The picture above was posted on Facebook. Making it even worse, it was the Facebook page of an elected official -- Chris Harris, who is on the Hooks Independent School Board in Hooks, Texas. Harris was shocked to receive negative feedback from the picture's posting.
He has removed the picture, and issued an apology of sorts. He said the picture was just a joke, and was taken out of context. Look at the picture. Is there any way it could be "taken out of context"? Isn't the context inherent, obvious, and blatantly racist?
Harris also says he is definitely not a racist. I would have to disagree with that. Anyone who speaks in a racist manner or takes a racist action is a racist -- and posting that picture on a social media site is both racist speech and action. And a simple denial that he is a racist is not nearly enough. He needs to repent and take action -- and his first action should have been to resign from the school board (since his fairness toward minority children and parents is definitely now in question).
But he didn't resign, and his belief that the picture was just a "joke" taken out of context makes me doubt the sincerity of his apology. According to the school board president, it will be up to the other members of the board to decide whether Harris must resign or not -- since the board governs itself.
Hooks lies deep in East Texas (see red dot on the map below), probably the most racist area of Texas (which still has a problem with racism statewide). I'm certainly not going to hold my breath until he is forced to resign, because I seriously doubt the other members will ask him to do so. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if he was re-elected.
Let this be a lesson to those foolish people who thought the election of President Obama meant we were in a post-racial America. Racism is alive and well in Texas (and in the country as a whole).
