Van Jones gets open and honest about learning black history through film. Meanwhile, Marc Lamont Hill is calling out all of the “mediocre Negros” meeting with Donald Trump. All the details inside…
Political bae Van Jones made an appearance on “The View” yesterday to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The CNN commentator and the ladies walked out to Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” before taking their seats at the table.
With Hidden Figures hitting theaters, Whoopi Goldberg mentioned a black woman wrote a blog about having to learn about black history facts -- such as her own school once being Whites Only -- through film. That struck a cord with Van where he admitted to being sexist and racist because he had no idea black female math geniuses existed. Hmph. The movie shed light on something he would have never known about had the film not be made.
“It showed me what a racist and sexist I am," he said. "This little black girl comes out and stands in front of a blackboard and is a genius. Now, if it was a little white Steve Jobs I wouldn’t have been blown away. But to see a little black girl doing math at that level I said, ‘You know what? I am racist and sexist.’ I have never seen this before."
He added, “I am an African-American civil rights dude. It’s my job [to know].”
Check it:
Just goes to show how much of black history is erased from textbooks. It also goes to show just how far black women -- who are chemists, engineers, and mathmaticians in growing and large numbers -- still have to go to be recognized for their abilities.
The civil rights actist also offered up advice to those who are frightened by Donald Trump.
“Elections you win or lose on one day, but democracy you have to try and win every day. We still have a constitution. We still have organizations. We still have rights. We can still express ourselves.”
Peep the clip below:
In other political news...
CNN commentator Marc Lamont Hill joined a panel to discuss radio/TV host Steve Harvey meeting with Donald Trump last week. He doesn't always float our boat, but when he comes through with the shade, he comes all the way through.
Things got heated during the debate. Marc Lamont blasted the president-elect and the black folks that have gone to meet with him.
Hill questioned why Trump keeps meeting with black celebrities and entertainers and not meeting with any black policy makers. Hmph.
“To keep bringing comedians and actors and athletes to represent black interests is demeaning, it’s disrespectful and it’s condescending,” Hill said. “Bring some people up there with some expertise, Donald Trump. Don’t just bring up people to entertain.”
Bruce Levell, executive director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump (yes, it's an actual position), challenged Marc Lamont’s notion with claims that he has no idea what went down during the meeting.
Hill continued, “Unless Steve Harvey turned into a policy analyst in the behind-the-scenes meeting, it doesn’t matter whether I was there. My concern is the people he’s trumpeting up and putting in front of the cameras.”
Then, he went in for the kill:
“It was a bunch of mediocre Negros being dragged in front of TV as a photo-op of Donald Trump exploitative campaign against black people.”
Bloop! Peep the clip above.
Following the panel, Marc Lamont Hill went on Twitter to better explain what he meant by the “mediocre negro” label:
David A Clarke Jr., sheriff of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin (yes, him again), hopped on Twitter to call Hill a “jigaboo” over the comments he made during the panel. Hill responded:
Sighs...
Photos: Screenshot/Getty
