4-13-2016-ERNIE ALLEN’S-TOP STORY-

The awkward, racially-charged joke by Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio about Black folks wasn’t funny. At least I didn’t find it funny.

A few days ago, during New York City’s annual Inner Circle Dinner, Clinton, in a skit, teased de Blasio for his endorsement coming late.

“I just have to say thanks for the endorsement, Bill. Took you long enough,” Clinton joked.

“Sorry Hillary, I was running on C.P. time,” de Blasio said to the audience, some of whom were shocked by his casual use of the term.

Clinton then joked that she wasn’t referring to the Black folks CPT, but rather “cautious politician time.”

A racial joke? Really? I expect better from a candidate for President of the United States. And I expect better from the Mayor of New York.

CPT is widely known as “colored people time” — a joke that Black folks generally mention privately as a reason for being late.

The stereotypical joke reportedly left some in the audience chuckling and others gasping uncomfortably.

I get it. I would have probably gasped, too.

Hamilton actor Leslie Odom Jr. was on stage with Clinton and de Blasio and said the joke was inappropriate.

“I don’t like jokes like that, Bill.”

I agree with Odom. The joke made its way to social media where some called it “painful” and “cringeworthy.”

At a time when Clinton is aggressively courting African-Americans during her historic bid for the White House, it’s curious that Clinton would risk her popularity, perhaps, with some Black folks for a joke that some Black people would find offensive. De Blasio tried to straighten out the mess on CNN, saying that “people are missing the point of it.”
By Michael H. Cottman, BlackAmericaWeb.com