In an effort to refute allegations of Tea Party racism, particularly within the Tea Party Express, black conservative Tea Partiers held a press conference last week. The Tea Party Express organized the event to address accusations of racism that were elevated by the group’s split from its former leader Mark Williams. At last week’s conference, members explained that accusations of racism are merely ploys to discredit the movement.
Williams recently posted a phony satirical letter written to Abraham Lincoln by the NAACP on his blog that suggested that black people would prefer slavery over actual work. It was meant to mock claims that the Tea Parties were racist but was indisputably in poor taste. However, the Tea Party Express was slow in its split from the leader, provoking further accusations of racism.
Black conservative author William Owens, who is also a frequent speaker at Tea Party Express tours, explained, “Our slowness to split with Mark should be no means condone racism. It was just out of loyalty to our friend.”
The NAACP exploited the letter as proof of racism, though accusations of Tea Party racism were launched long before the letter.
