch of the imagination.." Speechless, I am.

[Jamastiene]

14. Four black families?

Why so few? I'd freak if there were that few black families around. There should be way more black people around than that.

[Tailormyst]

21. Growing up there were no black families in my town until the early- mid 80's

The only black children we were exposed to were bussed in from Boston to go to school there.

[Jamastiene]

24. My neighborhood was integrated.

There are other neighborhoods in my hometown that are not, but mine was completely integrated. We had several families of every race you can imagine.

I didn't understand the other kids in the other parts of the county who had such animosity toward other races. I didn't truly understand at that time the ones who just didn't know other races either.

I guess everyone's experiences haven't been alike in this regard.

[Brewman_Jax]

17. Four black families lived in the neighborhood he grew up in

sounds like that was 4 black families too many for him. Oh, and, of course, they were "good friends for years", I wonder what his idea of "friends" is?

[alfredo]

18. Hey asshole, grow up.

[road2000]

23. Arizona.

Nuff said.

[fishwax]

25. what a bigot

:puke:

[ecstatic]

26. Every bit of news coming out of AZ lately has been disgusting

Actually, it's not even "lately." They've had a poor record for decades.