Pirate's Cove

Washington Post opinion writer Christine Emba is rather upset by the way this year’s Black History Month went, and guess who’s to blame?

The worst-ever Black History Month has come to a close. I hope.

The worst-ever Black History Month has finally come to a close. I think. I hope.

Our annual February observance is meant to celebrate the history and achievements of African Americans. But in 2019, America decided to use it for exactly the opposite.

There was blackface. (So. Much. Blackface!) An Alabama newspaper editorial called for the return of the Ku Klux Klan. High-fashion designers dabbled in minstrelry . And, lest we forget, “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett was arrested for filing a false police report for a hate crime, purportedly in a clumsy attempt to increase his salary. (Spoiler alert: His salary is now nonexistent.)

So, mostly things caused by Democrats. Oh, wait, right, this isn’t the important part (and left A LOT out of the above, especially with Jussie Smollett)

But maybe, just maybe, there’s something salvageable here. If we pay close attention, some of the month’s most egregious events can remind us of the history that we should have learned.

Let’s work backward from this week, beginning with Michael Cohen’s hearing before the House Oversight Committee. The testimony of President Trump’s former lawyer was outrageous enough on its own, but one of the most eyebrow-raising scenes in the seven-hour saga centered on Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.).

For the purposes of defending Trump against Cohen’s allegations of racism, Meadows brought in Lynne Patton — a black Trump appointee — to stand silently behind him while he spoke, assuming, apparently, that by virtue of having hired a black person, Trump could not be racist. When he was informed by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) that using a black woman as a prop was racist itself, Meadows melted down. He called Tlaib a racist for daring to say such a thing and pointed to his relatives of color and even his friendship with Committee Chairman Elijah E. Cummings (who, yes, is black) as evidence that he was not racist.By the end of his rant, Meadows was nearly tearing up in defense of his not-racist honor.

See, the thing is, Trump, Republicans, oh, and just because you have a Black friend actually means you are a raaaaacist

But out of this farce comes a teachable moment, one that we can use for at least the rest of 2019. No, as Tlaib accurately pointed out, having a black friend — or even black nieces or nephews — does not absolve you of racism. Attempting to use people of color as a shield is, in fact, offensive. And relatedly, breaking down because you’re hurt by the insinuation that you might possibly have done something racially offensive suggests that you care more about your feelings than about actual racism.

See, your black friend is actually a shield, so, you’re doubly raaaaacist.

You just can’t win with people who see everything in terms of race.

Read: Washington Post Declares This The Worst Black History Month Ever Or Something »

Democrats have long been fans of Democracy, as long as people vote the Proper Way. AOC wants to take it back to a new level, because she’s Offended. Like with everything else. Perhaps we should call it Millennial Socialism

Ocasio-Cortez warns of ‘list’ for moderate Dems who vote with Republicans: report

After more than two dozen moderate Democrats broke from their party’s progressive wing and sided with Republicans on a legislative amendment Wednesday, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reportedly sounded the alarm in a closed-door meeting Thursday and said those Democrats were “putting themselves on a list.”

The legislation that prompted the infighting was a bill that would expand federal background checks for gun purchases, the Washington Post reported. But a key provision requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be notified if illegal immigrants attempt to purchase guns saw 26 moderate Democrats side with Republicans.

According to the Post, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi scolded her wayward center-leaning colleagues, telling them: “We are either a team or we’re not, and we have to make that decision.”

But Ocasio-Cortez reportedly took it a step further. She said she would help progressive activists unseat those moderates in their districts in the 2020 elections, the report said. Her spokesman Corbin Trent told the paper that she made the “list” comment during the meeting.

“She said that when activists ask her why she had to vote for a gun safety bill that also further empowers an agency that forcibly injects kids with psychotropic drugs, they’re going to want a list of names and she’s going to give it to them,” Trent said, referring to ICE.

A list, huh? Switching to that Washington Post article

They insist they are not going to be dissuaded from voting with their districts, and many are warning that majority control is at stake.

“It’s this class of members that got elected that are the reason we have the majority,” said Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D-Fla.), a co-chairman of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition. “Many of them come from these [moderate] districts, and their promise to their constituents was that they were going to put people over politics.”

It’s one of the big problems with politics these days: federally elected officials are mostly doing the business of the national party, rather than what matters to their state/district first. If you’re from a moderately Democratic area, not just by voting but by belief, should you be standing with the San Francisco hardcore Leftists on everything? Should they follow everything Pelosi says, especially when she’s in one of the safest districts in the nation? Should they be following a person who is being the worst of Millennial stereotypes in AOC? There’s two choice for her: she’ll either become the leader of the Democrats, or she will flame out. If she keeps this up, you may see Democrats undercutting her for the 2020 election.

Read: Democrat On The Job For Almost Two Months Is “Making A List” Of Moderate Democrats »