Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a man who never lets an opportunity to promote Christianity get away from him, is now under fire for suggesting it’s weird that black people would enjoy playing chess.
In a remarkable self-own, Bevin posted this video on Twitter a few days ago when he visited the West Louisville Chess Club at a school called Nativity Academy at St. Boniface.
What he wants to say is that it’s great to see kids playing a game that requires intelligence.
What he actually says is… not that.
Enjoyed meeting the members of the West Louisville Chess Club at Nativity Academy at St. Boniface…Incredible kids with incredible minds. #WeAreKY pic.twitter.com/ePnrmkmR0g
— Governor Matt Bevin (@GovMattBevin) July 10, 2018
“I’m going to go in and meet the members of the West Louisville Chess Club,” the governor said in the video released on Tuesday. “Not something you necessarily would have thought of when you think of this section of town.”
… why?
Bevin, as you would expect from a stubborn guy who always acts like he can do no wrong, won’t elaborate. It’s especially tone-deaf coming from a guy who has adopted black children.
His political opponents have been quick to pounce.
Councilman David James, who represents District 6 in Louisville, was present at the event where Bevin filmed the promo. James said it is a sign of Bevin’s deteriorating relationship with the state’s African-American community.
“It was just an obvious move by the governor to take photos with the African-American community,” James said. “To perpetuate a stereotype of the African-American community like that is unbelievable.”
It’s not even the first time Bevin has said something stupid in this part of the state. Last year, he visited Louisville to announce that he had a solution for the problem in the community: Prayer.
People who live there didn’t take him seriously then, and they sure as hell don’t care for his remarks now.
“Bevin…Blacks in west Louisville enjoy chess, tennis, and many other activities not associated with guns and violence,” Donovan Taylor, the secretary for the Chickasaw Neighborhood Association said on Facebook. “To think less of west Louisville shows your thinking of the residents of the area.”
Taylor considers himself a “concerned resident” in West Louisville.
“It was a very funny video,” Taylor added. “It’s laughable to have such a small view of West Louisville. It is definitely offensive. If it’s not racist, it’s classist. It’s disturbing.“
Bevin hasn’t announced yet if he’ll run for re-election next year. If he does, he may want to avoid Louisville as much as possible.