When I first read this, I thought I was being set up for a joke. But it’s no joke—CNN reporter Shannon Travis is covering the Tea Party movement with honesty, fairness, and what seems to be some degree of admiration. Travis reports
But here’s what you don’t often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: Patriotic signs professing a love for country; mothers and fathers with their children; African-Americans proudly participating; and senior citizens bopping to a hip-hop rapper.
and
It is important to show the colorful anger Americans might have against elected leaders and Washington. But people should also see the orange-vested Tea Party hospitality handlers who welcome you with colorful smiles.
There were a few signs that could be seen as offensive to African-Americans. But by and large, no one I spoke with or I heard from on stage said anything that was approaching racist.
Almost everyone I met was welcoming to this African-American television news producer.
Wow! My sincere thanks go to CNN for being the only non-Fox news corporation with the decency to cover our movement accurately. We don’t ask for any special treatment or glowing coverage – all we want is fairness. Show us for who we are and let the people decide.
And CNN—to my surprise and appreciation—just did that. Let’s hope they continue this trend—and inspire others to follow their lead.
