Michael Eric Dyson at the New York premiere of “Origin” held at Alice Tully Hall on November 30, 2023, in New York, New York. | Source: Variety / Getty
Last month, we reported on GOP Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) being checked by famed professor in African American studies at Vanderbilt University Dr. Michael Eric Dyson for intentionally, repeatedly and unapologetically mispronouncing Vice President Kamala Harris’ name. After being corrected on the spelling of the Democratic nominee for president’s name, Mace, in all of her infinite caucasity, declared she would say Harris’ name “any way that I want to” during a panel discussion on CNN.
Dyson tried to educate Mace on “the history and legacy of white disregard for the humanity of Black people,” to which Mace responded by getting offended that she was being called “racist,” which Dyson denied calling her while continuing to stand up for Harris and Black women everywhere.
Well, any pro-Black points Dyson might have scored during the exchange may end up being deducted and then some now that it has been revealed that, after the panel discussion, Dyson sent Mace what appear to be flirty text messages in which he commented on her physical appearance and said, “Don’t tell anybody we look good together,” accompanied by a kissy emoji. Dyson probably wasn’t expecting Mace to share the private messages he sent her — especially not on the congressional floor during a House Oversight hearing.
During the House session, Mace defended her mispronunciation of Harris’ name by pointing out that several Democrats, including Bill Clinton, have also said her name wrong, which obviously misses the point since there’s a clear difference between mispronouncing the VP’s name unintentionally and doing it purposefully even after being informed of the correct pronunciation.
Then Mace went in on Dyson.
“I would like to also enter into the record a screenshot of a text message I received from the esteemed professor from Vanderbilt, Michael Eric Dyson. After my CNN interview begged me for photos in this text, he says, after calling me racist on CNN,” Mace said.
Notably, Dyson did not call Mace racist. In fact, when she responded to his history lesson on white people’s disregard for the respect of Black people by saying, “Oh, so now you’re calling me racist?” Dyson immediately said that wasn’t what he said. But that little tidbit is likely going to be buried behind the only aspect of this story anyone is talking about: Why the hell is Dyson out here seemingly flirting with this loud and proud Karen after calling her out?
Well, according to Dyson, that’s not what he was doing.
In a video posted to Instagram, Dyson said he wanted to “clear something up” regarding “a vicious and untrue rumor that’s being spread by Congresswoman Nancy Mace, claiming I was trying to hit on her.”
Dyson began by reading and describing the “complete text exchange that she says is proof I was trying to hit on her.” Dyson called out Mace’s false claim that he called her racist, noting that he “went out of my way to say that she was not a racist” and was only trying to educate her. Then he read the texts he sent her, including the kissy face emoji, and denied Mace’s allegation that he “begged” her for the photo-op.
“Abby Philip, the host of the show, suggested we take pictures,” he said before going on to explain that “the whole point was — two bi-polar opposites: Michael Eric Dyson on one side, Nancy Mace on the other.”
Dyson said that his “Don’t tell anybody we look good together” line was about them being “bi-polar opposites” and that the kissy face emoji was accompanied by a laughing emoji, indicating that he was joking.
“And she said, ‘Ha ha ha ha ha,’ and I said, ‘Well, your gorgeousness makes the photo, so, there’s that,’” Dyson said, claiming he was “just trying to be nice to her” to prove “we can be relatively nice to each other.”
“There’s no hitting on you,” he claimed, also noting that Mace reacted to his remark on her “gorgeousness” with a heart emoji, which he said she later removed “because she knew she was up to some mayhem.”
OK, Dyson, here’s the thing:
Why are you texting Mace at all? She was the one who was intentionally racially offensive. She even responded by calling you and Democratic strategist Keith Boykin, who is also Black, “boys” while mocking you for being “triggered.” Why must you be the one to reach out to her trying to make nice when she’s the one who has shown such wanton disrespect? Why are you out here soliciting a Kumbaya moment with Mace, and why wouldn’t you expect that she might misinterpret your messages, screenshot them and then use them against you later?
Also, was it even a misinterpretation? Because, honestly, most women who have been on social media for a while — and men too for that matter — recognize weak DM game when they see it. The emojis, the compliment on her attractiveness, the “we look good together” line — all of that easily reads like you’re a thirsty internet random trying to score a date with a woman whose profile you just can’t stop staring at.
Just saying, sir — you kind of did this to yourself.
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