Black ministers not supportive of Jewish person to represent Tennessee in Congress

What should be considered a moment to be proud of when it comes to diversity, the Jewish person to represent Tennessee in Congress has been mired in division. Steve Cohen won the election in 2006 after winning a primary of six other candidates all who were black. The ninth district in Tennessee has a primarily black constituency and since 1966 their has been a black congress person from that district.

What I think should be pointed out is some of the statements that have been made, one example is statements made in August at a meeting of the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Association:

"He's not black and he can't represent me, that's just the bottom line," said Rev. Robert Poindexter of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. "I don't care how people try to dress is up, it always comes down to race and he can't know what it's like to be black."

How can this not be considered racism? It's not just one isolated incident, this situation has also made NPR today.

If a black or a hispanic person was elected in a majority white district and the things that are being said about Cohen were said publicly there would be a huge outcry against those making these racist statements....