Rep. Jenkins clarifies "great white hope" remark

U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins said today she didn’t realize there were negative connotations to a recent comment she made about Republicans seeking a “great white hope.”

Jenkins was in Ottawa for a town hall meeting on health care and other issues when she responded to questions about the comment she made during a forum Aug. 19.

Jenkins said she was talking about the future of leadership in the Republican party and she was referring to “some bright lights and some hope” within the party.

‘‘Republicans are struggling right now to find the great white hope,’’ Jenkins said last week. ‘‘I suggest to any of you who are concerned about that, who are Republican, there are some great young Republican minds in Washington.’’

The phrase ‘‘great white hope’’ often is associated with pre-civil rights-era racism and is widely believed to have entered usage in the U.S. when boxer Jack Johnson, who was black, captured the heavyweight title in the early 20th century. Many whites reacted to Johnson’s achievement by trying to find white fighters — or a ‘‘great white hope’’ — who could beat him. The boxer’s story inspired a play, then a movie, with that title, both starring James Earl Jones.

Jenkins said she was not aware of the history of the quote.

She discussed the issue before the forum began at 1 p.m. Thursday at the Franklin Office County Annex. It was not brought up by Jenkins or anyone who asked questions during the public part of the forum.

See a recap of the forum online Friday afternoon at www.ottawaherald.com , and an extended version of the story in The Ottawa Herald’s Weekender edition available early Saturday.