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Sports reporter Jemele Hill set off a firestorm of backlash when she came out in defense of controversial comments by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The Atlantic staff writer was slammed on social media for backing Biden’s controversial “you ain’t black” remark as something that was “accurate.”
“The issue wasn’t what Joe Biden said, because it was accurate. The issue was that it came from Biden. It also was clearly a joke that didn’t land,” Hill tweeted, referring to the former vice president’s eyebrow-raising comment when he defended his track record in an interview on the radio show “The Breakfast Club.”
“I tell you if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” Biden told host Charlamagne tha God, sparking immediate backlash.
He finally gave an apology of sorts after hours of media coverage while his campaign and surrogates attempted to play down the comments, and as social media hashtags like #YouAintBlack and #JoeBidenIsARacist began trending on Twitter.
“But I’m wondering where all this outrage was yesterday when y’all president declared his public devotion to a Nazi sympathizer,” Hill wondered in her tweet about Biden Friday, and apparently a reference to President Trump’s comments about Henry Ford during his visit to the Ford Motor factory this week.
The issue wasn’t what Joe Biden said, because it was accurate. The issue was that it came from Biden. It also was clearly a joke that didn’t land. But I’m wondering where all this outrage was yesterday when y’all president declared his public devotion to a Nazi sympathizer.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 22, 2020
Hill’s tweet was quickly challenged.
You’re so wrong it’s not even funny. Is this an attempt at a bad joke? Biden is a racist and his record reflects that. He helped write the crime bill, took an award from George Wallace and used it to get donation & he tried to stop Black kids from busing to former white schools.
— Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) May 23, 2020
Hey Jemele, why do liberals like yourself use identity politics to guilt trip people into voting for who YOU think they should vote for?
Black people, and every person, have a right to vote for whoever they want!
— Omar Navarro (@RealOmarNavarro) May 23, 2020
A JOKE?! What is wrong with you? Get off the Democrat plantation.
— Anna Khait (@Annakhait) May 22, 2020
Hill engaged in many back-and-forth tweets with those criticizing her take.
The issue is who said it, not what was said. White folks should never define what’s black.
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 22, 2020
“I don’t have a problem with the statement because he was clearly referring to this from a policy and track record standpoint,” the former ESPN host wrote. “If you’re black and you support anti-black policies and positions, then that makes you …? You’re still technically black but you ain’t with us.”
I don’t have a problem with the statement because he was clearly referring to this from a policy and track record standpoint. If you’re black and you support anti-black policies and positions, then that makes you …? You’re still technically black but you ain’t with us
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) May 22, 2020
New York Times Magazine columnist Thomas Chatterton Williams contended that the “problem was, in fact, what he said.”
The problem was, in fact, what he said. He’s gaffe prone and Trump said something worse, fine––that’s to be expected. What’s more disturbing is this acceptance of the idea that an ethnic identity *must be wed* to a specific politics. What other ethnic group is policed like this? https://t.co/EcoqZE3BUm
— Thomas Chatterton Williams 🌍 🎧 (@thomaschattwill) May 22, 2020
Hill did find some who backed her narrative.
Every single sentence is correct. https://t.co/EtK367O5Wh
— Franklin Leonard (@franklinleonard) May 22, 2020
They don’t CARE! They just wanna whine on https://t.co/ciFknGxSsy
— Akilah Hughes (@AkilahObviously) May 22, 2020
People are looking for a reason to be mad for 4 more years. So now that narrative will be “Did you hear what Biden said? See he’s racist. Can’t vote for him, so I won’t vote. I don’t care who’s…….” BLAH BLAH STUPID FRICKIN BLAH!…I will not be drinking that kool-aid. #Biden
— Robert C. Riley (@RobRileyNYC) May 22, 2020
But many other Twitter users continued to call out Hill for her defense of the former vice president.
“Which is it? A ‘joke’ we’re not supposed to take seriously or an ‘accurate’ truth?” former Sanders national press secretary Briahna Joy Gray tweeted.
1) Which is it? A “joke” we’re not supposed to take seriously or an “accurate” truth?
2) It not surprising that a known racist does racist things. It is noteworthy (and newsworthy) when the chosen representative of a multiracial, inclusive party dabbles in racial essentialism. https://t.co/NkKs3Z2AeE
— Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) May 22, 2020
I don’t get the joke. https://t.co/iDWDqGZ9QA
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) May 22, 2020
Didn’t land?
Didn’t take off is more like it.
— Dean H (@Dean_Housden) May 22, 2020
‘it was accurate’ 😂 https://t.co/J898dEpm1L
— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) May 22, 2020
Seeing the first to grab a broom trying to sweep this up really confirms what we’ve known about them.
— #Obamagate Kyzar Says So (@skyzarbiker) May 22, 2020
I can’t even see the point of view in which what Biden said was accurate. Literally not a single angle makes it accurate
— Travy (@trabreee) May 22, 2020
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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