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Facebook Co-Signs Racist Attack Against Michelle Obama

While checking Facebook, as I often do before jumping out of bed every morning, I came across the following picture someone had shared.

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Disgusted, but not surprised, I clicked on the page this image originated from. Predictably, I was brought to some super patriotic, tea party-type page filled with similar pictures and posts. I noticed the high number of “likes” and read some of the comments, some in favor of the caption, others as outraged as I was.

No matter your personal politics, this picture reveals the deep-seated racial psychosis so many people are afflicted with.

I reported the picture to Facebook for containing “hate speech or symbols” and received the following message about an hour later.

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According to Facebook, the picture in question isn’t a violation and cannot be removed. How is this possible when Facebook’s very own Community Standards for “Hate Speech” state the following:

“Facebook does not permit hate speech, but distinguishes between serious and humorous speech. While we encourage you to challenge ideas, institutions, events, and practices, we do not permit individuals or groups to attack others based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition.”

I’m assuming Facebook considers this picture “humorous speech” and ignores its own rules in regards to race and gender, the same way the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) seems to ignore its own laws regarding obscene, indecent, and profane broadcast offensive to Black audiences. But that’s another story…or is it?

For years, the music industry has exploited and glorified misogyny and the hypersexualization of Black women. Today, this has become such an accepted idea that a racist, sexually objectifying picture of America’s first Black “First Lady” isn’t even considered hateful in the eyes of a billion-dollar company like Facebook.

For what it’s worth, feel free to report the picture again. Who knows, they may buckle under the pressure… if enough people care to even create pressure in the first place.

Just another day in post-racial America, right?

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Sebastien Elkouby is a Hip Hop Culture historian, writer, creative consultant, and award-winning educator. Check out his educational program, Global Awareness Through Hip Hop Culture and blog, SebIsHipHop.wordpress. com. For more info about his creative consulting services, contact him at [email protected].