U.S. Congresswoman Barbara-Rose Collins says she was misquoted in Detroit newspaper about hating whites

Jet, August 19, 1996

Rep. Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI) of the 15th Congressional District in Michigan says her remarks about White people were taken out of context when she was quoted in a Detroit newspaper as saying that she hates the White race.

The Detroit Free Press newspaper published a story in July and reported that Collins said racism is "so ingrained in American society that there's nothing I can do about it. I think God is going to have to burn it out of White people." In another quote in the story, Collins said, "All White people, I don't believe, are intolerant. That's why I say I love the individuals, but I hate the race..."

The reporter, Anne Hazard, said she turned over the tape of the two-hour interview to the newspaper and a 22-page transcript.

"I stand by the accuracy of the quotes," said Hazard.

Recently, in a two-page faxed statement, Collins explained that her views on racism were mischaracterized in the article.

"In order to set the record straight, let me just say quite plainly that I am not a racist," Collins said in her statement.

"I summarized my thoughts on racism by stating that I loved the individual but that `I hated the (sins committed by) the White race against people of color throughout history,' " she added.