With Season Approaching, Jesse Jackson Calls Hurricane Names Racist
With widespread expectations for an especially active hurricane season, yesterday Jesse Jackson held a news conference to highlight what he sees as a racial disparity in hurricane names. “America has come a long way in erasing its racist past,” Jackson began. “But every time there’s a hurricane, it’s a reminder of a tortured history of exclusion. No black hurricane names. That’s racism.” With an unusually high number of hurricanes two years ago, the World Meteorological Organization ran out of names and had to resort to using Greek symbols.
Jackson took particular offense at the use of symbols. “The WMO would rather use Greek symbols than traditional black names. We’ve had a Hurricane Alpha, when we could have had Hurricane Tyrone. We’ve had Hurricane Beta, but we could have had Hurricane Shinnequa. Or Hurricane D’Shawn. Or Lashonda. Or Takisha. Why Alpha and Beta? Racism, that’s why.” “Many of you remember the boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, who was wrongly imprisoned for murder. He became an icon of racism. You may have seen the movie with Denzel Washington. Or maybe you've heard the Bob Dylan song. Naming a hurricane after Mr. Carter would be a fine tribute to the injustice he suffered, and the injustices that black people still suffer today. There should never be a Hurricane Gamma or Hurricane Delta. I submit to you, ladies and gentleman, and to the racist pigs at the World Meteorological Organization, 'Hurricane Hurricane.' Thank you.” The World Meteorological Organization refused to comment for this story. One meteorologist familiar with the naming of hurricanes, Joseph McAllister, believes the organization could make changes after the season, adding names so that Greek symbols never have to be used. “I think some traditionally black names could be looked at,” McAllister said yesterday. “One day, I believe there could be a Hurricane Tyrone. But 'Hurricane Hurricane,' well, with all due respect, that’s just stupid. Hurricane Carter would work. ” NOTE: The Gay Black Jew feels that Jesse Jackson lives off of racism much like drug companies profit from illness. By making mountains out of mole hills, Jackson hurts, rather than helps, efforts to fight racism. He has become almost a joke for conservative commentators, and that's a shame. The Gay Black Jew supports the use of names that are as diverse as the people affected by hurricanes. The Gay Black Jew also believes that "Hurricane Tyrone" has a nice ring to it. Lastly, The Gay Black Jew enjoys referring to himself as The Gay Black Jew. He apologizes if this becomes annoying. |
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