Earlier today, I published Donald Trump's absurd, disrespectful address on Black History Month, during which he said, in part: "I am very proud now that we have a museum on the National Mall where people can learn about Reverend King, so many other things. Frederick Douglass is an example of somebody who's done an amazing job and is being recognized more and more, I noticed."
Many people observed it does not seem as though Trump knows who Frederick Douglass is, nor that he died in 1895.
During the White House press briefing today, Chief Propagandist Sean Spicer was asked what the fuck Trump meant when he said Douglass is "being recognized more and more." And Spicer's response suggests he doesn't have any better idea who Douglass is than his boss.
REPORTER: —about Frederick Douglass "being recognized more and more." Um, do you have any idea what specifically he was referring to?Whut.
SPICER: Well, I think there's contributions— I think he wants to highlight the contributions that he has made, and I think through a lot of the actions and, and, and statements that he's gonna make— I think the contributions of Frederick Douglass will become more and more.
This is, quite deservedly, being derisively mocked, but let's be clear: There's nothing amusing about this. There's nothing funny about a U.S. president and his press secretary, both white men, clearly having no fucking idea who Frederick Douglass is or what he did.
And it's especially not funny given that both of these men are part of an administration that is elevating and empowering white supremacy.
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