Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Kylie Cheung | Politics | January 12, 2017
Conservative talk show host Tomi Lauren is physically incapable of saying aloud the words “black lives matter,” although saying the words “black guns matter” is somehow mere child’s play to her, but she is definitely, definitely not racist. And she has the black friends to prove it!
Lahren proudly took to Twitter and Instagram to share her receipts:
Kickin' it with @majtoure today. Yeah I have black friends. Get over it. #TeamTomi… https://t.co/1MwGl2O9gF
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 12, 2017
Sure, she’s compared the Black Lives Matter movement fighting the disproportionate abuse and killings of African Americans by police with the KKK, a literal white supremacy group responsible for lynching black people in the street, but a few black people can tolerate her enough to take pictures with her, so, there you have it! Just like that, definitively not racist!
I’m not saying Lahren or any conservative Fox News commentator hates black people, but their gleeful misrepresentation of the struggles of black people, and portrayals of them as rioting thugs as opposed to marginalized people fighting for rights they continue to systemically be denied, constitute racist, detrimental acts. Lahren persistently ignores how the past has had lasting consequences that continue to influence the treatment and experiences of black people, and opts for a “color-blind” approach that literally turns a blind eye on how truly different their experiences are from white people. The result is hateful even if the intent isn’t.
Predictably enough, many on Twitter wasted no time in calling Lahren out for it, although she’s clearly too far-gone for this to do much. At any rate, here are some of my favorites:
@TomiLahren if he is a true friend you wouldn't have to include his color, Tammy. Don't objectify someone and use them as a prop.
— Shoey (@shoeyj3) January 12, 2017
@TomiLahren @MAJTOURE REALLY ? It's 2017 . You having black friends isn't trophy worthy . It's your actions my dear .
— Jonny Jukebox (@jonnyjukeboxx) January 12, 2017
@TomiLahren @MAJTOURE Also, I thought you didn't see color. I'll be damned.
— Blake Conklin (@bconklinbza) January 12, 2017
@TomiLahren @MAJTOURE congrats on getting a black person to take a picture with you!
— Krissy ✌ (@KrissySD) January 12, 2017
As Trevor Noah pointed out when she was on his show, for someone who “isn’t racist,” she sure has to declare that she is, in fact, not racist a lot. You’d think the sheer amount of times she’s had to say it would mean something to her, but alas, here we are.
But, hey. She has black friends!!!!!! Good for you, Tomi. Good for you.
