Of Walter Fauntroy, the TEA Party and Racism

By: Bill Wilson, Daily Jot News Service Senior Analyst

(Washington) – August 30, 2010 -I am offended as an American and as a Christian brother by the remarks of the Reverend Walter Fauntroy characterizing the TEA Party movement as interchangeable with the KKK. These were not off the cuff remarks either. Fauntroy held a news conference at the National Press Club and said, "We are going to take on the barbarism of war, the decadence of racism, and the scourge of poverty, that the Ku Klux--I meant to say, the TEA Party...You all forgive me, but I--you have to use them interchangeably." Mr. Fauntroy, you have gone too far. Your misguided socialism that you have displayed throughout your career has tainted your view of reality.

During the past 18 months, I have had the privilege of addressing three major gatherings of the TEA Party. I have seen thousands of those who gather in the name of TEA Party in three different states--Florida, New Jersey, and Ohio. Not once have I heard a remark that could be considered racist from anyone in the crowd or privately from the organizers or overnight from the hosts with which I stayed. Race is not the issue. They are aggravated by the unprecedented government spending. They are enraged by the trampling on the Constitution by this Administration and Congress. But never have I heard anything disparaging about race among the TEA Party activists.

Fauntroy is upset that conservative talk show host Glenn Beck [was] having a "Restoring Honor" rally at the Lincoln Memorial on the anniversary of the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s famous "I have a dream" speech. Fauntroy, who claims to be one of the chief organizers when King rallied Americans for racial equality, said, "The same people who cut the cables on the night before the march, that we paid $66,000 for a sound system, they cut it. Now from FOX News and elsewhere, they are seeking to turn the world back." I do not sense that the organizers of the Restoring Honor rally want to oppress the races. No, [actually] far from it. They do seek to destroy the roots of socialism, which enslaves everyone, especially people of color.

It is considered taboo if a white man publicly disagrees with the misguided remarks of Fauntroy and others. I can do this, however, because I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and in Him we are to have love for one another. Men and women of color are my brothers and sisters. I do not only say it, but I live it. It gets real old when civil rights leaders like Fauntroy play the race card every time they disagree with someone instead of standing on the merit of their argument. Jesus said in John 13:35, "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Fauntroy wears the title "Reverend." He should, therefore, know the answer to racial problems is found in the love of Christ, not in the divisiveness of satan.

Bill Wilson is the Senior Analyst at the Daily Jot News Service and author of the book “Warshod.” His articles are used by news services nationwide, and are enjoyed by a global readership. For more information about the book, or how to order, click on the picture.

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