White Kansas official tells black woman: ‘we are the master race’
Louis Klemp, who has a history of making controversial statements, claims comments were joke about tooth gap
A white county commissioner in the US state of Kansas claimed he belonged to “the master race” during a presentation by black city planner, local sources report.
According to The Kansas City Star, Leavenworth County Commissioner Louis Klemp “cited the Nazi ideology of Aryan supremacy” as Triveece Penelton presented a land-use proposal regarding road development near Kansas City.
As he critiqued the plan, Klemp told Penelton: “I don’t want you to think I’m picking on you because we’re part of the master race.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, he added “you know you got a gap in your teeth, you’re the master” and later insisted that his comment was a joke, and had meant that he and Penelton were both part of the “master race” because they had gaps in their teeth.
His comments were nevertheless condemned by Bob Holland, another county commissioner, as racist and irrelevant to the agenda.
“What’s this master race?” Holland said, according to KCTV. “None of us are master race. We’re all American and we’re all human beings.”
“I was shocked. I was in disbelief. He should resign. We shouldn't be labeled as Leavenworth County, the racist county. That's the way I feel we are being labelled,” he added.
This is not the first time Klemp has been accused of racism. In December last year, he made controversial remarks about Confederate general Robert E. Lee, calling him a “wonderful part of history”, and has previously referred to his own family’s slave-holding past.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Time-honored political tactic: Throw your wife under the bus'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Best non-alcoholic spirits for summer cocktails
The Week Recommends As hard liquor takes a backseat for many, the ingredients for the perfect mocktail are dryly delicious
By Ellie O'Mahoney, The Week UK Published
-
Will Biden's tariffs hinder China's EV dominance?
Today's Big Question Climate change goals and American jobs in tension
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Is the death penalty racist? Of course it is.'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Inside Trump's plan to fight 'anti-white racism' in the White House
In Depth The former president is planning to fundamentally flip America's civil rights protections if he wins a second term in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'CPAC is now only a shadow of its former self'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Maybe standardized tests aren't racist?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
'A ridiculous amount of money pledged to someone who already was absurdly rich'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published