Are conservatives serious about blacks?
“Conservative” means “‘Strom Thurmond,’ ‘Jesse Helms,’ ‘racist,'” to blacks. Above: late GOP senators Helms (N.C.) and Thurmond (S.C.) at left and right, with Elizabeth and Robert Dole. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)
Not long ago I had dinner with a very prominent white conservative activist who wanted to talk with me about how to get more blacks involved in the Republican Party and the conservative movement. He and I have known each other for decades, but I still felt compelled to ask him if he truly wanted to have an honest conversation or just the typical D.C. conversation where a black person tells someone like him what they “thought” he wanted to hear just to curry favor with him.
Not long ago I had dinner with a very prominent white conservative activist who wanted to talk with me about how to get more blacks involved in the Republican Party and the conservative movement. He and I have known each other for decades, but I still felt compelled to ask him if he truly wanted to have an honest conversation or just the typical D.C. conversation where a black person tells someone like him what they “thought” he wanted to hear just to curry favor with him.
The first thing white conservatives need to understand is that “meanings are in people, not in words.” When you use the word “conservative,” blacks hear “Strom Thurmond,” “Jesse Helms,” and “racist”; therefore one should define their terminology and not assume your audience knows what your definition of conservative is.
The first thing white conservatives need to understand is that “meanings are in people, not in words.” When you use the word “conservative,” blacks hear “Strom Thurmond,” “Jesse Helms,” and “racist”; therefore one should define their terminology and not assume your audience knows what your definition of conservative is.
What does “conservative” mean, and what is the relevance of it for my life in 2014? Better yet, maybe you should get rid of the word “conservative” altogether when it comes to the black community and use the word “traditionalist.”
In the black community, we have a tradition of pulling ourselves up by the bootstraps because our parents and grandparents had no choice. We have a tradition of valuing education — that’s why we have over 100 historical black colleges and universities. Our parents and grandparents knew that education was the key to the success of future generations of blacks. We have a tradition of living a moral, God-fearing life. Our parents and grandparents were not pro-choice when Sunday morning came around; the question was not, “Boy are you going to church?” but rather, “Are you ready for church?” Children need direction, not choices.
We don’t need anyone to lecture us about values and conservatism; it’s part of our DNA. Getting blacks involved in the party and the conservative movement is easy; the issue is can you make us feel comfortable if we join?
We don’t need anyone to lecture us about values and conservatism; it’s part of our DNA. Getting blacks involved in the party and the conservative movement is easy; the issue is can you make us feel comfortable if we join?
Most conservative organizations are controlled and operated by white males. There are very few, if any, blacks in decision-making positions within these organizations. There are few, if any, blacks in executive-level positions. And there are definitely very few black staffers. This is the 21st century, yet the optics of most conservative organizations still reflect the 1950s or the Flintstones — no blacks.
Speaking of optics, let me mention a few “don’ts.” Never, I repeat never, refer to a black as “articulate” or “attractive;” and never say, “One of my best friends is black” or “I have a friend, who happens to be black.” These are very offensive phrases to blacks.
Just because you have “a” black on staff or are married to a black does not mean you can’t be a racist; just like me owning a pair of Air Jordans doesn’t make me a NBA basketball player.
Blacks constantly vote against their own self-interest — supporting amnesty for illegals, for example, or increasing the minimum wage — because conservatives have not provided a viable alternative.
This cognitive dissonance shows you the power of the value blacks place on relationships.
I operate mostly in a white environment, but spend just as much time within the black community because I have made a conscious choice that it is imperative for me to do so. It’s not an either/or proposition; it’s both/and.
Many conservatives are not comfortable with blacks who refuse to renounce their blackness in order to fit in. Blacks are the most conservative group in the U.S., yet the “conservative” brand is severely damaged in our community — and part of the reason why is because of some of the blacks you have promoted. It’s not enough to simply have a black involved with you; it is just as important to have the right blacks on your staffs.
If you conservatives are happy with your level of engagement within the black community, then keep doing what you have been doing. If you want to tap into the disillusionment created by President Obama, then you really need to rethink the blacks you have promoted as the face of your movement.
EDITORS NOTE: This column originally appeared in American Current See magazine.
