Twitter Reacts After Joe Biden Calls Satchel Paige 'The Great Negro'
By Ryan Shepard
November 12, 2021
President Joe Biden upset several people while delivering a speech on Veterans Day. As the President spoke, he compared his demeanor to that of legendary pitcher Satchel Paige. While doing so, Biden referred to Paige as a "great negor" before correcting himself and pointing out that he played in the Negro Leagues.
"I've adopted the attitude of the great Negro —at the time—pitcher in the Negor leagues, went on to become a great pitcher in the pros in Major League Baseball after Jackie Robinson, his name was Satchel Paige. And Satchel Paige on his 47th birthday pitched a win against Chicago," Biden told the crowd.
At the time of Biden's speech, there was little pushback for his misstep. However, social media misses nothing. Critical tweets of Biden came early and often from all corners of the internet.
"I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that's a storybook, man." - Biden on Obama https://t.co/sOczJp3x36
— Fiona Applebum says #BlockShaunKing 🍎 (@WrittenByHanna) November 11, 2021
Joe biden just said Negro 😳
— Hovain (@Hovain) November 11, 2021
While a large group was critical of Biden's usage of the word, others felt that Biden simply misspoke. As a result, there were a faction of people who felt the criticism hurled at the President was overblown in this specific instance.
President Biden was clearly referring to Satchel Paige having pitched in the “Negro Leagues.” It’s sad watching these openly racist right wing Trump supporters trying to pretend that Biden is somehow the racist one. They can, and will, go to hell.
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) November 11, 2021
i missed this last night but what Hannity calls one of the most "disturbing" Biden gaffes is total fake news. When Biden referred to Satchel Paige as a "great negro" he was clearly referring to the fact that Paige pitched in the negro leagues. Watch the clip for yourself. pic.twitter.com/qhvnniVzLQ
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 12, 2021
In the midst of all that was going, there was a third group of people that engaged with the story for the jokes that could be made. If there's one thing Twitter has the ability to do repeatedly, it's make light of what others may turn into a serious political conversation. Jokes, memes and sarcasm were on full display.
I’m so obsessed with this vibe I love vintage aesthetics in modern contexts it’s so timeless https://t.co/JyGuQmeWVB
— raina (@quakerraina) November 11, 2021
One day he wake up it’s 2021 the next day he wake up it’s 1921 lmao 😂 https://t.co/Y2wenPS21I
— Sir Freezy! (@MikeFree_) November 12, 2021
Now, Joe.. https://t.co/CO8blW7Rif pic.twitter.com/DQgDBY1Kqt
— JoLLy ⚪️ (@Ib_JoLLy) November 12, 2021
President Joe Biden has not commented on the matter as of yet and it is unlikely that he will.
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