Professor ripped for suggesting Amy Coney Barrett is a ‘White coloniser’ who uses two Black children as ‘props’
A Boston University professor was ripped for implying Amy Coney Barrett is a “white coloniser” who uses her two adopted Haitian children as “props.”
Ibram X Kendi is now facing backlash and calls for his sacking after making the claims on social media.
Ms Barrett, a white woman, has seven children including two Black children she and her husband adopted from the impoverished Caribbean island.
What an outstanding choice from the President. A great day for the White House—and great day for our country! Congratulations Judge Coney Barrett and her beautiful family. #ConfirmACB #FillThatSeat pic.twitter.com/GMeyoQTs1V
— Mark Meadows (@MarkMeadows) September 26, 2020
Mr Kendi drew criticism when he wrote that a White person adopting a Black child did not prevent them from being racist.
The academic did not accuse Ms Barrett, who was nominated by Donald Trump to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, of being racist in his argument.
“Some White colonisers “adopted” Black children,” he wrote in a Saturday Twitter post.
“They “civilised” these “savage” children in the “superior” ways of White people, while using them as props in their lifelong pictures of denial, while cutting the biological parents of these children out of the picture of humanity.”
Some White colonizers "adopted" Black children. They "civilized" these "savage" children in the "superior" ways of White people, while using them as props in their lifelong pictures of denial, while cutting the biological parents of these children out of the picture of humanity. https://t.co/XBE9rRnoqq
— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) September 26, 2020
Kendi made the remarks in response to a Tweet showing Ms Barrett’s sister, Carrie, holding two Black children, neither of whom were adopted by the president’s nominee.
But the academic told his social followers that “whether this is Barrett or not is not the point.”
“It is a belief too many White people have: if they have or adopt a child of colour, then they can’t be racist,” he said.
After his Tweet received criticism online, Mr Kendi, a New York Times best-selling author, clarified his position.
“I'm challenging the idea that White parents of kids of colour are inherently “not racist” and the bots completely change what I'm saying to “White parents of kids of colour are inherently racist.” he wrote.
“These live and fake bots are good at their propaganda. Let's not argue with them.”
Republicans and right-wing websites were quick to jump on Mr Kendi’s comments.
“Ibram Kendi launches a cruel, racist attack against Judge Barrett and her family. But what else would we expect from a fraud like him?” wrote GOP Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote.
Ibram Kendi launches a cruel, racist attack against Judge Barrett and her family. But what else would we expect from a fraud like him? https://t.co/5wAzwy1RaS
— Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) September 26, 2020
Mr Kendi, who is also a correspondent for CBS News and a writer for The Atlantic, hit back at his critics on Sunday.
“We should take it as a compliment when people attack us personally or when people misrepresent our work,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Because that means they can't challenge what we are actually saying or writing or meaning or doing. Take the compliments with grace and move on.”
We should take it as a compliment when people attack us personally or when people misrepresent our work. Because that means they can’t challenge what we are actually saying or writing or meaning or doing. Take the compliments with grace and move on.
— Ibram X. Kendi (@DrIbram) September 27, 2020
Boston University has not made comment.
Read more