No Monkeying Around Allowed in the Obama Camp
By Pamela Gentry, Senior Political Producer
Posted April 9, 2008 – One of Sen. Barack Obama’s Illinois delegates was asked to resign after likening two little Black children to monkeys.
Last weekend, Linda Ramirez-Sliwinski, a Carpentersville, Ill., village trustee, noticed the 
kids playing in a tree next to her house. Come down, and “quit playing in the tree like monkeys,” she told them.
Ramirez-Sliwinski says she wasn’t being racist; she was only thinking of the children’s safety. But one of the youngster’s parents didn’t quite agree and called police to complain. The Carpentersville police slapped her with a $75 ticket for “disorderly conduct,” which under town law means that a “person does something that alarms or disturbs another.”
The Obama campaign agreed that the incident was disturbing and asked her to relinquish her post as a delegate. “Given the incident, she is stepping down as a delegate and will be replaced,” said campaign spokesman Bill Labolt.
I would never dare say that to a black child. I could see how it could be taken as racist. And, she may have meant it as a racist remark. Whose to really know? I will say this, I have called my kids monkeys before - like once they were playing around in the floor. I just said, come on you little monkeys- they are white, but I didn’t mean it racist. I know people that jokingly use the word monkey with their kids in an endearing way. I’m not black so I don’t know what racism feels like and can definently see how it could offend. There are a lot of people out there who should be more careful about what comes out of their mouths. I’m voting for Obama, but I still don’t agree with him having such a close relationship with his retired pastor. Some of the things he has said has really offended me.
Kristy i agree with you totally. I am an african american parent, who has used the that terminology with my children at one point in time in my life. but as i became knowledgable of where the verse originated from, i chose not to use it ever again. It can be taken as an insensitive act, especially, when your dealing with opposite races.
I spend my time typing a response, and it doesn’t even post? You don’t really want to know what we think!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As difficult a process as change, CHANGE is coming. How we relate to each other will eventually be determined by how we see ourselves as “connected” to everyone else. Color or “packaging” will become meaningless and we will see each other with different eyes. Some of us already do - the rest will catch on.
I am a black man, and I dont think the woman was being racist at all, the woman said, “quit playing in the tree and acting like monkeys” she didnt call them monkeys, so to get that she was racist from her remark is absurd….Just another black man’s opinion
That was in no way a racist remark, and I firmly believe she in no way meant to be racist!
I am now inclined to believe that our racist alarm signal are going off quite too fast and quite too often, who benefits from it all, is yet to be seen! That woman just described what she saw, kids playing on a tree, would remind any one about monkeys, whether the kids are black or white, certainly has no roots to this!
And regarding Obama’s Pastor comments, Kristy please allow yourself to hear the entire thing, that is the only way it make sense, and please it is quite confusing to hold Obama responsible for the comments of another man, be it his pastor or brother!
I dont think she meant it in a racist term.Small comment are being taken to far
Clint I have to agree with you… I too am a black man who happens to be a parent and if my child was playing in a tree I would tell him the same thing. She did not mean that racially at all. It is beginning to get really sad how sensitive race is becoming in this country, in my opinion, due to this presidental election. Everything is being scrutinized and being looked into as being racist… It’s getting out of control!
I agree with Clint. Let’s keep it real…she was a delegate, and was technically forced to resign….she has now been replaced by another delegate. I’m sure as she caucused and won, others wanted that position…
This is going to happen all across the country….Remember, This Is Politics !
If their parents were close enough to hear her tell the children to get out of the tree, why did they not disciplone them.
I don’t think that woman was being racist at all. This whole deal sounds suspect.
Wisdom
Sorry, discipline them
I don’t feel she meant it in a racist way at all. I am a black woman and my husband and I have a tree in our back yard and the kids in our neighborhood love to climb in it and tie ropes to the limbs to make swings and I tell them to get out of the tree and stop acting like a bunch of monkeys. The reason I say that is because monkeys climb trees, they play around in trees, they sleep in trees, they swing on the branches etc. I think we are becoming way to sensitive and we need to evaluate what someone says before we deem the comment racist or the person a racist. I also find it absurd that someone would find her comment racist, when black people say n*gga all the time around white people, black people, hispanics etc. and never once bat an eye at the fact that they are desensitising people to the word and that these people, these other races, feel that it is all right to repeat it in everyday conversation.
Am I missing something here? Do monkeys climb trees, swing from branch to branch? Were kids playing in the trees? Is there not a connection? She said stop playing in the trees LIKE monkeys, an OBVIOUS comparison! She didn’t say you monkeys stop playing in the trees! This is dumb! Now Obama loses a delegate!
yea I certainly agree, we take this racism thing too far, and we dont apply that same energy to other areas, and of course I am guilty of that as well…and to you Kristy, listen to the whole message of Rev. Wright, dont listen to the snippet because this media we have today take what they want people to hear and make it into trash, and We all know that Rev. Wright was preaching the TRUTH, whether you like it or not, he did not sugar coat it he told it like it was, Just hear the conclusion of the whole matter my sista…
it appears the BET censors are out in force today
We all need to be Reasonable here o! come on, what is really going on here this is just an obvious and natural comparison. Let this not go too far than it already is, i beleive this woman never had any racial intentions when she spoke those words, i have two boys, a five and a two year olds, and i’m sure you know how they love to jumping on the couch and around… I use that same word on them; AM I THEN A RACIST? or would it had been ok if she was BLACK?.
oh please, leave the lady alone. she’s not a racist u monkeys. am black and don’t care about silly comments. There huge problems 2 b wasting time on silly season.
Dismissing her took things a bit too far! If she said, “like” then no harm, no foul in my opinion. There are real issues that need to be addressed and this doesn’t make the list by any means!
She did mean it racially! She is hispanic and she should be ashamed of herself. That is one reason why illegal hispanics should be pushed back to their own country with their newborn children (not monkeys)…no child should be jokingly or otherwise be called a “{monkey)….as an african american mother I see far too much first hand racism from hispanics and whites especially white women married and going with blacks…it is ironic. I was working at a montesorri school in alpharetta, ga where the white teacher took advantage of the little black boys there by running her hand all through their hair and mocking the children to the middle easterners working there. Our children, black children are not safe in the hands of white or hispanic teachers ever…..the nerve of this woman who would, no doubt, be the first to say that black people do not help hispanics in their struggle and how our struggles are the same……their struggle is nowhere near ours at all……….we black people did not slip into America via the border, we are too far away from our homeland….we were brought here againt our will and had to make the best of it……our struggle is very unique in that we fought and stood up for “everybody’s” right to justice and fair play including this woman who by our efforts, is here and calling “truthfighter’s” children, monkeys.
This is ridiculous. Monkeys jump around in trees so the kids playing in a tree was referenced the act not the race. If we holler racism to every comment no will take the real racist issues serious. I disagree with removing her from her delegate position.
I didn’t find this offensive at all. Furthermore, if the parent heard her, then why didn’t they just say something to the woman instead of going right to the police. Black and proud, I agree with you. We all have used the term “Monkeying around” at some point, and I’ve never been offended by that. Plus, -not saying our brown friends can’t be rasict- she’s a female and Hispanic so what since would that make???
The incident with Obama’s delegate is comical. If the delegate made a statement because she is racist, that says a lot about the person who chose her as a delegate? I’m torn between if she meant it or was it just a statement that she used with her own children or grandchildren. As a mother and grandmother, I’ve said it without thinking about we are compared to apes.
I disagree with removing her from her position; I really don’t think she was being racist. I believe that is common statement made from a lot of people.
You all are playing the other people game, getting petty just like them. Maybe she was referring to their climbing ability, thier joyfulness sounds of tree climbing.
If she saw them running and said, they run like a gazell. Would that me anything, yes the run fast.
Being as them.
Clint, you are right. The race baiters are why there can never be an open discussion in this country on race. 3/4 of the population can’t make a harmless comment without the race baiters trying to find some meaning behind it.
I am an african american and my father god bless his soul called me and my sibbling monkeys all the time so is it okay for a black parent to call their kids monkeys without being called a racist. Where do we draw the line it’s like people have to be walking on eggs shells and be on guard to what they say in the politicala arena.
I don’t think she meant it as being racist.
I think people are taking things without thinking before thinking them through but it seems that everyone’s words are being used against them these days.
I had to read this twice and ask my mother. I don’t think she was being racist. Call me crazy but she is a minority too and I don’t think she meant anything racial at all. She looks like a grandmother and was just concerned about the kids safety. It’s not what you are being called, it’s what you answer too and she clearly did not call them monkeys.
What this lady said is by no means racist. As adults, we often make remarks of young children acting like monkeys. It doesn’t mean we actually see them as monkeys. Was the party that complained a Clinton supporter and knew this lady was a delegate supporting Obama. I think Obama’s aides reacted impulsively rather than analizing the situation before determining the solution.
i don’t think she meant any harm yes it’s sad that the 1st animal come to mind was a monkey but then again that what monkeys do i honestly think it was harmless it went to far
We as black people have other things that are more important and pressing in our community then to spend time and media printing on something as meaningless as this. I’m not overly sensitive or make light of race but i see no way where this woman was being racist. it’s jusr silly to think this.
I’m a black college student and I don’t think that the comment was racist at all. People need to realize that when someone says something to a black person that it is not always a racist comment.
I don’t think the comment was racist however, I don think all kids born out of wedlock should be call BASTARD!
I don’t think the comment was made with racist intent. I think her forced resignation was over the top. The children’s mother’s should have been watching their kids. If they would have fell out the tree and broke a leg and the lady didn’t say anything they would have called her racist for wanting to see little black kids fall out of tree.
it is rideculous…..there was no offense at waht she said at all. i think we have to learn to draw the line at what is and not racist.it should not cost her job.
i think we should thank her. she was just concerned about the kids safety. Had something had happened to the kid, what would we think right now?
I DON’T THINK WHAT SHE SAID WAS RACIST AT ALL. I AS A PERSON WOULD HAVE SAID THE SAME THING. PEOPLE IN GENERAL ALL WAYS FINDING SOMETHING TO FUSS ABOUT. ALL WE HEAR IS RACIST THIS AND RACIST THAT. GROW UP! WE HAVE TO UNITE AND FIND A WAY TO HELP MAKE OUR WORLD BETTER AND TO HELP FIND A WAY TO BRING OUR BOYS AND GIRLS HOME OFF THE BATTLE FIELD. A BATTLE THAT ISN’T OUR BATTLE.
i am the grandmother of a bi-racial child, and let me tell you that racisim goes both ways. my grandson looks and acts just like his dad he has all his manorisims sense of humor same toes etc. only he is white, blonde hair and blue eyes like his mother. i have seen and heard things that were done to him, that as much as you want to go over and hurt that other child be it a white or black child you know that its a child and they just dont know any better how can kids so young know what hate is!! i will say that as a white person i dont know what it is like being called racist slurs but i am sure that it hurts! but have things gone so far that people have to be on the defense with everything? if the mother heard the woman she should be able to tell by her tone of voice if it was ment to be malicious or endearing. and i hope she gets just as offended when ANYBODY uses the N word! there is nothing endearing about that word. it was invented to break a black mans self worth, and distroy his self esteem. rhan it made look it up in the dictionary there is nothing positive about that nasty word!
Sorry,To say the only way to know is if u were there. On the other hand why is’t anything being done to the mom of the kids who allowed them to play in the tree like monkeys. When I was a child{1985) my parents got into troble, because my brother an I were playing in a tree like monkeys. An yes I am a brown American, Father of two an I have better of not catch them playing in a tree. Because if they get hurt I’ll probly be arrested. I just wonder how well did she know these kids. Cause You know black people don’t like anyone telling there kids what to do.
I DON’T THINK THE WOMAN WAS BEING RACIST. SHE JUST CALLED IT LIKE SHE SEEN IT. WHEN MY CHILD IS ACTING CRAZY JUMPING AND CLIMBING ALL OVER THINGS I ASK HER WHY IS SHE ACTING LIKE A WILD ANIMAL,MONKEY,A FOOL OR WHATEVER. WHEN U SEE KIDS PLAYING IN A TREE CLIMBING AND LAUGHING AND EVERYTHING, THE FIRST THING USUALLY IS SAID TO THEM IS STOP ACTING LIKE A MONKEY AND COME OUT OF THE TREE. PEOPLE ARE TAKING THIS ELECTION VERY SERIOUS. WE HAVE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, SO THIS ELECTION IS VERY SENSITIVE TO EVERY LITTLE THING THAT IS BEING SAID AND DONE.
i do not think she mean it in a racist way, she was just thinking about the kids safety.
I think I get the point…
This lady may have had good intentions for the
security of those children. But calling some
black folk children “monkeys” could escalate and
grow into a much greater dilemma!
Remember, she is a political leader and representative. I think this was necessary
to establish a degree of standard.
I’m so happy I had the opportunity to stretch and climb in our Family Tree!
I agree with others. Leave the lady alone. She was not beening racist.
Oh please….give me a break with all of this racist mess… like none have ever reffered to children ina tree monkeys, monkeys play in trees, monkeys are cute to me and I really believe that this woman was not being offensive. Is this all we have to talk about when all of this other stuff is going on around us. Lets talk about the children in this country that are abused, and are starving and are being raped and abandoned and lets talk about what we can do to help these children. I think this was just silly..I’m disgusted and oh so tired of hearing this crap. Keep your children out the trees in other peoples yard and then there will be no reason for anyone to refer to them as monkeys. I’m outta here.
cookie-girl you got issues…you need help
cookie if you witness this what did you do then? you can-not judge every one on one incident–just like we have some bad people in our race we don’t want anyone judging us on the behavor of others think you idiot……..
I am an African American mother with 4 children, and I don’t believe she was being racist at all. I think she just called it like she saw it, like Sabrina said. Children do act like monkies. Black, white, hispanic, yellow, green, they all do at some point. Give me a break we have too much going on in America. Too much real racism going on. People wake up.
Think about it, the children here were playing in a tree. Monkeys climb, hang out in and hang from trees. I do not think she meant for the comment to be racist at all. I think she was just looking out for the safety of the children. Sometimes people take things the wrong way, when they come from people they don’t know. The mom might not have taken it as a racist comment if it was said by someone she knew. Anyhow, I have a bi-racial child, who is half Cape Verdean from her dad and a bunch of stuff from me, and I have said that very same comment to my own daughter. I think that the police department the gave Ms. Ramirez-Sliwinski a tickit should void that ticket immediately!
and cookie, you have issues! i agree with rosetta
No I don’t thinks this was racist comment,how if
she would have said the N word.That would have been diffent.
get real had it not been an obama delegate, and one of clintons,the whole world would be in an uproar, we would be hearing from now until eternity, I know what’s going on, how and why would any parent call their child a monkey, i can’t believe african americans would go as far as they’ve gone i know who introduced race into this election, and why. by the way i’m black
It is sad that no one can say or do anything with out something being behind it I dont believe she did it for harm I have sais it but did not mean it and I am black. Just like the Preacher, Obama has no control of the preacher mouth, I think people should stop looking for bad and start looking for the good. I think he will make a good President.It time for a change. Lets stop hating and start supporting
my people, my people right is right….why is when talk about us we alaways get compare to monkeys….if the kids were white what would she had compared them to snow bunnies.
We need to stop being so sensitive. Ms. Ramirez did not call these kids black monkeys, coons, darkies, ni**** monkeys or anything that sound rasict. If you are a parent or have kids, you know we as parnets have said stop playing around like a monkey, you’re eating like a pig, you smell like a dirty puppy etc. Don’t we in this day and time have more to be upset about. We are to concerned with the wrong things. The children that were playing in the tree what were their grades like. Did they have food in the frig. Are their parents educated and do they have jobs. So many questions we could ask. As far as Obamas minister he has every right to say what is on his mind. He did not speak for Obama. Did anyone ask him why he felt the way he spoke? We as African Americans along with the American Indians deserve to be able to speak out because this USA has never truly made up for the devastation it has caused on a race of people. Some states have apologized for slavery (4), but the US has never healed any wounds. We should be worried about what is quietly going on then what is loudly being said (Bush).
You guys are kidding right? Surely this woman didn’t get fired over this statement. This is insane. Now, how many black parents have told their children the same thing this woman told them. She wasn’t comparing them with monkeys-she just said stop acting like monkeys-there’s a huge difference. This is not racist at all, and this woman’s career shouldn’t be ruined over this. Ask yourself this question:”has this woman ever been racist or said something racist to these children in the past? If not, then what is the basis for crying racism over this petty thing this woamn said?
Those two kids were probaly in the tree really actting like monkeys, everything isn`t a race thing and I think that us black folks are taking things out of content.
If it was a black lady saying that it would have been fine, just because it was a white lady everybody is mad she probaly saved their necks.
We as black people have to know when to cry race and not just take it for granted.
Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., one of the greatest men to ever walk this planet, just wanted people to be judged by their character, not by the color of their skin. Those kids’ character, at the time, was that they were small and they were in a tree–like monkeys. I don’t believe race had anything to do with the woman’s comment. This is political correctness run amok! It seems to me that liberals always see skin color before they see charater.
I cannot believe some of these comments, We play the race card a little too much nowadays, it’s really getting ridiculous. If she was so racist do you think she would have been a part of the Obama camp? A big deal was made out of nothing, and as for the parent who ACTUALLY called the police, she should have been watching her dayum kids!
There was NOTHING racist about her comment!
I’m so glad I came here and found that most people were of sound mine. Of course the woman wasn’t being racist, and the Obama folks overplayed this. Whatever happened to “it takes a village to raise a child” (to borrow from the Clinton camp). The dear woman was trying to keep the neighbors safe.
I have give the BET posters a lot of credit for coming down on the right side of this issue.
I agree with most people on this issue. I am African American and don’t feel this was a racist comment. I’m sick of people using the race card all the time! The parents of these kids should be ashame of themselves for going to the police about something so petty!
This wasn’t a racist comment at all. It’s was a reaction that probably more than half of America would probably say, without giving a second thought. Even more so, just imagine what percentage of black Americans would say something to them that wasn’t so “nice” - and what they would say certainly wouldn’t be as innocent as the word “monkey”.
I AGREE WITH THE MAJORITY HERE, IF YOU READ THE STATEMENT AND KNOW HOW KIDS PLAY WHEN CLIMBING TREES ITS JUST A METAPHORIC STATEMENT NOTHING RACIAL ABOUT IT INTENDED. I THINK OBAMA ALSO NEEDS TO LIGHTEN UP WITH EVERY COMPLAINT THAT IS MADE AND PERCEIVED AS BEING RACIAL AND LETTING PEOPLE GO BECAUSE TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE HE IS BEING DICTATED AS TO WHAT HE SHOULD DO AND HE DOESNT WANT OTHERS TO PERCEIVE HIM AS BEING RACIST EVER SINCE THE REV. WRIGHT ISSUE AND THIS IS NOT GOOD
The thing that upset me the most was that the children were being taught the wrong lesson! The parents are teaching their kids to be victims. The kids were in someone else’s tree, on someone else’s property and were scolded. As parents we’ve all been there! But instead of dealing with *that* issue the parents called the police - the police for goodness sake! Over a comment they decided to be racial.
I can’t imagine what would motivate someone to actually call the police over this.
Wonder what lesson those little kids took away from this mess.
Well i believe that the lady didn’t mean nothing by it. me being black myself say that to my siblings and be 100% serious. just for their safety. i believe the parent had something aginst her because that was just tooken to far. the parent should be proud that someone else is looking out for her child when not around.
I do not think her comment was meant to be racist, and the result was ridiculous. I’m sure I would have said the same thing. Would we even be discussing this if the kids were hispanic? No, I don’t think so. As a people we spend too much time focusing on the petty things. As a black person I can think of a lot more pressing issues that we need resolve. Has anybody ever heard the story about the boy who cried wolf? Save it for when it’s really needed.
please, people! stop all the racism talk you’ll never have a black president, unless you stop because racism goes both ways all i hear is negativty.
please, people! stop all the racism talk you’ll never have a black president, unless you stop because racism goes both ways all i hear is negativity.
Why monkeys was the first word to come to mind. Unless it was already in her head when she saw a black kid hanging (oops) I mean playing in a tree. I am a black american and if I see a child, any child I would say get down you will fall. Not label them. She should know better if she’s holding any public office.
It’s so hard trying not to be negative, but they lay it on us from every race there is.