Issac Newton Farris Jr., the nephew of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., on Monday night stood behind his earlier comments that he does not think President Donald Trump is racist.
Farris, a guest on “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” has drawn heat since he said he didn’t think Trump was racist, but “racially ignorant and racially uninformed."
Last week, Trump was widely rebuked after he reportedly referred to Africa and Haiti as “shithole countries” during a heated White House meeting about immigration. He also questioned why the United States didn’t welcome more people from places like Norway instead.
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“I used the word ignorance, I think I’d rather say uninformed, because ignorance has a much more negative connotation to it,” said Farris, the son of King’s sister, Christine King Farris. “The president, I do not think, is a racist as we have traditionally known in this country.”
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When pressed by Lemon on what that actually means , Farris said it could be that perhaps that someone has “said or done some racist things unbeknownst..It makes maybe what you said or done a racist act, but it’s not an act of racism. It’s not racism in your heart. You can do something and not be aware you’re doing them. I think that’s largely the case with President Trump.”
Farris said Trump should be better informed. For instance, Farris pointed out Trump’s attacks on Rep. John Lewis and his district, which the president has said is in horrible shape and falling apart.
“Well John Lewis’ district is the city of Atlanta,” said Farris. “Black entrepreneurship and the city of Atlanta are synonymous.”
Trump has also offended people with his birther questions regarding former President Barack Obama and saying Mexican immigrants were rapists and bringing crime into the nation.
Farris spoke during the signing of a proclamation honoring Martin Luther King Jr.
"If my uncle were here today, the first thing he would say is, 'What are we or what are you doing for others?" Farris asked
Farris is the former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which he said at one time he felt called by God to lead the organization, co-founded by his uncle.
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