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Got an email from David Henderson….famous blogger….today in response to a comment on his highly heated blog.  He’s done a lot of coverage and responding to comments regarding improper conclusions drawn by thousands about a tweet sent by James Andrews that described Mr. Andrews reaction to a racial incident.

The issue has also been hot, and hotly AND incorrectly debated, on Shankman.com.

The lesson here for job seekers? Think – and I mean really think – before you trash someone.  Trash talking has no place in any of our communities.  We can do better, as Silicon Valley CEO Nilofer Merchant says.

Here’s my email to David.

Hi David:

You emailed me today and said, “Thanks for your comment on my blog. You indicate it was a racial incident. How do you know and what details can you provide?”

On her blog, Sherrelle Kirkland-Andrews (yes, Mrs. Andrews) commented:

“And this is what basically happened when my husband’s recent tweet hit the internet.  Did he say “I hate Memphis; it is a hell-hole of a city?”  NO!  He tweeted a very obscure and heavily veiled dislike for an unnamed town. The person who was initially offended by the tweet made an incorrect assumption and the readers of Shankman.com ran with it.   I’m amazed that half of the debate was whether or not Memphis is terrible looking town in need of a major over-haul.  THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID!  Now, what I would have said was “Some racist fool in Memphis almost got a beat-down; I hate this town!”  But, that’s just me.”

See it here:
http://funkidivagirl.com/2009/01/james-andrews-hey-thats-my-man-youre-talking-about/#comment-270

Further on, Sherrelle remarks about comments I and another responder made:

See it at the same link as above.

A racial incident.  Guess what?  That sucks.  And it sucks that so many people didn’t pay attention to it.  My guess is most of them are white.  And by the way, these incidents don’t just happen in the South – they happen every day in Chicago, New York, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.  And yes, Sherrell, you and James absolutely have a right to your opinions.

My thoughts?  We’re so busy flapping our gums at what we think is a supposed affront that we don’t take the time to comprehend what’s really going on.

Mr. Andrews deserves an apology.  I made one in a comment on Shankman.com and it didn’t get posted.  So instead I’m going from site to site where people have gotten it wrong and I’m telling it true – James didn’t diss anyone or anything.

He’s been the victim twice here – first, taking shit from some racist idiot and second, having his reputation dragged through the mud by people who are communicators, yet, for all that, have made a terrible mistake.

I’m thrilled that President and Mrs. Obama are in the White House.  Still, I see that for African Americans and other people of color in every walk of life the battle goes on.  Enough talking the talk – let’s do the damn work to right the wrongs and see that everyone is treated fairly.

Best,
Marsha