That blogger is wrong. Though race is not the primary issue in the behavior of either Rice or Secretary of State Colin Powell, it is a factor in the role they play for the administration. Their being African-American is used as a form of Teflon to keep the corrupt policies they support from being criticized. Sylvester' error was not in mentioning the role race plays for the pair. It was in using crude terminology. The error is a minor one, in my opinion. Sylvester's two points:

~ The Bush administration is wrongheaded in its foreign policy, and

~ The Bush administration is hostile to the interests of people of color despite having two black appointees

are accurate.

ALB has unwittingly given credence to Right Wing whites like Scott Hogenson of CNS, who tried to claim that Sylvester's faux pas is equivalent to joking about murdering blacks. It is important that thoughtful people keep the matter in perspective. John Sylvester appears to be a person who has long supported the aspirations of people of color. His critics, both white conservatives and their black cat's paws, are largely people hostile to black Americans — unless the black Americans are Condoleezza Rice or Colin Powell.

What's the art?

An image of Aunt Jemima, the icon associated with pancake mix.

Read a history of Aunt Jemima at Ad Age.

Note 1: This entry also appeared at Silver Rights.

Note 2: Enjoy a mixed grille of fine blogging at Mac-a-ro-nies.