A CNN segment went off the rails after a pro-Trump guest suggested that Black people who support Vice President Kamala Harris are ‘House Negros.’
During a discussion about the state of race as Harris courts Black voters, especially Black men, pro-Trump radio host Shelley Wynter referenced Malcolm X’s famous 1963 speech to frame the 2024 presidential election as a battle between “House African-Americans” and “field African-Americans” setting off a clash with former DNC Vice-Chair Michael Blake.
“If you’re an African-American man. Look, let me boil this election down in the African-American community to a very simple, I’ll reference the great Malcolm X. This race is between House African-Americans and field African-Americans and the field African-Americans are going for Donald Trump,” Wynter said in a clip highlighted by Mediaite.
He continued: “I’m talking about your men who build, your men who put things together, your men who work with their hands, your men who do things, not the men who push paper, the men who are connected to power and want to continue to be connected to power.”
Host Sara Sidner then asked Wynter if he is denigrating and degrading professional Black men with white collar jobs.
“No, I’m not saying–” Wynter began before Blake called him out.
“Is Shelley the house one or the field one? I’m just trying to understand that part, I’m just trying to understand the one that’s spitting talking points right now. Are you the house Negro and the field Negro that you’re referring to? I’m just trying to make sure,” Blake said. “Your question was about denigrating Black people, that literally was your question. You have a Republican fool who was talking right now – you literally just said Black men, this is an election about house or field. This is the nonsense that we are listening to right now by those that are supporting Donald Trump.”
“You sound absurd and silly,” Blake added.
Wynter later tried to clarify his point.
“The men who get up every day and make things happen with their hands, they build things. They’re plumbers, they’re electricians, they’re working for Amazon. These men who are coaching seven and under football, not because their son or daughter plays, but because they want to keep others off the streets and they’re volunteering their time,” Wynter said. “These men are going for Trump, these men and I’ll use an analogy made famous by the great Malcolm X.”
“So you’re saying that I’m denigrating anybody? Then you must assume that he was denigrating somebody,” he added.
Blake pushed back, highlighting Trump’s racist past and lack of any policy aimed at improving the lives of Black people .
“Let’s be abundantly clear. You have a choice: You can follow the rhetoric of someone who is literally calling you a house or field Black man or you can follow the Black woman who was a district attorney, an attorney general, a United States senator, a vice president, and historically black colleges and universities alum, a sorority sister, who was actually helping Black people,” continued. “This is the decision you have in 20 days.”
