U.S. Administration and African Americans:
Sowing Contempt to Harvest Votes and Patriotism
Here thus is an American administration that does not hide its support for racism, by refusing to accept
that Zionism be recognized by the international community as a racist philosophy, that does not want to
hear about the U.S. responsibility in the African slavery system. But this administration cannot alienate the
African American votes since Bush wants to preserve the capacity in 2004, and especially he relies on the
African Americans' patriotism to carry out the multiple wars projected as proof of his mandate.
by Ndzana Seme
Should the fact that Trent Lott (the senator elected as the new leader of the Republicans? group to the
U.S. Senate) was finally doomed to being withdrawn be regarded as a victory of the African Americans
or as a quickly repaired Republicans' political error? The denouement of the matter does it show that from
now on the black minority weighs on the balance of the American interests or is this rather a simple error
the Republicans were to sanction to avoid alienating the invaluable black votes in the near future?
Trent Lott had indeed expressed himself, without reserve, during a ceremony celebrating the hundredth
anniversary of Strom Thurmond, R- South Carolina retiring after 48 years in the Senate, and former 1948
poor presidential candidate having campaigned under segregationist colors. "The State of the Mississippi
was proud to have voted for Thurmond headed states rights, anti-integration Dixiecrat ticket that
captured 39 Southern electoral votes?", said the Trent Lott. Then he added with ardor: "And if the
rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn?t have had all these problems over all these
years, either". In spite of several public excuses following the black leaders' protests qualifying his
remarks of a "hateful bigotry" that had no place in Congress, Lott was driven back to step down from
the post of leader of the Republicains? group in the Senate, especially after being repudiated by president
George Bush.
But the Republicans got rid of Trent Lott, not because they may be less racist today than yesterday, but
especially because the 2004 presidential elections are ahead. Consequently the moment is not adapted for
them to alienate a black electorate known as historically essential during final settlements that make
winners.
A few days before September 11, 2001 Bush administration had clearly shown to the world its support
for racism. Indeed, during the World Conference of the United Nations about Racism held in Durban,
South Africa, Bush initially refused to send Colin Powell. Then he ordered his mandated U.S. delegation
to slam the door before the end of the conference. ?George Bush, the impolite president yanked his
U.S. delegation home", commented Michael Kelly of the New York Post.
?What is this amazing hold that Israel has on United States policy that such a vital issue as the
fight against racism can be reduced to a spat over a country the U.S. treats like a spoiled baby??,
said Gitau Warigi, a columnist for the Sunday Nation newspaper of Kenya.
Two reasons had guided the contempt Bush expressed during the Conference of Durban: 1) all the
international pressures (in particular from 6,000 nongovernmental organizations) from now on were joined
together so that a resolution sleeping since 16 years in the books of the UNO and equating Zionism with
racism could finally be adopted, and 2) the recognition and the reparations for the crimes of slavery and
colonization of the Africans by the Western countries which benefited from these systems.
This racism is one of the reasons why there is a widespreading anti-Bush sentiment, that had become an
anti-American sentiment ,around the world.
-02/18/2003 Original article in French
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©2003 The African Independent, Inc. All rights to republication are reserved