News /

Author Accuses Rep. Mace Of Racism After Lawmaker Shares Flirtatious Texts

'Her white women’s tears and mendacity are all in the service of lies and distortions'

Published: September 24, 2024
  |   By Chris Bertman
Author Accuses Rep. Mace Of Racism After Lawmaker Shares Flirtatious Texts

Author Michael Eric Dyson has doubled down on his allegations of racism after South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace shared text messages of him appearing to flirt with her on social media.


In August, Dyson and Mace appeared together on a CNN panel with several others to discuss the state of the presidential race. During the segment, Dyson and Democratic strategist Keith Boykin took issue with Mace's pronunciation of Vice President Kamala Harris' name, to which the South Carolina lawmaker declared she would pronounce Harris' name however she wants.

"You're normalizing that kind of viciousness, ma'am," Dyson told Mace. "When you disrespect Kamala Harris by saying you will call her whatever you want ... that's the history and legacy of white disregard for the humanity of black people."

Mace pushed back by noting Dyson had inferred she was racist, to which Dyson insisted he hadn't, though said the "practice" of her comment was racially charged. The panel then devolved into an argument over the correct pronunciation over Harris' name and Mace's refusal to comply with their request.

Last Friday, Mace shared texts from Dyson which the author sent after their CNN appearance. The texts included several photos of the author and Mace posing for a picture sent by Dyson.

"Shh don't tell anybody. We look good together!" Dyson wrote, adding a kissing face emoji.

Mace laughed in response to Dyson, who went on to text: "Well your gorgeousness makes the photos, so there's that!"

During a Friday Oversight committee meeting, Mace entered the texts into the Congressional Record.

"Professor Dyson wasn’t too bent out of shape after all - he tried hitting on me AFTER he tried to call me racist on CNN …  I ofc didn’t take the bait. Either time," Mace wrote. 


Dyson took to social media to defend himself and once again called Mace's actions racially charged.

"The ridiculous lies told by Nancy Mace in the effort to smear my name because of her anger at being checked for her insensitive disregard for Kamala Harris," Dyson posted to X. "I had no intent with her to do anything but be nice. And her white women’s tears and mendacity are all in the service of lies and distortions. I was wrong about one thing: she IS a bigot and racist."


In response, Mace reiterated Dyson's remarks were "inappropriate" and "misogynistic."

"Disregarding a woman’s feelings by attributing them solely to being a ‘white woman’ is not only racist but misogynistic. His comments were inappropriate (once again)," she wrote. "Apologize, take responsibility and stop shifting blame onto the victim. ALL women are sick of this s---."


On Tuesday, Dyson appeared on ABC's The View and doubled down on his allegations of racism against Mace, adding he was "flattering" the South Carolina lawmaker rather than flirting.

"White Christians hate themselves for the past wrongs that have been done, and I’m here as a loving Christian to say, let’s grapple with that past, acknowledge the historic legacy of supremacy, don’t deny it, don’t erase it, don’t eviscerate it," Dyson said of Mace.


"When I said White Christians, I meant White evangelical Christians. I’m a Christian minister myself, so I ain’t hating. And this is why I try to extend a compliment to Nancy Mace. I wasn’t flirting with you. I was trying to be flattering to you," he said.

*For corrections please email [email protected]*

Popular