In Defense of Tribalism?

YOU ARE VISITING THE OLD MALKIN(S)WATCH. THAT'S FANTASTIC. PLEASE VISIT THE NEW MALKIN(S)WATCH WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE.

Michelle lectures:

Have you noticed the prevalence of this phrase in the aftermath of Katrina? It bugs me:

Kanye West: "...those are my people down there."

Sean Combs: "These are my people..."

It's not just minority celebrities and leaders using it. Here's a column from a black columnist who received a nasty message from a reader referring to "your people..."

I don't know about you, but when we donate to Katrina victims and say prayers for them in our home, every one of them is "our people."

Jabbar Gibson is our people.

Deamonte Love is our people...

Disasters don't discriminate. Helping care for "my people" means helping care for them all.

Right, Rev. Sharpton? Rev. Jackson?

Now seems like a good time to remind Michelle of the following quote:

These people are not 'internees' -- they are under no suspicion for the most part and were moved largely because we felt we could not control our own white citizens in California.