Tommy Christopher, a columnist for Mediate, sparked a heated discussion on social media after describing CNN anchor Don Lemon as "openly Black."
Christopher made the head-turning comment in an opinion piece about Lemon's controversial statement on supporters of President Donald Trump. The article, which was supposed to focus on whether or not Lemon was right to associate all Trump supporters with Nazis and KKK members, gained more attention for the "openly Black" comment.
"Lemon — who is openly Black — responded by telling Cuomo that 'if you are on that side you need to think about the side you’re on,'" Christopher wrote, highlighting the anchor's discussion with his colleague, Chris Cuomo.
Later in the article, the author tried to explain why he used the phrase, saying he "mentioned that Don Lemon is openly Black because that fact adds to the sting of an already painful statement."
But the explanation didn't clear up much of the confusion. One political reporter was one of the many readers who was still left with questions after seeing the statement.
What is “openly black” …?? https://t.co/lZvPkxsPgw
pic.twitter.com/E6zVcVC4hx— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) January 15, 2021
Scott suggested for the publication to hire Black editors.
Hire Black editors.
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) January 15, 2021
No matter how Christopher tried to explain himself, the critics didn't see any reason to justify the statement.
Writers: If people don't understand a phrase you're using to describe a particular group of people — especially people in that group, it's not their fault that they don't understand it. It's yours.
It is better to change it than to double down.
— Eugene Scott (@Eugene_Scott) January 15, 2021
Some readers responded with sarcasm, openly declaring their own background.
My favorite Blacks are the openly Black. Myself? I'm visibly Muslim.
— Wajahat "Openly Brown" Ali (@WajahatAli) January 15, 2021
Ironically, many people don't remember coming out as Black to their parents.
You don't remember when you came out as Black to your parents?
— dr jabronavirus (@MicahFolsom) January 15, 2021
Although the phrase took away from the focus of the article, Christopher wrote his column to say that Lemon's statement is a much-needed slap in the face to Trump supporters.
"Of course he should not apologize," Christopher wrote. "All 74 million of those voters, and people like Cuomo who may count some of those 74 million as friends, should be thanking Don Lemon and asking for another. A slap in the face stings, but it can wake you up."
Speaking to his colleague during Wednesday's broadcast, Lemon advised the president's loyalists to get out of the crowd that supports bigotry and incites violence.
"If you voted for Trump you voted for the person who the Klan supported," Lemon said. "You voted for the person who Nazis support. You voted for the person who the alt-right supports. That’s the crowd that you are in."
While Cuomo played the role of devil's advocate and defended Trump followers, saying they're not necessarily all hateful, Lemon doubled down on his statement.
"You voted for the person who incited a crowd to go into the capitol and potentially take the lives of lawmakers," he said. "Took the lives of police officers, took the lives of innocent lives who were there on the Capitol that day."
