Now that I’ve cleared my throat, let me explain: I was torn about spelling out in print all six letters of the hate-filled N-word. I don’t like saying it in mixed company. That means around white people, even at rap concerts.
They stood behind Pritzker and offered forgiveness that suggests to a lot
of people-white people, that is-that they too should get a pass for sneaky
racism so long as they don’t speak in vicious racial slurs. There are a lot
of people-African-Americans and people of color across this city-who don’t
forgive him. Some fear electing Pritzker is trading one racially
insensitive billionaire governor for another. If you haven’t heard from
those people, it’s because their opinions don’t matter much to the
Democratic machine or the mainstream media.
“He understands that, and he’ll try to do better,” Scott said. “But by no
means do I think he meant it as a sneak dis or to call somebody the N-word.
I just think that’s an unfair categorization.”
Alderman Roderick Sawyer (Sixth),
the south-sider who leads the City Council Black Caucus, described Pritzker
as using “uncomfortable language” that falls short of being racist.
“I will say that I think he became enlightened and more sensitive to the
fact of how he speaks, particularly about somebody African-American,” he
said.
Alderman Anthony Beale (Ninth), who represents a poor, black part of the
far south side and supports Chris Kennedy for governor, has a different
take. He said the wiretapped conversation between Pritzker and Blago
reveals a lot about the relationship African-American leaders and voters
have with the Democratic establishment.
