“Them Sharon N*ggers Gotta Learn How to Read”, Thomas Burke’s email

by | Dec 1, 2015 | Opinion | 0 comments

Thomas Burke’s new career ended before it could even begin. Burke, former police chief of Farrell, Pennsylvania, had difficulty completing his assignment which for many would have been a breeze but for him was an epic fail.

For his first assignment he was asked to reach out for donations for a book drive for the children in the community. He composed an email asking for money where he said, “Good morning. Please click and review. Even $1.00 will be greatly appreciated. Them Sharon n*ggers gotta learn how to read.”

To add insult to injury he also said he regularly uses the word n*gger. After the email received national attention, Burke resigned after only holding the position for a week. Farrell Mayor Olive McKeithan, an African American woman, defended Burke in a letter stating, “Until you get to know a man’s character, you can’t judge him by one off the cuff remark, or else would we not have to judge all white people as equally guilty?”

I can’t say that I agree with Ms. McKeithan, I would like to think that any person despite their race or ethnicity would have enough professionalism (and common sense) not to use racial slurs in an email asking for donations.

And let’s not overlook the fact that he was referring to children in his statement. I won’t judge him by this one little incident though.

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