The Ten Things You Can't Say in America

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Jan 1, 2001 | by Julia Duin

The Ten Things You Can't Say in America (St. Martin's Press, $23.95,352 pp).

Elder Stateman

Larry Elder has been an afternoon talk-show host with KABC radio in Los Angeles since 1994. Known as the "Sage from South Central," the 48-year-old libertarian has been an outspoken opponent of political correctness, never more so than in his new book, The Ten Things You Can't Say in America (St. Martin's Press, $23.95,352 pp). Insight spoke with Elder about his book and politics in America.

Insight: You've introduced a new concept in your book: the "viticrat" mentality?

Larry Elder: The viticrat mentality is somebody who blames all manner of problems on somebody else. Whether it's women blaming the glass ceiling for not getting promoted or blacks blaming racism for their inability to get promoted. It's a mentality that says, "It's not my fault. Somebody else stopped me."

Insight: What do you think of the term "African-American"?

LE: It's a condescending term. Jesse Jackson almost singlehandedly got America to use that expression. You don't call Mario Cuomo an Italian-American. Bill Clinton is of Irish descent. Is he an Irish-American? Black people can trace their roots back to the founding of this country and before. Why would there be a hyphen here? I am an American who happens to be black. And I find that terminology silly and divisive and separatist.

Insight: How do people respond to you and your views as a black conservative?

LE: If you're a black man and you're opposed to affirmative action, and you feel that racism is no longer the major problem facing the black community, never mind the merits of your argument. Never mind the polling data that shows that 93 percent of whites would vote for a black man for president Never mind the polling data that shows the majority of whites have no problem with interracial marriages....

So when I say it ain't all that bad, they say you're an Uncle Tom, you're a bootlicker, you're carrying the white man's water. They don't deal with the merits of the argument because it has become so emotional -- unlike other communities. Ronald Reagan, who was of Irish descent, had vigorous policy disagreements with speaker of the House Tip O'Neill, also of Irish descent. They were yelling at each other. And then when the day was over, they were able to go to a bar and tell jokes. Within the black community, you can't do that. Your integrity, your intentions, your heart are questioned.