The rhetoric has begun as to whether this appointment, by the first African American President, was the best selection. Criticism of her judicial prudence centers around a statement where she said she believes her experience as a a Latina enables her to reach a better conclusion than a "white male who hasn't lived that life." Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, among others, have condemned those comments as "racist," for which she should withdraw her nomination.
The great debate that will soon ensue requires those in power, with their privilege, both around skin color and gender, to confront each of these as a reality that leaves them stuck in a place of their own"dumbupness," as Robert Terry discussed in his "Parable of Ups and Downs." Let's see how those, both as members of the dominate culture and those of the subordinate culture, navigate this conversation. It won't be pretty, but it will be necessary. Let's be clear...racism can not exist, where there is no privilege coupled with power. Judge Sotomayor MAY be prejudice and I'm not certain that is true, but what I do believe is that she is not and can not be a racist.
Here is a commentary from the conservative site, World Net Daily.
