Racist Republican Sworn into Charlottte Commission

• By staying quiet, by not holding these people accountable for their racist positions, we allow them to continue to hurt our children, our elderly, and our communities.

It seems as if the whole world has gone plum crazy ever since the election ended five weeks ago. Conservative folks seem to be more emboldened now to say whatever the heck is on their minds, thanks to this newfound "moral superiority" rubbin' elbows with the evangelicals has given them. Yeah, right. Billy James outdid himself last week when he sent an e-mail to almost 1300 people calling Blacks illiterate, claiming Blacks live in a "moral sewer," and suggesting that a military-type camp should be started just for Black students, paid for by the taxpayers. James even paid homage to comedian Bill Cosby-- who criticized the Black poor recently-- for apparently giving him the "moral" license to spew such immoral crap. Well, to their credit, Black leadership in Mecklenburg County, led by the NAACP, wouldn't stand for it. Realizing that this man was mounting a direct assault on their children and their parents, Black leaders there blasted Commissioner James as nothing less than racist, and demanded he step down from office, even though he was days away from being sworn-in for a fifth term. The moral leadership of African-Americans even put heat under top Republicans in Charlotte, making twenty of them, led by Mayor Pat McCrory, denounce James and his racist rhetoric. And when the poor man tried to be sworn in Monday night with the rest of the County Commission Board, the 400 in attendance wouldn't let him speak, forcing James to forego his remarks, and take his family safely off the stage. In the end, Commissioner Bill James apologized. Not for what he said, but for the way he said it. [more]

• James meets with local black leaders [more]