A white Democrat running for a state House seat in North Carolina has ruffled feathers after claiming he's a 'member of the African-American community'.

Gary Shipman, who is running in the Democratic primary and hoping to challenge Republican incumbent Holly Grange in the District 20 race in November, was attending a campaign event in Wilmington on Sunday.

He was asked at the event how he would promote inclusion and diversity and 'enthuse African-Americans' about his campaign.

Gary Shipman (pictured), a white Democrat running for a state House seat in North Carolina, has ruffled feathers after claiming he's a 'member of the African-American community'

He was asked at a campaign event in Wilmington (pictured) on Sunday how he would promote inclusion and diversity and 'enthuse African-Americans' about his campaign

'I'm a member of the African-American community,' Shipman said. 'I've been where you are. I've been in your communities.'

He then tried to clarify his comment, saying that he had spent time among his African-American constituents and felt confident that he knows them, reported the News & Observer of Raleigh.

'I've eaten at many a fish fry held by my "brothers" and "sisters", "aunts" and "uncles" in that community,' he wrote in an email to the newspaper.

'I've celebrated birthdays, births, marriages, graduations, Christmas, Thanksgiving, July 4, etc., with many members of the African-American community.

He then tried to clarify his comment, saying that he had had spent time among his African-American constituents and had 'eaten at many a fish fry'

Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of North Carolina's Republican Party, said that Shipman's remarks were 'off-putting' (Pictured, Shipman speaks with constituents)

'There are people within that community and elsewhere that refer to me (and treat me) like their "brother" or "pops" or "uncle", and I refer to them (and treat them) like my "brothers", "sisters" and children,' he wrote.

Shipman also told the News & Observer that he took in an 'African American kid' he had known for years after the teenager's parents died.

The attorney said he helped the teenager prepare for college and 'pushed him out into the world' as if he was his biological child. just as he would one of his own children.

'I don't see color, I see people; and not because I'm running for the NC House either - I've talked the talk and walked the walk for many, many years,' Shipman wrote.

Dallas Woodhouse, executive director of North Carolina's Republican Party, said that Shipman's remarks were 'off-putting' but added that ultimately voters would decide which candidate represented their values and the community.