Shirley Sherrod the teacher!

R.B. Holmes,Jr.

Publisher

The saga of Shirley Sherrod has dominated the media for the last several weeks. This story will have a long shelf life, and we must use this opportunity to launch a meaningful conversation on race and racism.

The Sherrod story definitely proves to us that race matters. It matters to the White House; it matters to FOX News; it matters to the NAACP; it matters to the USDA; it matters to the Tea Party; and it matters to the Right/Wrong Wing activist Andrew Breitbart, and it matters to Shirley Sherrod. The challenge is: How do we develop a moral, positive, rational conversation on race and racism? The question is: Where do we go from here in gathering all the significant parties together to forge a process to begin to address the core of “institutional racism?”

Let me be clear here: racism is as old as ice cream and apple pie, and as fresh as the morning dew. We cannot ignore it; we cannot escape it, and we better not try to endure it. Somehow and someday we must truly find a way to move toward a post racial society. The epiphany of Shirley Sherrod may be our most authentic “teachable moment.” The “Beer Summit” unfortunately was not.

Shirley’s story may be, because she manifested a powerful way on how to move beyond hate, bigotry and racism. The story that she told 24 years ago on how she was not going to give a white farmer the benefit of doubt but was touched by her better angels, and God moved her to help the farmer. Here is where the mess begins: Breitbart posted a two minute, 38-second clip of Sherrod’s 45 minute speech last March to an NAACP event. His action started a firestorm around race and racism. Breitbart was trying to get back at the NAACP for their resolution demanding that the Tea Party scrub the racist elements from their membership.

The NAACP did the right thing; the Tea Party does have some bad folk in the party. Moreover, the poor journalistic acts of Breitbart had many rushing to judgment and initially accusing Sherrod of being a racist. You know the story, Breitbart used her; the NAACP prematurely condemned her; Bill O’Reilly vilified her; Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack fired her; the White House misused her; but the white farmer, Roger Spooner, saved her. And finally, the whole story was told, and Mrs. Sherrod was justified, vindicated, and admired.

Once the truth came out, she became a winner. Her story was refreshing and challenging. She was able to overcome the murder of her father, overt racism and rise above it to focus on the content of a person’s character and not the color of the person’s skin. She helped saved the Spooners’ farm and maybe she can help save America’s soul.

Yes, all have apologized to her. Yes, she has been offered a higher job at USDA. Yes, she has become rightfully so the 21st century Rosa Parks. Yes, the White House never again should let FOX News outfox this administration. Yes, the NAACP must never let the enemy “snooker” them again. Yes, the Tea Party must immediately cleanse themselves of the racist elements in their party by beginning with Breitbart. Yes, the media has to get all the facts because half truths, loose pens, sleazy stuff on the internet will cause great harm to people, government and institutions. And yes of course, the young and old alike must learn something from the character of Shirley Sherrod.

She taught all of us how to “overcome” a racist past and behaviors. Sherrod is the head teacher in this story. Let’s listen to our new “teacher.”

Be encouraged!