Alaska Governor Sarah Palin bounced onto the national stage as Senator John McCain’s running mate and now Black Alaskans are speaking out against her, claiming she isn’t interested in their issues, according to the Chicago Defender. Many Blacks in Alaska fault Palin for not placing African-Americans in her administration, accuse her of avoiding requests to meet with Black leaders, and note her refusal to attend the state’s first, major African-American celebration. However, some disagree with the claims.”I’m African-American and I am a big rebuttal to those charges,” said Bill McAllister, Governor Palin’s press secretary. “She is not averse to hiring African-Americans.”