Letter to the Editor

Washington Post

"Barack the Magic Negro"
December 31, 2008

Chip Saltsman’s “gift” to his colleagues of a music CD with the song entitled “Barack the Magic Negro,” caricatures President-Elect Obama, as well as all Americans of African descent, and harkens back to earlier stereotypes from the days of black-faced minstrel shows.

What is more disturbing is that other public officials are excusing Mr. Saltsman’s gift, and validating it as acceptable and inoffensive.  That Mr. Saltsman and several of his colleagues have dismissed critical news articles as a “desire for scandal” trivializes reactions to this kind of offensive speech.  In doing so, they have a chilling effect on the ongoing social dialogue on diversity and inclusion that is our expectation of the incoming Obama administration.

ELIZABETH P. SALETT

President