Consider this the only time I'll approvingly quote Roland Burris:
There will be no African Americans in the U.S. Senate when he leaves office at the end of the month, a fact outgoing Sen. Roland Burris called "unacceptable" and "troubling" in his farewell speech Thursday."Throughout 220 years of Senate history and 111 Congresses, only six black Americans have been able to serve," Burris said. "This is troubling in its own right."
Of the six, three are from Illinois and Chicago Democrats: former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, Obama and Burris.
"When the 112th Congress is sworn in this coming January, there will not be a single black American who takes the oath of office in this chamber," Burris said.
"This is simply unacceptable. We can -- and we will -- and we must do better.
It says a lot about our media -- and our country -- that this isn't a big deal at all.
-- Jamelle Bouie
