Village Stupidity

Via BooMan, today's front page story in the Washington Post explores the newest D.C. party scene accessory: Black people.

Except for the first time, the face of ultimate power is African American. With a black first family in the White House and a diverse group of appointees and Cabinet nominees, the all-white dinner party feels all wrong. Certain hosts are suddenly grappling with a new reality: They need some black friends. Overnight, black politicians, lawyers and journalists are hot properties, receiving engraved invitations from people they never got invitations from before.

Blacks have gone from barely being on the list to being in charge of the list.

"Everyone knows that his campaign was about inclusion," Jarrett said. "We would expect that spirit of inclusion to also reflect on Washington's social scene."

A swift shift is underway in this exclusive set of those who deal with the highest level of federal government. That's a signal of wholesale change, said A. Scott Bolden, managing partner of law firm Reed Smith's Washington office and a longtime politico in a city where professionals work side by side by day, but socialize separately at night.

"You see those 'What's In and Out' columns every year?" he asked with a laugh. "With Obama and the first family in town, arguably being black is 'in.' "

This? This right here is why I despise the Village. Washington, D.C. is one of the most heavily African-American cities in the country, and only now with a black President is somebody noticing after 230 years something might be wrong with an all-white dinner party in a mostly-black city.

Jesus wept. "Well, up until now the D.C. cocktail circuit was a bunch of racists. Now it's okay!"