"Whether there is a lesser, equal or greater population of black politicians involved in corruption has nothing to do with their skin color"

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Corruption doesn’t discriminate in politics
By Taylor Quinn, March 27, 2014

Another politician was allegedly caught being corrupt Wednesday. Patrick Cannon, the now former mayor of Charlotte, N.C., faces federal theft and bribery charges. ABC News reported Cannon “solicited and accepted more than $48,000 in cash, airline tickets, a hotel room and the use of a luxury apartment as bribes, according to a criminal complaint.”

If convicted, Cannon would face 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in fines, according to ABC News.

A politician being corrupt? Say it ain’t so! 

It seems as though being corrupt is part of the job description of “politician,” so this story comes as no shock. What is shocking, though, is that the comments under the ABC article, and under almost all of the other articles regarding this subject, had to do with the fact that Cannon is black.

One would think that as a country, we would be civilized enough to not use skin color as either a reason why someone is guilty or using it as a reason why someone was framed. 

“Hmmm.. an african american [sic] democrat politician involved in corruption...boy am I surprised!” said OrionElectra in the comments section of the ABC News article.

Whether there is a lesser, equal or greater population of black politicians involved in corruption has nothing to do with their skin color. 

MontrellJ commented, “The white man set the mayor up—im tired of this—he need to get some money from african american leaders to fight this racism—white people do this all the time and dont get caught—the mayor framed [sic].”

But white politicians do get caught: Former Arizona State Rep. Richard Miranda, former San Diego Mayor Bob Filner, former California State Sen. Roy Ashburn, former Colorado State Rep. Douglas Bruce and former Connecticut State Sen. Thomas Gaffey are all white politicians who have been caught in corruption scandals.

Besides the fact that these two comments are ignorant and almost comical, they are simply sad.

When are people going to get it through their heads that color has absolutely nothing to do with how a person acts? Skin color is merely a piece of one’s appearance that we as a people somehow linked a meaning with. I doubt that anyone would say someone did or didn’t commit an illegal act because he or she has green eyes, so why should having dark skin have to do with anything?

And unfortunately, judging on the basis of skin color doesn’t just go for white and black people. All skin colors are stereotyped in some way or another, and these stereotypes have been used as a reason for proving innocence or guilt among American citizens. 

The bottom line is that if Cannon was being corrupt, he should have to suffer the consequences. Not because he is black. Not because his eyes are brown or his teeth are white, but because, if he accepted more than $1 million worth in bribes, he knew what he was doing and deserves to go to prison.
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