"The Black man in North America was sickest of all politically. He let the White man divide him into...a Black 'Democrat,' a Black 'Republican,'...when a ten-million Black vote bloc could be the deciding balance of power in American politics..." This is what Brother Malcolm told us in his autobiography, and what he said could not have been more timely.
I'm watching the news recently and cannot help but wonder, "where is the place for the Black man in American society?" If society is politics - which it is - then more specifically, "where is the Black man's place within the American political system?"
We - Black people - have this sickening allegiance to the Democratic Party. It does not matter what they say, whether they keep their promises, or whether they truly do anything to support our community. If it is Democratic it is right - or so we think. On the flip-side, some of us who run against the grain would like to be Republican...thinking that trying a different Party will bring us different results. Oh, how futile such hope is!
Conventional wisdom says that if all (or the vast majority) of us are Democrats, both Parties will ignore our issues. The Democrats ignore us because they see us as a guaranteed vote to which there is no need to cater. The Republicans ignore us because they know we will vote for the Democrats.
The Black community shouted for joy when the Democrats won majorities in the House and Senate after the mid-term elections. Many thought that we would now receive the benefits due to us...those benefits that the Republicans had denied us. We felt that with so many Black Democratic Congresspeople, we would be in a great position as a people and that we would benefit greatly from the gains of the Democratic Party. Yet, we should now see this hope to be vain.
Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings was the next Democrat in line on the House Intelligence Committee, and should have taken Chairmanship according to all House precedent - which is supposed to be an honored thing to Congress. Yet, he was passed over for this post (who could trust a Negro with the White man's National Security information - after all Chevrolet has already shown in their recent ad campaign that this is their Country). They will say he was passed over because he was impeached as a Federal Judge in Florida. However, he was acquitted of any wrong doing prior to impeachment. Moreover, he was recently elected to his seventh (7th) term in the US House since the impeachment. His District obviously trusts him. Everyone says he has served the House admirable (including Ms. Pelosi). Yet, he was passed over. Is there any other reason than because he is Black? Things that make you go hmmm..... Maybe Ms. Pelosi will still appoint a Black person to the Chairmanship - but maybe that is simply wishful thinking.
But wait! There's slaps in the face to go around. Those of us who felt we could jump to the other side of the fence and do better - balancing things out so as to receive a "Fair Deal" for our people should now see that that door has been slammed in our face. Recently, the Republican National Committee decided who would become the Party's Chairman to replace Ken Mehlman.
Maryland Lt. Governor and Republican Senate Candidate Michael Steele - a brother endorsed by Cathy Hughes and Russell Simmons (among others) - was in the running for the post. Having been the State Chair for Maryland, we know he has the requisite experience. Moreover, no one can deny that he ran an impeccable campaign. Many would say that he was the only bright spot for the Republican Party this election cycle. Yet, he too was passed over in favor of Senator Mel Martinez of Florida - a Cuban American, which signals that instead of fixing the domestic problems that led to the Party's demise, they will be even more active in meddling in Cuba's domestic affairs. Sen. Martinez is also a proponent of the so-called "comprehensive" immigration reform. Thus, his appointment also signifies the Party's position that fighting with the Democrats over the Hispanic vote is of greater interest than seeking the Black vote.
I ask again, "where is the place for the Black man in American politics?"
It is a shame to see how a people so gifted at adapting to an environment to ensure their survival have failed to realize that this system under which we live is beat by mastering this political system. Every grouping of people has affected change on their own behalf through a group-first political platform. Every grouping of people has been able to shape the way politics, government and the law affects themselves through realizing the strength they posses by uniting at the very foundation of their grouping's existence.
Corn farmers, dairy farmers, peanut farmers, etc. have all united to serve the farmer's - every farmer's - political agenda. Doctors and educators have both made numerous political gains because of their commitment to better policy in both health care and education respectively, which works to benefit all physicians - surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and etc. - and all educators - teachers, principals, administrators, and etc. The National Rifle Association has been able to dictate the way policy affects gun control because they decided to unite on the basic foundation of gun ownership.
The nation's labor force has united to form one of the most powerful Political Action Committees. No policy is passed into law without the Labor Lobby's opinion. And, no policy will be passed into law if the Labor Lobby firmly objects.
Even this nation's military veterans have been able to unite, in spite of the differences and rivalries existent between divisions of the armed forces in order to shape government, politics and the law to their advantage.
Each one of these groups have used the idea of a group-first political platform so well that the government has specific agencies to address their respective needs: Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and the Veteran's Affairs Administration. Veterans have so much political power that they have their own thrift stores, credit unions, hospitals, and etc. Through group-first politics, others have accomplished these things.
Now if the African here in North America were to realize the strength in a group (race)-first political platform, we too could make these kinds of gains for ourselves within America. Through a race-first political platform, we can and will affect change for the betterment of our people and ourselves.
Whether you be light-skinned or dark, male or female, Democrat, Republican, Green or in between; whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, integrationist, segregationist, separatist or nationalist, if we come together at the root of our existence, our African ancestry, and address politics from a race-first perspective, we will affect change that will benefit not only the African in America but also the entire African Diaspora.
You see, every nation of people in this country has either achieved or is on its way to achieving the so-called "American Dream" by recognizing the importance of nationalism, and specifically political nationalism. Every nation of people in this country has not only bettered themselves, but also those of their nation in other parts of the world through this nationalism. We are now witnessing the benefits such nationalism is having for the Hispanic community: Special Sessions of Congress, appointments of Party Bosses, extensive media exposure and etc.
Why can they and others achieve such gains and we still wallow like swine in the mud? Simple: we have failed to develop a race-first, nationalist political platform. We have placed our faith in Democrats and Republicans, rather than in God and ourselves. Our allegiance should belong to Him alone. When it does, we will have better leverage with which to guard the sheep from the wolves.
I'm watching the news recently and cannot help but wonder, "where is the place for the Black man in American society?" If society is politics - which it is - then more specifically, "where is the Black man's place within the American political system?"
We - Black people - have this sickening allegiance to the Democratic Party. It does not matter what they say, whether they keep their promises, or whether they truly do anything to support our community. If it is Democratic it is right - or so we think. On the flip-side, some of us who run against the grain would like to be Republican...thinking that trying a different Party will bring us different results. Oh, how futile such hope is!
Conventional wisdom says that if all (or the vast majority) of us are Democrats, both Parties will ignore our issues. The Democrats ignore us because they see us as a guaranteed vote to which there is no need to cater. The Republicans ignore us because they know we will vote for the Democrats.
The Black community shouted for joy when the Democrats won majorities in the House and Senate after the mid-term elections. Many thought that we would now receive the benefits due to us...those benefits that the Republicans had denied us. We felt that with so many Black Democratic Congresspeople, we would be in a great position as a people and that we would benefit greatly from the gains of the Democratic Party. Yet, we should now see this hope to be vain.
Florida Rep. Alcee Hastings was the next Democrat in line on the House Intelligence Committee, and should have taken Chairmanship according to all House precedent - which is supposed to be an honored thing to Congress. Yet, he was passed over for this post (who could trust a Negro with the White man's National Security information - after all Chevrolet has already shown in their recent ad campaign that this is their Country). They will say he was passed over because he was impeached as a Federal Judge in Florida. However, he was acquitted of any wrong doing prior to impeachment. Moreover, he was recently elected to his seventh (7th) term in the US House since the impeachment. His District obviously trusts him. Everyone says he has served the House admirable (including Ms. Pelosi). Yet, he was passed over. Is there any other reason than because he is Black? Things that make you go hmmm..... Maybe Ms. Pelosi will still appoint a Black person to the Chairmanship - but maybe that is simply wishful thinking.
But wait! There's slaps in the face to go around. Those of us who felt we could jump to the other side of the fence and do better - balancing things out so as to receive a "Fair Deal" for our people should now see that that door has been slammed in our face. Recently, the Republican National Committee decided who would become the Party's Chairman to replace Ken Mehlman.
Maryland Lt. Governor and Republican Senate Candidate Michael Steele - a brother endorsed by Cathy Hughes and Russell Simmons (among others) - was in the running for the post. Having been the State Chair for Maryland, we know he has the requisite experience. Moreover, no one can deny that he ran an impeccable campaign. Many would say that he was the only bright spot for the Republican Party this election cycle. Yet, he too was passed over in favor of Senator Mel Martinez of Florida - a Cuban American, which signals that instead of fixing the domestic problems that led to the Party's demise, they will be even more active in meddling in Cuba's domestic affairs. Sen. Martinez is also a proponent of the so-called "comprehensive" immigration reform. Thus, his appointment also signifies the Party's position that fighting with the Democrats over the Hispanic vote is of greater interest than seeking the Black vote.
I ask again, "where is the place for the Black man in American politics?"
It is a shame to see how a people so gifted at adapting to an environment to ensure their survival have failed to realize that this system under which we live is beat by mastering this political system. Every grouping of people has affected change on their own behalf through a group-first political platform. Every grouping of people has been able to shape the way politics, government and the law affects themselves through realizing the strength they posses by uniting at the very foundation of their grouping's existence.
Corn farmers, dairy farmers, peanut farmers, etc. have all united to serve the farmer's - every farmer's - political agenda. Doctors and educators have both made numerous political gains because of their commitment to better policy in both health care and education respectively, which works to benefit all physicians - surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and etc. - and all educators - teachers, principals, administrators, and etc. The National Rifle Association has been able to dictate the way policy affects gun control because they decided to unite on the basic foundation of gun ownership.
The nation's labor force has united to form one of the most powerful Political Action Committees. No policy is passed into law without the Labor Lobby's opinion. And, no policy will be passed into law if the Labor Lobby firmly objects.
Even this nation's military veterans have been able to unite, in spite of the differences and rivalries existent between divisions of the armed forces in order to shape government, politics and the law to their advantage.
Each one of these groups have used the idea of a group-first political platform so well that the government has specific agencies to address their respective needs: Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Education, Department of Justice, Department of Labor, and the Veteran's Affairs Administration. Veterans have so much political power that they have their own thrift stores, credit unions, hospitals, and etc. Through group-first politics, others have accomplished these things.
Now if the African here in North America were to realize the strength in a group (race)-first political platform, we too could make these kinds of gains for ourselves within America. Through a race-first political platform, we can and will affect change for the betterment of our people and ourselves.
Whether you be light-skinned or dark, male or female, Democrat, Republican, Green or in between; whether you are rich or poor, educated or not, integrationist, segregationist, separatist or nationalist, if we come together at the root of our existence, our African ancestry, and address politics from a race-first perspective, we will affect change that will benefit not only the African in America but also the entire African Diaspora.
You see, every nation of people in this country has either achieved or is on its way to achieving the so-called "American Dream" by recognizing the importance of nationalism, and specifically political nationalism. Every nation of people in this country has not only bettered themselves, but also those of their nation in other parts of the world through this nationalism. We are now witnessing the benefits such nationalism is having for the Hispanic community: Special Sessions of Congress, appointments of Party Bosses, extensive media exposure and etc.
Why can they and others achieve such gains and we still wallow like swine in the mud? Simple: we have failed to develop a race-first, nationalist political platform. We have placed our faith in Democrats and Republicans, rather than in God and ourselves. Our allegiance should belong to Him alone. When it does, we will have better leverage with which to guard the sheep from the wolves.
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