“Cotton-Picking Serious”: Coded Language in Our Election

“Cotton-Picking Serious”: Coded Language in Our Election

While campaigning for the Republican gubernatorial candidate, a Trump Administration official called the Florida gubernatorial race “cotton-pickin important”, a racially charged phrase that evokes images of the cotton plantations that once used slave labor.

While Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was campaigning for Ron DeSantis, Perdue announced: “Public policy matters. Leadership matters” …“And that is why this election is so cotton-pickin’ important to the state of Florida. I hope you all don’t mess it up.”

But those campaigning for Perdue haven’t been the only ones using racially-charged remarks. The gubernatorial candidate is also guilty of this coded language as well.

Why might Perdue be attempting to evoke images of race and enslavement on the campaign trail?

This racist remark and use of coded language demonstrates Perdue’s attempt to garner support for the Republican candidate, while minimizing Andrew Gillium, the African American Democratic nominee for governor of Florida. Gillium has served as the Tallahassee, Florida Mayor since 2014, and will be the first African American governor of Florida if elected.

Former campaign manager for President Trump, David Bossie, was temporarily suspended from his position as a Fox News contributor after he used the phrase earlier this year.