More people seem to be talking about the moderator of tonight’s debates, Gwen Ifill, than the debates themselves. PBS veteran Ifill is catching heat for a book, coming out later this year, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, which examines race in politics and some think that this fact alone puts her impartiality in question.

If the book is a love note to Sen. Barack Obama and his politics, then perhaps the pundits have a point. But as I understand it, the book just highlights the immutable fact that, post-Obama, American politics have been changed forever. That isn’t an endorsement: it’s a fact. Me? I think there is more here. 

Media watchers have criticized everything from Ifill’s intonation to her facial expressions, and it all maps back to the idea that somehow a Black woman doesn’t have the professionalism to do the job. What, do they expect her to roll her eyes and suck her teeth at Gov. Sarah Palin? Ifill is a seasoned-professional with the skills to pay the bills.

Ifill’s book, her tone, her facial expressions offer no evidence to me that she is any less qualified for the job than anyone else. Rarely have we seen this kind of scrutiny of a journalist. But it maps back to the perception that Black journalists can not be fair and objective when it comes to covering Obama or anyone connected to him. Media organizations, including TV One, have come under fire. All in, Ifill towers as a journalist, with a track record of fair, unbiased reporting: she is the right person for the job. What do you think?

Do you think prejudice is behind the criticism of Gwen Ifill, or are they legit?  Tell us here.

(*The views contained herein are solely the views of their respective authors, and do not express the views of TV One.  TV One does not take responsibility for their content.)