NAACP Asked to Fulfill Pledge to Repudiate Racial Slurs Against Black Conservative

The National Center for Public Policy Research – Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2010 Contact: David Almasi at (202) 543-4110 x11 or cell (703) 568-4727      or dalmasi@nationalcenter.org Judy Kent at (703) 759-7476 or jkent@nationalcenter.org

Washington, D.C. - The NAACP is being called upon to make good on its pledge to repudiate slurs made against Project 21 Fellow Deneen Borelli simply because she is an outspoken black female conservative.

The pledge was made by NAACP Senior Vice President Hilary Shelton on the July 17 edition of "Geraldo At Large" on the Fox News Channel.

During the broadcast, Borelli asked Shelton if the NAACP would issue a statement condemning those who expose her to race-based abuse:

Borelli: "I'm a black, female conservative. I'm often targeted by individuals who call me all kinds of names: racist, an Uncle Tom, a traitor - you name it. I'd like to know if the NAACP will issue a statement condemning those individuals who were doing that."

Shelton: "Why, yes, ma'am... Just give us some details... The very broad answer is... yes, we repudiate anybody calling you a bad name in the political arena."

Shelton added that the NAACP repudiated past assaults on Bush Administration cabinet members General Colin Powell and Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

In 2004, then- NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume said, "attacks on Rice by the radio host and political cartoonists who use stereotypes and racial caricatures are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses. This is something the NAACP has fought against for more than 95 years and something we will continue to oppose."

Mfume was understood to be referring to WTDY-Madison radio host John "Sly" Sylvester calling Rice "Aunt Jemima," cartoonist Ted Rall calling Rice President Bush's "house nigga," cartoonist Garry Trudeau calling her "Brown Sugar" and cartoonists Pat Oliphant and Jeff Danziger drawing her with accentuated black features and a rural dialect.  Sylvester also called Colin Powell "Uncle Tom" on the air.

In response to Shelton's request to Borelli for details, a letter from Borelli was delivered to Shelton's office on July 28. In it, Borelli described some racist statements made against her and other Project 21 members and attached a packet of e-mails and postings on the Internet in which she and other Project 21 members have been called "Uncle Tom," "Auntie Tom," "Sambo," "house negro," "treasonous," "black tea-bagging ni**er," "sell out," "retarded," "hypocritical," "coon," "Stepin Fetchit," and a "modern day mammy," "despicable piece of garbage," "black cancer" and "black bitch."

Among the samples of emails sent to Borelli and forwarded to Shelton was this:

You faggot niggas need to be lynched by the Klan. I pray a nightrider strings up every one of you no count good for nothing niggas, it would serve you right for trying to think that these crackers love you. I hate a house nigga worse than I do a Klansman. Rot in hell you scurvy dogs. I would laugh to see you body strung up. It would save us real brothers the time and trouble to do it.

Borelli also told Shelton:

As we both seek a more civil debate, I am sure you are as appalled by these statements and the many others like them as I am. And I once again want to thank you for your on-air agreement on July 17 that the NAACP will specifically condemn the slurs made against me because I am an outspoken black conservative woman. We very much appreciate having the weight and prestige of the NAACP behind an effort to stop this unwarranted, unfair and uncivil treatment of people based solely on their political beliefs and skin color.

Project 21 is looking forward to the statement of repudiation by the NAACP.

Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization sponsored by the National Center for Public Policy Research, has been a leading voice of the African-American community since 1992.

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