Marion Barry's remarks on Asians' 'dirty shops' ignite criticism after primary win

[No Elephants]

Here is another "A member of a minority can't possibly discriminate" type defense to stereotyping. Luckily, in this instance, no one died or got physically injured, though.

Background:

Marion Barry is currently D.C. city council member (again) and recently won another primary. This kerfuffle started with things he began saying in a speech made shortly after that win and refuses to back away from.

Some of things he's been saying:



“We've got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops."

“They ought to go. I just tell you that right now, you know. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.”

"Get busy. Hire some D.C. residents, Ward 8 residents. Clean your stores up, those who didn't clean up. Be a part of the community. Don't take all their money to Virginia or Maryland. Leave some right here in this community. We want it. We will demand it."

"You’re not going to have people who are exploiting us in this community. They’re going to be part of the community. We welcome all businesspeople here … but give us some jobs.”

He speaks in terms of "us" and "the people who are exploiting us." So, it seems that he believes "the community" of Washington, D.C. consists only of the African Americans who live in D.C., which do comprise about 56% of D.C.'s population (but not 100%). However, he blames Asians for not being part of "the community."

Marion Barry's remarks on Asians' 'dirty shops' ignite criticism after primary win



<snip>

Barry further said that his remarks were not divisive because of his past civil rights record, and he blamed the media and political opponents for making his remark appear prejudiced. Asked if he would retract the statement, Barry appeared to say he would not.

“First of all, these people don’t know Marion Barry’s record, don’t know my commitment to the Asian and other communities, don’t know of my commitment to justice and injustice in Washington, all over the country. Fifty years I’ve been fighting. I get strong support from the Asian community."

<snip>

”I’ve spent the last 50 years of my life fighting for justice and equality of all people,” he told the paper. “Those (critics) don’t know Marion Barry at all. They know my name; they don’t know my record.”

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/06/marion-barrys-remarks-on-asians-dirty-shops-ignite-criticism-after-primary-win/

I have a feeling that some of that strong support from the Asian community Barry claims he has may start to dissipate as news of these remarks spreads. However, they are a very small minority of D.C. voters, so this may not affect his re-election.