Indiana city councilman resigns after whitesplaining the history of slavery to black people

A white city councilman in Goshen, Indiana has resigned after he read an offensive essay that blamed black people for their lack of advancement in American society while also portraying them as criminals.

The South End Tribune reports that Republican city councilman Ed Ahlersmeyer came under fire from Goshen residents after he read aloud an essay titled "Blacks, Crime, and Bended Knee" that was posted on the right-wing American Thinker website that said, among other things, that black people today live on an "imaginary plantation" that's been brought about by an "through the indoctrination of victimhood."

The essay also lectured black people that "it is not 'whitey' who is committing 62 percent of robberies, 57 percent of murders, 45 percent of assaults in the 75 biggest counties throughout the United States."

The essay also drew scorn from community members for arguing that no one should complain about the legacy of slavery, segregation and racism in the United States because "America fought a civil war to end slavery" in the 19th century.

Ahlersmeyer defended himself by saying he didn't agree with everything in the essay, although he did agree with its notion that people should stop believing slavery is still relevant. He also liked its message to black people that "education, self-reliance and delayed gratification and responsibility, hard work and ambition and an intact family are values that are ingrained within those who lead productive lives."

In addition to taking heat for reading the essay, Ahlersmeyer also drew criticism after he followed a progressive activist across two different towns so he could confront her over criticism she leveled against him at a meeting the week before.

"There is no situation where an elected official should make that choice," Goshen Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. "Talking with somebody on the sidewalk is one thing. Following them is another. After discussing it with him, I do believe he had no ill intent in that. It was just a poor decision."