Ohioans are getting to know the names of a whole bunch of statewide legislators in 2020 for all the wrong reasons.
This week’s entry:
Republican State Sen. Steve Huffman, who is also a doctor, yesterday in a hearing on whether to declare racism a public health crisis asked the Director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health if the disproportionate infection rates for COVID-19 among Blacks was…. “Could it just be that African Americans – the colored population — do not wash their hands as well as other groups? Or wear a mask? Or do not socially distance themselves? Could that just be maybe the explanation of why there’s a higher incidence?”
This, State Rep. Stephanie Howse said, was not only offensive but also pretty clear evidence of why racism should be declared a public health crisis in Ohio.
“He highlights what racism is from a systematic perspective. He’s a full legislator but beyond that, professionally, he’s a doctor. When we talk about the health disparities that happen because black folks aren’t believed when they’re actually hurt, they aren’t given the treatment that they need. Do you think that someone who acknowledges the ‘coloreds’ is going to give the love and care that people need when they come through those doors?” Howse told the Dayton Daily News.
Huffman, who reps Senate District 5 near Dayton, issued a statement last night made up of words that appeared in general sentence order: “Regrettably, I asked a question in an unintentionally awkward way that was perceived as hurtful and was exactly the opposite of what I meant. I was trying to focus on why COVID-19 affects people of color at a higher rate since we really do not know all the reasons.”
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2020.
The terms, “people of color” and “colored people”, mean the same thing.
However, the first term is politically-correct, but the second term is politically-incorrect.
What is far more important than this political incorrectness issue– regardless, of whose feelings were hurt– is that public health statistics show that African-Americans as a whole have a higher rate of infection from Covid-19 than other categories of Americans.
I believe that this is because of a combination of different factors, which includes that a large number of African-Americans have preexisting medical conditions, like cardio-pulmonary disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure due in part to eating too much fried food and salt in their diet, and also because a lot of African-Americans are less able to afford to buy face masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, plastic gloves, and other personal protective equipment due to have a lower median income than other groups of Americans.
I have no idea of how Steve Huffman actually feels towards African-American, but if he was actually a white racist, he could have chosen to remain silent about this important public health issue about African-Americans being at a higher risk of contracting Covid-19.
Instead of fussing about this political incorrectness issue, it would be far more productive to find ways to reduce the high rate of Covid-19 infections in the African-American Community.
State Representative Stephanie Howse said, “When we talk about the health disparities that happen because black folks aren’t believed when they’re actually hurt, they aren’t given the treatment that they need.”
I find this claim interesting for two reasons.
First, the term, “black folks” is also commonly perceived to be politically incorrect when a non-black person uses it.
Second, since Cleveland is a regional medical center, whether health professionals in Cleveland agree or disagree with State Representative Stephanie Howse.
State Representative Howse should not be criticizing State Representative Steven Huffman for using a politically-incorrect term that referred to African-Americans when she also used a politically-incorrect term that referred to African-Americans.
Everything we don’t like is racist!!!!!!!
Be like us or be racist!!!!!!
Here drink this
Thank you for checking the Dr. He is part of the problem as a Representative of Ohio he along with Senator Jordan have proven to be Racist and need to be Voted out of Office. They really need to be impeached or asked to resign.
If all these racists wanted to hurt Black folks they’d just hand them money, or push abortion on them. Seems to be working when the Liberals do it
Cheryl Pritchard, I’m curious.
How do you feel about the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, which is also referred to as the NAACP?
Do you think it has a racist name?
Taxin Jackson and thief Budish are the crooks that need to resign!!!
I’m also wondering why colored folks commit over 50% of all murder in america when they make up only 13% of the population. A white person is 10x more likely to be killed by a black person than a black person killed by a white person.
This statement was stupidly worded and deserves criticism, but the thought behind it is valid.
Whenever some racial difference is cited, it’s all too often automatically blamed on racism. While racism is undoubtedly true in some, if not many, of these cases, it’s not the case in all situations.
The people who try to explain racial differences almost never take personal behavior into account. If you don’t try to determine if people bring some of these problems on themselves, then you’re not being rigorously scientific. You’re just pushing a lazy narrative.
….or refusal to wear masks, or ignore social distancing while rioting, looting or partying.
If we’re basing legislation and throwing money at a people that are “disproportionately affected” the least they can do is follow the rules.
I know you commies down there aren’t big on personal responsibilities, and often practice the bigotry of lowered expectations but contrary to your beliefs Black People are capable of taking care of themselves.
I know a perpetual under class is what you require to push your bullshit on everyone else, but the time is over. Your pets are waking up.
@What a Dump!
You are the most boring commenter I’ve ever seen. You say the same thing over and over. You’re the Jeff Darcy of commenters.
Taxin’ Jackson — wow, that gets funnier and funnier every time you write it.
The Doctor/Senator makes a good point. Unless blacks have some kind of a gene that makes them more prone to catch Covid than other races, it has to be behavior related.
Here is something interesting!– that is, according to her biography, State Representative Stephanie Howse is an executive member of the Cleveland branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Yet, she says she considers the use of the term, “colored population” by State Representative Steven Huffman to be offensive.
The Media should ask Stephanie Howse why is she an executive member of an organization with a racially offensive name?
Anyone else see the double standard?
See http://www.ohiohouse.gov/stephanie-d-howse/biography
but do they? There is no social distancing at these incessant blm protest/riots.
Sorry Queer Beard, you’re not going to subvert anyone but Millennials.
The Fed Govmt, CDC, Gov Dewine, Acton have all preached endlessly that the best protections is social distancing, masks and washing hands. So it is logical to ask if a group is suffering higher rates of covid, are they following those instructions.
He stated it very awkwardly, but what he asked was logical. I don’t think he meant any harm.
From the number of likes and dislikes to my original comment on this topic, I find it very interesting that far more people –by over a 4 to 1 margin– seem to think that fussing about Steve Huffman’s saying “colored” is more important than finding ways to reduce the high rate of Covid-19 infections in the African-American Community.
I also find it interesting that State Representative Stephanie Howse, said she found Steve Huffman’s saying “colored population” to be offensive even though she is an executive committee member of the Cleveland Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
After all, many African-Americans also find the term, “colored people”, to be offensive and politically-incorrect.
I don’t expect anyone to agree with me, but finding ways to reduce the high rate of Covid-19 infections in the African-American Community should be far more important than whether the word “colored” should be used or not.
Couldn’t be because they’re worried about uptight idiots calling the cops on the masked black man or woman, and then being shot by those sams cops about 11 seconds after they arrive on the scene.
Nah, couldn’t be that.
Shiwaku Seven and What a Dump should hook up and have a baby that constantly repeats the same boring dumbass statements over and over and over again….
BunchOfMorons, this minor topic shouldn’t get you to lose your cool, but it has.
I’m just surprised that so many people, like yourself, let their emotions get the better of them.
I’m really starting to enjoy this!
To even put it out there that anything affecting the black community more than any other group is caused by anything other than racism is now racist.
The race card… Play it often.
…but…is he wrong?
Ah luvs dat good lahf here in North Missitucky