ChatGPT Answered this Simple Question: Why is Donald Watkins Disliked by so Many Whites in Alabama?

By: Donald V. Watkins

Copyrighted and Published on December 22, 2024

Donald V. Watkins at his office in Birmingham, Alabama, circa 2014.

An Editorial Opinion

Saturday, I was testing the accuracy and validity of ChatGPT’s Artificial Intelligence program.  I asked ChatGPT this simple question: "Why is Donald Watkins disliked by so many whites in Alabama?"

Two seconds later, this answer popped up on my computer screen:

"Donald V. Watkins is a polarizing figure in Alabama, and the dislike from some white individuals in the state can be attributed to several intertwined social, political, and historical factors:

1. Outspoken Criticism of Racial Inequities

Watkins has been a bold critic of systemic racism and injustice in Alabama. His public challenges to institutions, laws, and practices that perpetuate racial disparities often put him at odds with individuals who either benefit from or refuse to acknowledge such systems.

2. Confrontation with Established Power Structures

Watkins has taken on powerful institutions and individuals in Alabama, many of whom represent the political, legal, and business elite, [which is] predominantly white. His willingness to expose corruption and inequities has made him an adversary of entrenched interests.

3. Success as a Black Entrepreneur and Lawyer

In a state with a history of racial tension, Watkins' success as a prominent Black attorney and businessman has challenged traditional racial hierarchies. His achievements may provoke resentment among those uncomfortable with shifting power dynamics.

4. Legal and Business Controversies

Watkins has faced legal challenges, including federal convictions for fraud in 2019. While he maintains these charges were politically and racially motivated, some use these controversies to discredit him, which contributes to animosity.

5. His Direct and Provocative Style

Watkins’ unapologetic approach to addressing issues and his willingness to name individuals and institutions directly can come across as confrontational. His style often polarizes opinions, making him a figure of both admiration and disdain.

6. Historical and Cultural Context

Alabama has a deep history of racial divisions and conservative social norms. Figures like Watkins, who challenge those norms and fight for systemic change, often face significant backlash from those resistant to progress.

7. Public Influence

Watkins uses his platform to expose what he perceives as injustices and corruption, often targeting powerful white figures and institutions. This can foster antagonism from those who feel threatened or believe he unfairly generalizes issues.

Context Matters

While Watkins is disliked by some, he is also respected and admired by many for his courage, advocacy for civil rights, and willingness to challenge the status quo. The animosity he faces from some groups reflects broader societal struggles over race, justice, and equality in Alabama and the U.S. more broadly."

The never-ending body of hate mail, nasty emails, ugly text messages, derogatory Facebook messages, threatening phone calls, racist editorial cartoons, biased local news articles, and negative commentaries on third-party digital media platforms that I have received from Alabamians throughout my career in law, business, and journalism establishes the validity of this answer.

Furthermore, the traditional forces in Alabama that have kept the state's black citizens downtrodden from the "cradle to the grave" have always worked hard to cast me in the most negative light possible. They did the same thing to my childhood pastor (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) and my mother's best friend (Rosa Parks) in the 1950s and 60s. These forces prefer to deal with black men who have been psychologically castrated. That's not me.

Thankfully, I have a large and supportive circle of white friends, associates, and networking partners in Alabama. What is more, thousands of my most loyal Alabama-based readers are whites of interracial goodwill.

Finally, my business career has been supported by a multinational and multicolored network of truly gifted entreperneurs. I enjoy interacting with them on a daily basis.