Are We Still Dealing w/ Race Issues: Lake Crystal Newspaper Publishes Racist Joke

Lake Crystal, Minn. – Some people south of the Metro are outraged by what a newspaper editor wrote in a small, local paper.  He insists it was a joke but admits it was printed in “bad taste.”

In the town of Lake Crystal, population three thousand, Main Street may have lost a bit of its zip.  But the local paper, The Tribune, still knows how to whip up a little trouble.

In a column, appropriately called “Ramblings,” the writer shares a joke about a golf course replacing its caddies with shiny robots.  But the glare blinds the robots.  The punch line comes in when someone suggests painting the robots black.

In the joke, a golf course employee says, “We did.  And four of ’em didn’t show up for work, two filed for welfare, one robbed the pro shop, and the other thinks he’s the president.”

One Lake Crystal woman told FOX 9 she didn’t think the joke was appropriate to publish.  “And I don’t think it’s funny, either,” she says.

So how does something like this get by the editor? The writer is the editor.  Editor and publisher, Don Marben, who wouldn’t talk on camera, says he’s sorry if he stepped on anyone’s toes.  But some wonder if he really gets it. Read full article here…