I cannot turn on the television without seeing Arianna Huffington of Huffington Post fame railing against all the things that President Obama is doing wrong.  Well apparently she cannot take such heat herself because if you criticize her, and by her I mean the Huffington Post, for its lack of staff diversity you are silenced very quickly.  Huffington Post posted a picture of its staff Christmas Party wishing its readers Happy Holidays.  However, readers were not so jolly when they noticed the glaring lack of diversity amongst the Huffington Post staff.  The first ten comments mentioned the fact that an overwhelming majority of the staff are of European descent (Caucasian).  In other words, very few people of color.  When the Huffington Post saw where the negative comments were going it removed every single one of the complaints mentioning their hypocrisy and lack of diversity within twenty minutes and never re-posted them.  Completely scrubbed never to be seen again including my own comment.  Now only comments praising the site for being a great liberal voice remain.  Isn’t HP suppose to be a progressive site that encourages its readers to engage in robust open debate?

A few facts.  The unemployment rate  nationwide for African-Americans is 16 percent as compared to a 9 percent unemployment rate for white Americans.  Further, the unemployment rate for Hispanics nationwide is 13 percent.  In California, where one of the main offices of the Huffington Post is located, the unemployment rate for African-Americans is 14 percent while amongst whites it is 9 percent.  It is really hard for me to believe that the Huffington Post is unable to find more talented people of color to provide more perspective diversity for its site.  Particularly in this economy.  Minorities make up a third the US population but only a tiny percentage of the HP staff.  There are many minorities that read the Huffington Post and would like to see  issues covered through the lens of someone who experience racial and cultural  challenges first hand instead of through the eyes and perspective of the majority.

So my question to the Huffington Post is why so few people of color?  What are you trying to hide?  Given the amount of complaints that your holiday photo generated within minutes of posting I am sure that you are blocking other criticism concerning the lack of black and brown faces.  What is the deal???  I have heard Arianna complain relentlessly about Hannity and Limbaugh’s unwillingness to engage in an open debate where both sides are provided equal time.  This incident shows that what is good for the goose is not so good for the gander and such rules do not apply to her.  So Huffington Post, you have no problem calling out and criticizing others so why can’t you step up to the plate and take the heat. Or at least allow opposing views and constructive criticism to be shown when it is given.  Because Huffington Post will not allow me to voice my dissent regarding its lack of diversity and progressive hypocrisy on its site I am voicing my frustration here.  Hey Arianna, stop censoring your comments and hire more people of color!