The conservative Young America’s Foundation (YAF) tried to mock Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg this weekend because he called out racism in government policy.
But instead of people laughing at Buttigieg, people laughed at YAF. It was brutal.
Related: Pete Buttigieg had to go on TV to tell ignorant Republicans “you need water to live”
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“There is racism physically built into some of our highways,” Buttigieg said in an interview with The Grio, promoting President Joe Biden’s two trillion dollar infrastructure package.
Buttigieg was referring to how majority-Black neighborhoods have historically been torn down and divided in order to build highways in urban areas, a well-documented phenomenon; he said that there is money in Biden’s proposal to address this.
For some reason, YAF thought this was funny and made a meme out of it.
“This is not parody,” the organization tweeted with the quote from Buttigieg.
This is not parody. pic.twitter.com/bzbplAnfqO
— YAF (@yaf) April 10, 2021
That’s when YAF got schooled.
“Have you tried reading literally any book on the subject?” asked legendary Jeopardy! contestant Sam Deutsch.
have you tried reading literally any book on the subject? pic.twitter.com/zs9VmEpCix
— sam deutsch (@samdman95) April 10, 2021
“I’m begging you to read one book that isn’t Harry Potter,” said feminist and trans advocate Ari Drennan.
I’m begging you to read one book that isn’t Harry Potter
— Ari Drennen (@AriDrennen) April 11, 2021
Even conservatives piled on YAF.
“Google redlining,” quipped the Libertarian Party of Texas.
Google redlining.
— Libertarian Party of Texas (@LPTexas) April 10, 2021
There was a lot more.
For a bunch of people who love to bleat about America, you sure don't know its history
— Kevin Gannon (@TheTattooedProf) April 10, 2021
I remember when building freeways was part of "urban renewal", a phrase that also meant "black people's housing removal".
When I-95 went by my suburban neighborhood, it mostly took out farmland. In the nearby city, it was mostly black people's houses and businesses.— Bill Stewart (@BillStewart415) April 11, 2021
Your sentence would be complete after 4 words. 😉
— Becky Wiren (@beckywiren) April 11, 2021
Google "Rondo neighborhood and I-94". You might just learn something.
And, as conservatives for freeedom, the part about eminent domain being used to wipe out thriving businesses should alarm you!— Resolve.Action.Love (@Snowman55403) April 10, 2021
And it's also not wrong. It's actual history.
Also actual history: @YAF was founded by William F. Buckley.
Buckley defended Jim Crow laws, saying the "white community" is "entitled" to take steps to ensure it "prevails politically" because "it is the advanced race.” pic.twitter.com/HtNwCtGS7k
— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) April 11, 2021
I know you don’t have much to be proud of but surely you could have picked something better than ignorance.
— VenmoCrimingHat (@Popehat) April 11, 2021
i'm guessing this tweet didn't go over how you thought it would
— Dad Jokes Panda (@TrashPandaFTW) April 11, 2021
