George,

In their just released book "Game Change" Mark Halperin and John Heilman report that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, was highly impressed by Barack Obama's oratorical gifts and believed Americans were ready to elect a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama - a "light skinned" African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one," as he later stated it privately," according to an extract that was published in the Atlantic magazine on January 8, 2010.

For private comments he made about Obama before the 2008 presidential election, Senator Reid says he now regretted "using such a poor choice of words" and apologized to any Americans offended, especially to African Americans and more especially to President Obama.

President Obama quickly accepted the apology and said "the book is closed."

What is the position blacks take on Reid's race statement? Are his comments racial or anti-African American? To answer this question three other questions have to be answered, (1) who said it? (2) is it true? and (3) was the senator for or against Obama?

Although racism is systemic in America Reid is among those whites whose actions are aimed at achieving racial justice for blacks. There are some people, among them many Republicans, who call for the majority leader's ouster, claiming that a double standard is being used as they refer to action taken against then Senate Majority Leader, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, who said that Americans should have elected Senator Strom Thurmond President and that had they done so the country would be better off. It was Thurmond who filibustered during the Senate debate on the first civil rights bill in 82 years over 24 continuous hours, longer than any other senator has ever filibustered. He was an admitted racist. Reid is not a racist. He has supported all the significant legislation considered in the Senate aimed at justice for blacks.

Is Reid'statement true? Without regard for so-called double standard and political correctness, the answer is "yes." It is obvious, factually and demonstrably, that "light skinned" American Americans have been and continue to be favored by whites over "dark skinned" Americans in positions of lesser and greater power. White supremacy holds that white is the standard for power, excellence and beauty. This goes back to slavery when light skinned blacks whose fathers were white and mothers black were chosen to work in the house, those Malcom X called "house niggers" as opposed to dark skinned blacks who worked in the field and were called "field niggers." Alhough today dark skinned blacks are more accepable to whites than in the past the preferential disparity continues to exist. Moreover, blacks of all hues recognize that light skinned blacks, their sisters and brothers, sometimes have advantages over dark skinned blacks.

As "Game Change" states the Senator is described as somebody whose encouragement of Obama is "unequivocal." He waited to formally endorse President Obama until after the tough presidential primary battle against Hillary Clinton ended. He worked tirelessly during the general presidential election to elect Obama President.

As an African American, just months short of four score years, who was a leader of the Montgomery Bus Boycott and a veteran of the Korean War, I know a racist when I see one, especially when I observe his actions or inactions, for that matter. Senator Reid is not a racist and black people across America agree with me. Furthermore, blacks know that the senator spoke the truth regarding the acceptability of "light skinned" African Americans and blacks who do not use the "Negro dialect." Using the "Negro dialect" is not a virtue in white America even though the Southern American dialect used by whites is acceptable throughout America and has not prevented Southerners from becoming president without a need to not use their Southern dialect. Dialects on other non-black Americans are generally accepted as being non-offensive.

Senator Reid you may not have used the best words, but you did speak the truth, and more importantly, you have supported and continue to support President Obama who is committed to the best for all Americans. Your leadership as Majority Leader in endeavoring to pass Health Care reform legislation is as great as any member of Congress.

In short Senator Reid, African Americans have a simple and direct message for you: "We find no fault in you."

Uriah J. Fields (Electronic mail, January 13, 2010)