GOP lawmaker slammed for claiming she lost a 'hostile and unpleasant' Black friend over critical race theory
A Republican lawmaker in Rhode Island is facing criticism for her latest claim suggesting she lost a Black friend over Critical Race Theory.
According to The Washington Post, Rhode Island state Rep. Patricia Morgan (R-R.I.) tweeted about her alleged experience as she claimed Critical Race Theory greatly contributed to the demise of their friendship. “I had a Black friend. I liked her and I think she liked me, too,” tweeted Morgan, who is white. “But now she is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure I didn’t do anything to her, except be white.”
She added, “Is that what teachers and our political leaders really want for our society? Divide us because of our skin color?#CRT”
I had a black friend. I liked her and I think she liked me, too. But now she is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure I didn't do anything to her, except be white. Is that what teachers and our political leaders really want for our society? Divide us because of our skin color? #CRT— Patricia Morgan (@Patricia Morgan) 1640703763
Morgan — who previously supported a failed piece of proposed legislation to restrict how schools interpret and explain the role of race in American history— was hit with bipartisan criticism with some lawmakers describing her remarks as “ignorant and embarrassing.”
Writer Michael Harriot took to Twitter with a mocking tweet inspired by Morgan's remarks. “I, too had a white friend. But now he is hostile and unpleasant,” Harriot tweeted. “I am sure it wasn’t me. All I did is speak truthfully about the history of the country we live in. Is this what happens when you use seasoning?”
We should get #IHadAWhiteFriend trending\n \nI, too had a white friend. But now he is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure it wasn\u2019t me. All I did is speak truthfully about the history of the country we live in. \n\nIs this what happens when you use seasoning?\n\n#IhadAWhiteFriendhttps://twitter.com/repmorgan/status/1475844670542467083\u00a0\u2026— Michael Harriot (@Michael Harriot) 1640735048
The Black Lives Matter movement in Rhode Island has called for Morgan to be stripped of her committee duties. Morgan's words also led to the birth of a new hashtag #IHadAWhiteFriend.
1. Takes a lot of guts to admit you only had ONE Black friend.\n\n2. Your highlighting that fact probably didn't help you keep that ONE Black friend.\n\n3. Probably didn't help that you voted to forbid the teaching of American history that makes your White friends "uncomfortable."— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!) 1640722393
Morgan literally sponsored a bill to restrict RI schools from teaching anything related to race.— brigid s. (@brigid s.) 1640716122
#IHadAWhiteFriend he invited me over his house to eat. His mom put raisins in the potato salad. His mother began explaining why she put raisins in the potato salad. I told her I don't listen to Critical Raisin Theory and stormed out.https://twitter.com/michaelharriot/status/1475975886210052103\u00a0\u2026— Stephen Crockett Jr. (@Stephen Crockett Jr.) 1640735613
For White People Tired of Being Called "Racist"\n\nhttps://johnpavlovitz.com/2021/11/10/for-white-people-tired-of-being-called-racist/\u00a0\u2026\n\n#CriticalRaceTheory\n#IHadAWhiteFriendpic.twitter.com/0y5imv6cPq— John Pavlovitz (@John Pavlovitz) 1640744874
Despite the criticism, the Republican lawmaker has defended her controversial remarks saying she “didn’t think it was controversial.”
“It was me saying, ‘Do we want to start separating people and picking friends based upon skin color? Is that where we want America to go?’ ” Morgan said. “I am really concerned that this whole critical race theory that is being pushed through our schools and universities and workplaces is doing just that — it is separating people.”
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