How Sarah Palin Has Excluded African-Americans

On April 29, 2008, 14 leaders of Alaska's black community met with Gov. Sarah Palin to voice discontent with her minority hiring record. Palin's response, which was first reported by journalist Earl Ofari Hutchinson, only compounded her icy relationship with her African-American constituents.

Gwen Alexander, the president of the African-American Historical Society of Alaska, told me that Palin stated defiantly that she had no intention to hire any minority staffers. And according to Bishop Dave Thomas, senior pastor of Anchorage-based African-American church Jesus Holy Temple, the Palin administration excluded black business owners from the Alaskan oil and gas pipeline board. "We wasn't even able or allowed to go into the meetings" to seek contracts for the pipeline, Thomas told me.

Palin further alienated Alaska's black community by becoming the first Alaskan governor in recent memory to not recognize the Juneteenth celebration of the emancipation proclamation. "She doesn't hire any black people, she doesn't have any on her staff, so it's not a surprise that she doesn't support our Juneenth celebration," Alexander said.

These revelations and many more are contained in my latest video, which was produced with support from the Nation Institute Investigative Fund.

Update: Sarah Palin's rural affairs director has abruptly resigned, citing Palin's lack of commitment to hiring Native Americans.

Comments

[peacegurl48]

Each day it becomes more and more clear that Palin is a dangerous choice for our country.

[lwaxanatroi]

See, here's the part we liberals don't get: you said Palin ignored and dissed her "African American constitutents." She would cheerfully deny that she has any African American constituents because in GOP eyes, only those who vote for them are constituents. This is what happened to New Orleans; they ceased being American citizens entititled to federal governnment protection and services because they voted the wrong way. Once upon a time, elected officials of either party understood that once they were in office, they owed a duty to all the people in their district. Sure, they owed more to some voters and some contributors than to others, everyone understood that, but they never used to cut off entire segments of the population except in the segregated South, and those voters, alas, hadn't been permitted to vote in the first place. Yes, it looks bad because it's racial, but I'll bet there are plenty of other Alaskans banned from public services and meetings simply for the crime of not supporting Palin. Race is only part of the new tribalism.

[BigMike75]

An extreme right wing Demagogue born and raised in probably the least diverse state in the Union, doesn't hire blacks, or invites them into the Alaskan politcal inner circle...wow, what a revelation.

[ProudLiberalDemocrat]

Alaska is a diverse state, indigenious people were abused by us white folk there too......

I find it funny, all these Christians being so un-Christian......as if Jesus was a white American......he was a dark-skinned jewish man from the middle east.....

.....these are simply Christians who do not believe in the teaching of Christ......they are bigots and racists who are ready to throw the first stone......

[grumpygranny66]

Sista Sa rah and her followers are far from being Christians. Now I am beginning to understand why some people don't go to church because of hypocrites like Sarah

[steamboat]

Is Alaska the only state were Native-Americans were abused? ....Better yet, since you are pointing-fingers, can I ask you a question.

Are you a property owner (home)? If so, if a Native-American knocks on YOUR door and says, "get out of here, this land use to belong to our people", are you going to turn the keys over to him and leave? Come on, your pointing-fingers at Alaskans, so don't be a hypocrite.

[JessWonderin]

Michate is a McCain paid troll - armed to deflect the truth by picking minute "quoteees" rather than the fact that BOTH Republicans are convicted ethic violators, liars, and generally ill fit to give White House Tours let along ACTUALLY occupy office there . . . .

[ThinkCreeps]

Would a minority candidate take a job with her? Maybe she's been making offers to minorities left, right
and center (sorry, Genghis Khan, far-right and right), but no-one's accepted.

[longislandlol]

Like she really does not know any jews- she probably does not know any blacks--

[wmafoune]

As an African American, I am not surprise.

[shirleen01]

Please tell me something I don't know.

[aege8th]

If this is indeed true and can be proven, why are charges not brought up against her on this issue? It would seem to be a clear violation of equal opportunity laws among others. If this can be documented, I urge those who've been denied access/opportunity because of their race or heritage to file suit....immediately. Before the election.l

[Kiabell04]

I'm not surprised. I read an article about her lack of respect and attention toward the African-American community in the Atlanta Voice newspaper. As an African-American myself, the first thing I noticed was the lack of diversity within the GOP, especially this year. And notice how Palin didnot denounce those ignorant comments made by the folks at her rallies?! And seeing as she's from Alaska, I doubt she has EVER been friends or have EVER personally talked to any African-American or other minorites in her tiny town of Wasilla. Not very mavericky Palin.

[stevespelling]

There is a lack of diversity in the Republican party because the Democrats own the black vote.

[RReitz]

No one OWNS the Black Vote, Stevespelling

[grandma58]

There is lack of diversity because they do not embrace diversity they kill it.

[slj316]

Survey says? Beeeep! Wrong answer. Try the fact that the GOP doesn't quite embrace people who don't quite measure up to the WASP way of life.

[Racetracker]

Don't forget that she was born in and attended college (on and off) in that melting pot of a state known as Idaho.

[plafayette]

Again, this goes to the lack of vetting done about Sarah Palin. While this focuses on African Americans there are also many native peoples living in Alaska as well. I wonder what that record looks like? I wonder what she did to keep AA from attending public meetings? I hope someone checks out this story.

[ladylwr]

Lack of vetting? Do you think the McCain crowd would have given a hoot about this? They don't like black folks either.

[aussiegal77]

And this comes as a surprise to precisely, no one.

[Michale32086]

CONT

While I agree that the overall number of shots fired was excessive and did violate established doctrine, I submit to you that it is hardly the case of berserker cops that you would like to make it out to be.

I still maintain that, if you are going to accuse someone of such a serious thing as racism, you should rely on more than 2nd and 3rd person hearsay..

Frankly, I am surprised that EVERYONE doesn't feel this way..

Michale.....

[BannedFromCommenting]

"We wasn't even able or allowed to go into the meetings" Probably get lambasted for my comments BUT.......
Who says that?? Bishop Dave Thomas, Senior Pastor?? He speaks to a congragation weekly I am sure, and to children no less, teaching them that type of sloppy speech? What kind of english grammar is that? "We were not..." or "We weren't ..." is correct but "We wasn't..."?
Sorry if you want to be taken seriously in business REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR... you have to speak better english than that.
Unfortunately, many people do not get far or taken seriously in business regardless of ethnicity, color, male, female, when they do not have a grasp of a professional english language. If you cannot even speak english well, how does that reflect on how well you run your business? We all equate good speech and grammar with professionalism. Would you buy a product whose label contents were misspelled? Probably not.

When that poor lady shot herself, the 90 year old over her eviction.. the neighbour said "She gone done shot herself"... how is speech like that still prevelant in America?
We have free education in America and even if you attended daily yet never did homework, you will learn to speak proper american english. You have to , to get out of the cycle of poverty. Same with all ethnicities, whites too.

[Indie2008]

You mean like droppin' all your "g"'s. ..You Betcha!

[Michale32086]

"The problem with us rednecks is that we cannot keep the dumbest and most ignorant amongst us OFF the TV set!!"
-Jeff Foxworthy

Michale.....

[PoliJunkie]

I'm sure that would INCLUDE the Governor herself?

[Gma11]

You must be speaking of Sarah Palin's atrocious assault on the English language?

[Michale32086]

Isn't it amazing how you can turn the most bipartisan and non political statement into a bigoted attack...

Michale.....

[smoovejef]

If that is the only focus you took away from this, it would explain a lot. Like the GOP presidential & vice-presidential candidates that cry about past associations instead of current issues, relevant to country and citizens, you utilize the tactics of misdirection. Pathetic.

Did I spell all of THAT correctly for you?

[solarpowercars]

yup yup ubetcha -lol

[jeanrenoir]

Alaska makes Idaho look like Cambridge, MA. It's the wild frontier, all right, the outback of racism and white supremacy.