Reparations: Black - Brown Relations

Oh, what a day!

It's funny. In a world where it's taboo for a man to cry, I must admit that this campaign has caused me to tear up on more than one occasion. Today was another such occasion.

Today, Governor Bill Richardson endorsed Senator Obama. And, overtly he had remarkable and beautiful things to say about the Senator. Yet, larger than the language is the symbolism.

Another Clinton supporter - noted Latino community activist Adelfa Callejo - stated that Senator Obama has a problem with Hispanics "because he's Black." There has been a divide wedged by the powers that be to pit Black against Brown, when both of us are in the same boat.

So what is the larger context? Governor Bill Richardson's endorsement is TREMENDOUS! It is a courageous stance…almost as courageous as Barack Obama’s speech. It was a tough move for the Governor to make, but it showed that he’s not afraid of the issue, and is willing to stand with Obama’s appeal for reconciliation and advancement of our Great Union.

We do have separate issues, that must be dealt with singularly. Yet, we do have shared concerns that are best served by a consorted effort. The key is knowing when to join our efforts and when to work on our own.

As a Nationalist, I always have said that we must only stand with those who are willing to stand with us. Governor Bill Richardson showed that he too understands the issues of race in America, and is willing to stand with Senator Obama and not hang him out to dry. With all the history behind the Governor's relationship with the Clinton family, this is a bold move and should be applauded. In the larger context, I see this as the highest profile Brown political leader standing alongside the highest profile Black political leader. To hear him tear up as he made his endorsement made me tear up as well. As a Republican, I wish we had a leader exhibiting that kind of courage on the issues that rest at the core of what hinders our Country from being all it can (and should) be.

So, he - as a Brown man - stood with Obama. Maybe now we can go forward together, Black and Brown, working for change in America and pursuing the perfection of our Country.

Here's a video of today's endorsement:

Reparations and "A More Perfect Union" - Pt. 3

Okay. This is proving to be larger than life. A few issues need to be discussed.

Reparations means pursuing a more perfect Union. How do we do this? We must first find the places where our Union is weak.

Let's look at the coverage of this speech and the racist tone of the media. No one questioned White pastors when they called Hurricane Katrina God's judgment on New Orleans in specific and the Country in general. Just perform the following Google Search, and see what is out there. So, why is Reverend Wright worthy of condemnation but White pastors have never been denounced? There was no endless cycle of media clips depicting John Hagee, Pat Robertson, David Duke, Billy Graham or any of the numerous other controversial White pastors who have made seemingly outlandish comments. But, this is all surface.

As I said, reparations means pursuing a more perfect Union. So, let us dig a bit deeper and look at the argument of "preaching hate." Critics and the larger public say that Jeremiah Wright preaches hate. They ask, how can parents allow their children to grow up in these churches and be "indoctrinated by hate."

That may be a valid question. But, those same critics would be faced with the rebuttal argument: what about the hatred that was/is preached by White Churches? What about the pastors that preached the racial inferiority of Black people and condoned - even encouraged - slavery, colonialism and segregation? What about the Christian heritage and Terrorism by the Ku Klux Klan?

So, I ask those critics: what about you? For by and large, your parents were raised in those churches, heard truly hate-filled preaching, and they stayed in those churches. So, what about you: how did you turn out? Were you damaged by that preaching? And, if we were does that mean you are still damaged? Did you demand that your parents leave those churches? Did you walk out of those churches in protest? These are the answers to the arguments of Jeremiah Wright's critics.

Remember, reparations means pursuing a more perfect Union. So, let's now examine the so-called "Black hate." This fiery preaching comes from the foundations of the Black Church. The Black Church was born during American Slavery. As part of American Slavery, Black preachers were forced to examine the hypocrisy of the larger society. Because of their bondage Black Clergy were compelled to read the Old Testament and the experience of the Ancient Jews as a direct parallel to their own. Egypt and Babylon became synonymous with America and the West. Pharaoh became a reference for the slave master and the rulers of this system.

We were compelled to read the New Testament with a keen eye to the sheer hypocrisy. In his Inaugural Address as President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis once said, "Slavery was established by decree of Almighty God. It is sanctioned in the Bible, in both Testaments, from Genesis to Revelation." Slave masters, and society, used St. Paul's words ("Slaves obey your master" and “Let slaves regard their masters as worthy of all honor") to control slaves. Yet, Black Clergy saw this in the Holy Scriptures:

"For as many of you as have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek: there is neither bond nor free: there is neither male nor female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28; cf. 1 Corinthians 12:13)

So, that legacy of criticism has continued. And, that legacy must not be ignored - but cherished, and considered. Why? Because had it not been for that criticism of society - that pulling on the soul of the Nation - there would have been no en to slavery. Without that tug on our conscience, there would have been no end of Jim Crow. And unless you're willing to argue that the end of slavery and Jim Crow were not good things, we must agree that the critical nature of the Black Church is something that has been a blessing to America. Embrace your blessing, America.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations and "A More Perfect Union" - Pt. 2

Again, I want to take the opportunity to applaud Senator Barack Obama for the stance he took in his speech yesterday. As the coverage continues, the importance of this speech continues to grow. On C-Span radio this morning, a lady (against Obama's speech) - after stating that Blacks need to learn to mix with Whites - mentioned that we need to "get along." I say, there can be no "getting along" without this discussion.

Reparations means pushing for a more perfect union. Perfecting this Country is the duty of every patriotic American. That being said, Senator Barack Obama must be a patriotic American.

As a Black man, I recognize this to be a much needed discussion. It is one that should have been had decades ago. Yet, as they say: better late than never.

As a Republican, I am thrilled to hear this discussion. It is a discussion that should have been led by the Republicans - had we been true to our history. It was the Republican Party that was born as the anti-slavery party and pro-Civil Rights Party. It was the Radical Republicans who pushed Reconstruction, and pushed for passage of the 13th and 14th Amendments. I do not say that to tout the Party, but to call it to account - to remember its foundations. The Republican Party had started that national dialogue, but with Lincoln's assassination and society's fatigue in dealing with the tough issues of race the dialogue ended.

But, reparations mean pushing for a more perfect union. Herein lies an opportunity for the Republican Party to reclaim its legacy. For those of us, Black conservatives, it behooves us to follow the lead of Senator Obama and push the Party to reach for a more perfect union and engage in this dialogue. This is not a dialogue only for Democrats or Republicans; it's not only for Blacks or Whites. This is a discussion for America.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations is a Spiritual Thing

Reverend Jeremiah Wright's comments are proving to be the best thing since sliced bread.

Why? Because look at the dialogue that has been forced to the forefront. People in the mainstream are now struggling with issues of race on the world stage, and the Nation is growing.

Reparations is a spiritual thing! And, I remember what Joseph said when he was reunited with his brothers, who had sold him into slavery: "what man intended for evil, God intends for good!"

Man intended the promotion of Reverend Jeremiah Wright's comments for evil. Those comments have existed for years. Now that Senator Obama is about to win the Democratic Primary, they mysteriously appear. "Things that make you go: hmmmm...."

But, we should not become upset about the way those comments came to prominence. Nor should we become upset about the way the media treated those comments. Likewise, we should not become upset by they way the media and pundits are struggling with the issue now that Senator Obama has made a speech.

Why? Because, reparations is a spiritual thing. And, as such this process must play out in the media. We will see the ugly depths to which racism still prevails in America and we will have to confront many issues that still remain unsettled. Because of this confrontation, we will have the opportunity to lay an foundation for healing. At least, that's my naive hope...indeed it is my prayer.

Why? Because, reparations is a spiritual thing. So, let's engage in that dialogue; don't shy away from that dialogue. Let's stand up as free men and let no one tell us with whom we should associate.

Come and Get Your Reparations!

Reparations and "A More Perfect Union" - Pt. 1

Today we witnessed a very interesting occasion. Again, I am proud of Senator Obama. I can now state with confidence that the Senator understands true reparations. As we have been saying, we must heal the Black Nation. We must heal this American Nation. And while I don't say we have arrived, I am happy that Senator Obama used his overwhelmingly powerful platform to voice the dynamics of racism in America.

Reparations is about pursuing a more perfect union. It is not about being divisive or overthrowing this Country. As the Senator said, only in America is his unlikely story possible. Only in America can someone come from the bottom of society and maybe make it to the top. In India, if you're of the "untouchables," you'll always be untouchable. In many countries of the East, a woman has no chance to make it on her own. Because of the newness of Democracy in the former colonized world, it will be generations before those outside of the political elite have the opportunity to make advances.

Now, that doesn't make this Country perfect. But, this Country provides the framework to be perfected. In this Country, if we become serious about our political and economic destiny we will see serious gains.

Reparations is about pursuing a more perfect union. But, we know the media will not give you his comments in full; they will parse his words for whatever spin their motives desire. So, I have posted video Senator Obama. It is long, but you can pass-by what I see as trivial by going forward to minute 14 of the video.

Come and Get Your Reparations!