Key Takeaways:
– Media personalities like Gayle King and Sunny Hostin questioned the racial diversity at Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
– Keith Boykin, former Bill Clinton aide claimed entertainers performing at the event dishonor civil rights icon, Martin Luther King Jr.
– The supposed racist incidents from Donald Trump’s past were disputed, pointing out contradictory evidence.
A Deep Divide in the Media
During the inauguration of President Donald Trump, a division within the media landscape became quite apparent. CBS Mornings co-host, Gayle King, expressed her surprise at the observed lack of racial diversity in the crowd. Her statement thus insinuated a latent racial bias within the Trump presidency.
The criticism wasn’t only from Gayle King; ABC’s The View co-host Sunny Hostin followed suit. Interestingly, she opted to direct her disappointment at black entertainers performing at Trump’s inaugural events, such as rappers Snoop Dogg and Nelly.
Incidents in Question
To substantiate the allegations, racial incidents in Trump’s past were highlighted, particularly from the 1970s when Trump was said to have refused to rent to black people. However, this incident has been largely disputed, referencing a consent decree entered when Trump was only 26, where the Trump organization agreed to change practices, but admitted no guilt.
Moreover, the infamous Central Park Five case, where Trump publicly denounced the five black and brown kids involved, was also brought into the limelight. The case remains controversial, with the five individuals later declared innocent. Still, some high-profile people, including the lead detective in the case, maintain their guilt.
Selective Outrage?
On an interesting note, while outrage and criticism are leveled at Trump, similar racial incidents tied to prominent Democrats seem to garner less media attention. For instance, Senator Chuck Schumer once proposed what has been described as a racist scheme to displace blacks from a neighborhood in New York. Yet, this has received less media scrutiny and coverage.
Trump’s Past Viewed Through a Different Lens
Before his political career, Trump was a well-known figure in the entertainment world. According to New York entertainment reporter Liz Crokin, the assumption of racism only arose after Trump announced his presidential run. She claims that during her decade-long coverage of Trump, she never heard anything negative about him, despite her job requiring her to uncover controversial celebrity dirt. This assertion seems to contrast the narrative of Trump as a long-standing racist, as portrayed by some media outlets.
Mixed Messages
King’s observation about the lack of racial diversity at the inauguration overlooks pressing issues within the black community, such as the rising rate of fatherlessness, high crime rates, and underperforming schools. While she criticizes the lack of racial diversity at the event, Hostin lambasts the black entertainers who did choose to participate. These contradictory messages seemed to leave little room for most objective judgments.
In Conclusion
The media scrutiny surrounding Trump’s inauguration and the diverging opinions pedestrianized the divide within the media landscape. This has inevitably raised questions about the objectivity and consistency of the media, particularly regarding its assessment of racial issues and biases. A more balanced and less inflammatory rhetoric may be necessary to foster constructive debates and discussions.