Blackface Blather -- Guest MINDSETTER™ Terry Gorman

Blackface Blather -- Guest MINDSETTER™ Terry Gorman

Let me begin by stating that I was brought up in an American family where discrimination of any kind was strictly forbidden. My Father was an American Irish man who demanded respect for everyone. I’m prone to believe that I’m fulfilling his wishes. Believe it or not, this great man performed in “Blackface" in many local Minstrels.

There was never any hint of his or his fellow performer's intentions to denigrate Black people. My wife, when told of these Minstrels, stated: “Isn’t imitation a form of flattery?"

Today, we would include in such flattery portrayals in Blackface of Michael Jackson, detectives from the TV show Miami Vice, etc. I truly believe that as a country 90 percent of us have moved from on any unacceptable treatment of Black people. Sadly the remaining 10 percent will NEVER change despite all of our efforts. I completely agree that the portrayals of people in Blackface accompanying people portrayed as the KKK is totally despicable. However, I’m of the firm belief that the majority of the portrayals in Blackface were not done with the intention to disparage Black people.

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Due to my involvement locally with the group Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement (RIILE) I’m often referred to by some on the left as a racist. Nothing could be further from the truth. If they were to take notice at the Statehouse of the mutual respectful relationships with such folks as Representatives Williams, Almeida, Hull, Diaz and many from the Immigrant community they may get the hint they are grasping at the same straws as are the Blackface problem instigators.

I might ask why this “Blackface " issue has become such a divisive issue in only the last few years. Unfortunately, I believe it has become a politically correct, overblown mantra of some divisive Black leaders who claim to speak for the masses. They seem to me to be creating a problem where one doesn’t exist. Political correctness run amuck. Can not a person change their way of thinking over the course of 35 years?

Please allow me one story to confirm something from my "racist" past.  While in the military in 1960 I was stationed at a base in Montana where I befriended a young Black gentleman from Roxbury, Massachusetts named Ira Ess Jones. We became very close friends. After my transfer in 1962, we continued to stay in touch via correspondence and Christmas cards until his passing.

Each was addressed with the “Racist" titles “Danny Boy" Gorman and “Old Black" Jones. Not one was returned by the Postal Service due to perceived racial overtones. I assume some of today’s Black leaders would be demanding that I step down as an American due to the use of such “racist" surnames.

Terry Gorman is a leader of the group Rhode Islanders for Immigration Law Enforcement.