Normally, we don’t use this space for national issues, but in light of this past weekend’s events, we are obligated to do so. When the President of the United States released a video depicting former President and former First Lady Obama as apes, and as of Tuesday morning had yet to apologize for doing so, we are taking a strong stand against it and racism of all forms.
Hutchinson and Reno County voters overwhelmingly voted for the President in the 2024, and so far local response to the video has been muted at best, but in keeping with the strong journalistic traditions of the Hutchinson Blade, we, at The Hutchinson Tribune, strongly condemn the video and are appalled by his failure to publicly apologize for it. We are equally amazed by the silence throughout Reno County from religious leaders, civic leaders and the average resident regarding this outrageous act that serves to further divide us all.
Reno County and Hutchinson have a rich history of people of color doing great things not only locally but nationally and internationally as well. The desegregation of public schools wouldn’t have happened without the help of local National Association of Colored People (NAACP) leaders and those same leaders were actively involved in the civil rights movement that led to groundbreaking change in 1960s that created hope that the words “all men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence would finally be fulfilled. For every bit of hope and progress we thought had been made the current administration has quickly erased and eroded that progress in less than 18 months. From its initial blitzkrieg requiring the removal of all words related to diversity, equity and inclusion to the complete dismantling of as many federal civil rights programs as possible to its ongoing attempts to remove as many people of color as possible from this country, regardless as to their legal status, this administration has shown its true colors.
We believe that the overwhelming majority of Reno County residents don’t share those views about people of color or on diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe that in their hearts of hearts that Reno County residents have compassion and respect for people of all ethnic groups, races, religions, sexual orientations, income levels, education levels and more. That’s the Reno County we believe is such a great place to live, work and play because we see every day that our staff is out on the streets covering the people, places and things that are part of everyday life here how this community works together for the greater good. Now it’s time for all of Reno County to take a public stand against the vitriol being broadcast from the White House across not just our nation, but the world.
It’s not enough to speak out against it in private conversations with friends and family or in comfort zones where you know that you won’t receive push back from those few who support the messages coming from the White House. That’s silence and silence only allows the wrong to continue. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” The time for silence has long since passed, and that silence is something every person of color feels throughout Reno County when their white friends don’t speak out against the blatant racist rhetoric coming from the White House and others, especially those who claim to be their friends. It’s the silence from the pulpits on Sunday mornings. It’s the silence from local elected officials. It’s that silence that speaks volumes about where Reno County is when it comes to race. It’s that silence that needs to stop.
If the good people of Reno County choose to boldly stand up and speak out against the racist narratives being spread throughout our nation and show what it means to live united truly is, then and only then can Reno County truly be the great place we’d all like to believe that it is. We have taken our stand. Now it’s time for you to decide to take yours.
-The Hutchinson Tribune Editorial Board