I think that critics of Conservative viewpoints often misrepresent a perspective of "That situation is better now" with a false inference of "That situation was never a problem".
A claim that today's police are not SYSTEMICALLY racist or brutal is NOT a claim that any individual racism or brutality doesn't exist, or never did.
A claim that affirmative action is damaging to both its current victims and its purported beneficiaries is NOT a claim that alternate versions of the concept haven't existed in the past, such as your statement, "Nobody seemed to say then that it was affirmative action for White people when certain opportunities were only open to White people, but it was."
This has become a large part of the problem even in instances where the basis of a point is valid - our society has become too lazy to truly research and debate on merits, so they take turns citing outlier scenarios which support their agendas but don't accurately represent the views of the majority they're trying to condemn. Every group has exceptions, which by definition are not the rule.
This is covered in greater depth in "A White Man's Perspectives on Race and Racism". Please check it out. smashwords.com/books/view/1184004
If you have not, I'd recommend you read Adam Coleman's book "Black Victim to Black Victor" specifically chapter 21. IMO it seems issues are cherry-picked to make points. You speak about police brutality against black americans but never ask why is that a thing, if in fact it really is. Why don't you ask about black abortion rates, poor schools and housing, unemployment and compare those issues to cities and states run but democrats? What I hear you saying is blacks would rather cut their nose off to spite their face. Because the RNC doesn't court them and promise them the moon (lie) and would dare suggest they make a way when there seems to be no way, blacks say the hell with them and decide to remain in the despicable situations they are in. Blacks see the benefits of changing to the republican party but don't do it because the party doesn't talk nice to them. Much of what you state is accurate and I will not discount what others have experienced as far as being talked to like children and in need of a white savior, but at some point black people have to grow up and make decisions based on what will make them and those around them better Americans.
I have never voted for any democrat because what they support doesn't line up with my moral compass.
Though I haven't read Adam's book, I am familiar with and share his sentiments about such issues. The point of my article, though, was to articulate my observation and understanding of African American voting behavior. I don't necessarily agree with their voting behavior, but I understand it.
The reason I didn't ask about Black abortion rates, poor schools, etc. in this article is because it was the Republican Party that I was critiquing in the piece, so such comparisons would seem pointless. I like to stick to issues and tackle them separately.
I think it would be in African American best interests to not be beholden to a particular political party; however, the political party also has its job cut out for it, it should do its part as well.
About your last point, if I were American, I'd most likely always vote Republican, but that would be as far as my political participation would go.
Ok, well, Mr Ekokotu, as you claim to be a "free thinker" with a "taste for critiquing ideas to ascertain the factual and logically consistent", I would love to share just a few tidbits of fact and historically consistent information with you from an American point of view. There are many Americans who are going to disagree with me but I'm here to speak on the historical record, not on what I wish to be fact for political purposes and not based upon the corrupt and revised narratives from American liberal arts institutions. I hope that you'll discern it and apply it to your own betterment & understanding
For the majority of my life, most especially following the turn of the new millennium and to the present, we have run round and round in the same repetitive cycle over and over and over again. "Every woe and injustice perpetrated upon black America is the fault of white Republicans because white Republicans are racists!". We white Republicans are the very cause of black America's problems. One thing that I've never heard questioned is what role did black America have in the many crimes and injustices perpetrated against them as a community? There must have been something that black America did, or chose, or decided or were even led into doing that brought upon them some of the worst atrocities in US history. We hear of some who are demanding reparations from white America when for the short time slavery did exist in the US, relatively speaking, the vast majority of those slaves were held by black slaveowners. And to be clear, it was black Africans who were exporting their own fellow citizens to black slaveowners in the US amongst other places along the way. Yet, in the 17th century, black Africans held white Europeans as slaves and not a word is spoken of it. We aren't looking for reparations. We haven't even lodged a complaint. We also recognize that historically, many, if not most, ethnicities of people were enslaved to another ethnicity of people. The dirty, unspoken truth about slavery is that slavery was never about race. It was about finding slave workers who were physically strong and could endure, which Africans were believed to be able to do well. And I'm not addressing treatment of those people, I'm talking solely logistical. Black slaves were desirable because of the climate, weather and terrain in Africa which made blacks physically desirable as slaves. So, what is the difference between the two groups? Primarily, the democrat party, which knowingly and intentionally over many years, has brainwashed black America to believe that slavery was racist and that it was all Republicans who did it. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
In 1854, the Republican party was formed by a coalition of both blacks and whites who opposed slavery and its expansion. Yes, whites, too. In fact, in the endeavor to abolish slavery, some 300,000 white Republicans laid down their lives to achieve that very goal. That was in a civil war in which Republicans were opposed by democrats, who opposed abolition. President Lincoln was the first Republican president, assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a democrat.
It was Nathaniel Bedford Forrest, a democrat, who was one of the early initiators of the KKK, the militant wing of the democrat party. It was democrats who opposed Republicans in virtually all civil rights legislation, including woman's suffrage. And it was democrats who more recently looked down upon President Trump and Republicans for passing the Furst Step Act, freeing many blacks who had been unjustly punished for first and even petty crimes under Joe Biden's 1994 crime bill (obviously a democrat).
I don't know what kinds of songs and dances black America would like from white Republicans. Black America CHOSE to leave their own party when they thought they saw greener pastures in the promise of new and better jobs, largely due to a Republican candidate who supported our constitutionally appropriate 10th amendment regarding state's rights.
Black America does not need an invitation or coercing back to their own party but they do need to recognize and separate themselves from the lies and deplorable treatment of the democrat party. Who in their right mind would have ever believed that those who were actively killing them, would be the ones to team up with for any reason at all?
It's my suggestion that black America must do some real reflecting and soul-searching on these matters and decisions made by their predecessors. White Republicans did not push them away. They left on their own volition. After 100+ years, is it any real surprise that it may appear that white Republicans might have given up on them? The overall appearance is that they are perfectly content to accept the lies and just go along to get along regardless of truth.
Thank you for your response, Mr. Aaron. its quite a lot to unpack. I'll do my best to address some of the points you have raised.
I must preface my response by saying that you are making an argument, for the most part, against a position that I did not express in my write-up. The question of white people or white Republicans being the cause of African American woes was not the subject of my article, nor did I make any mention of or reference to that. I have gotten similar responses to this article as yours, and I fear many people do not understand the intent of my article.
You wrote, "We hear of some who are demanding reparations from white America when, for the short time slavery did exist in the US, relatively speaking, the vast majority of those slaves were held by black slaveowners. And to be clear, it was black Africans who were exporting their own fellow citizens to black slaveowners in the US, amongst other places along the way."
You frame slavery in the US as having happened for a "short time." Might I remind you that in the "short" 248 years of America's existence, African Americans have been in some form of bondage or legalized discrimination for at least 192 years. Your point about the majority of slaves being owned by Black slaves is ahistorical to the point of being silly.
You wrote, "What is the difference between the two groups? Primarily, the democrat party, which knowingly and intentionally over many years, has brainwashed black America to believe that slavery was racist and that it was all Republicans who did it. But that couldn't be further from the truth."
My article addresses the point above: if Republicans have left their image to be crafted by Democrats before Black people, then do not be surprised when Democrats paint you as racist. What's stopping the Republican Party from taking ownership of its messaging before Black people?
Your other points about Democrats is simply whataboutism. If you noticed my article was about why Blacks don't vote Republicans, not why Blacks vote Democrats, your invocation of Democrats adds nothing to the conversation as you do not know my feelings towards Democrats, nor is my article an endorsement of the Democratic Party.
You may very well be right in some of the points you raised, but I would have appreciated it better if you pointed out where and how I was wrong in the points I raised in the article.
Thank you for your response. You're correct. I did not go directly to your assertion of "why blacks don't vote Republican" (though many blacks do vote Republican and there are many very prominent, highly respected, and wise black political figures in the US) rather, I addressed head-on several of your supporting statements, providing my own personal opinion on each matter, all of which culminate in addressing your main assertion for why blacks don't vote Republican. I provided historical context sufficient to show that, contrary to your belief that the onus falls upon Republicans to change in any way to court the black vote when in historical fact, Republicans never gave blacks the boot or pushed then away. I explained to you that the Republican party is the black man and woman's party as they, in a coalition with white Americans, who too, opposed slavery, formed the Republican party. Black America CHOSE to leave their own party therefore, the onus is upon the black community to find its way back and get back.
As far as messaging goes, keep in mind, 99% of what you hear about Republican messaging comes through the democrat party filter. Needless to say, it is all disgusting. Also, remember that all of that messaging claimed by the democrat party, comes from the very party that was the party of the KKK, who once were on the tear to murder any Republican, black or white, I wouldn't be placing my eggs in that basket. That same party has been on a neverending campaign to revise history and to change the absolutely horrid and deplorable history of their own party.
What we are talking about here is the intentional miseducation, propagandizing and out right telling of lies about our nation's history through education, all of which falls under the US Department of Education. And while you may not have mentioned or discussed some of those historical facts that I did, I still chose to utilize them to support my positions in demonstrating that Republicans/white Republicans/whatever have always stood with black America - this is after all, their own party that they helped to form. We have never been against them, or made them to believe that they are not welcome on their own party. We can thank the DNC and democrat messaging for those misguided beliefs that black America has about the Republican party.
See, there are big differences between the Republican and Democrat parties. The democrat party slices everyone up into different racial classes, tax brackets, groups, sexes, ages, etc pandering to each one individually in the hope of gaining power by support of each individual group. Democrats believe in the collective vs the individual such that the individual is stifled by the whole; they want a democracy, mob-rule, the majority stifles the few. Currently, black America is having an awakening of its own. They are being introduced to and informed about many issues thst they have been badly misguided on. The democrat party, at the national level has, in the past few months, pulled their "support" for black America and have moved on to illegal immigrants as their new "underclass" by which they plan to hold on to power, hence the non-stop flow of illegal immigrants into our nation, our federal government's refusal to address the problem and further, their moves to try and stop states as Texas from protecting our own border when the federal government will not. Those are our federal and state laws. Democrats are banking on the illegal immigrant class to keep them in power - they have written off black America.
Contrary, the Republican party does not see race, color, age, sex, all the protected classes. Republicans see Americans. We are all first Americans and second whatever our backgrounds, or nationalities are. Republicans don't separate us but rather believes in empowering the individual over the collective and where state's rights follow the individual, and federal follows states rights. The Republican party believes in a hand up, not lifetime handouts which geberste and foster government dependency - this particular belief is exactly the opposite of democrats beliefs in endless handouts which contributed greatly to the many woes and injustices to black America, which at one time, had an even stronger family unit than white America.
The very bottom line is that the democrat party has systematically and ruthlessly sczhit all over black America from supporting their enslavement and rejecting them being freed to be American citizens to murdering them by the KKK to pushing theirceugenics programs and abortion clinics to infesting their communities with hard drugs that resulted in broken homes, single moms, crackhead dad's and babies neglected to inhumane and harsh prison sentences that denied education and hope fir better futures.
One must ask, who in their right mind would want to be affiliated with such a political party? If I were black, I sure as hell wouldnt. In fact, I would be voting Republican.
I’d say I agree that ultimately black Americans need to not be beholden to any political party and Republican do need to make a better effort at reaching out to blacks and sharing their message.
Mr. Ekokotu, I respect and appreciate what you have to say. Much of it I believe you are spot on. As Thomas Sowell says, some people are on 'Moral Crusades'. Moral crusades can distract from government overreach and disregard unintended consequences, contributing to polarization and lack of productive discourse.
The actions against Rob Smith, a decorated US veteran, was abhorrent and disheartening. Actions such as this must be called out. I think you have people who are either new to politics, or lifelong democrats who left the party and immediatly start to oversteer and veer off course.
As in the case with Katanji Brown Jackson, I absolutely do not believe she is wholesomely qualified to be a US Supreme Court Justice. Her partisan & bias answers to hearing questions made that abundantly clear. It was made clear, by Biden's own words, that she was chosen specifically to BE the first black✔️ woman✔️, not because she HAPPENS TO BE the first black woman.
All the while, ignoring who could have been the first black woman Supreme Court Justice, Judge Janice Rogers Brown. Now to be clear, Judge Brown never received the nomination, only considered, and I think that was a grave mistake. Instead we got Justice Roberts.
The Democrats pushed back & criticized Judge Brown not on her qualifications, but the fact that she was diverse in her values. Ol' Scranton Joe even threatened to fillibuster if she became the nominre, thereby effectively eliminating Judge Janice Rogers Brown. If we had strong republicans back then, they would have put forth Judge Brown, and shine a light on her accomishments & qualifications and let the opposition fall flat on their face - but so goes ghe "go along to get along" mentality that brought us to where we are today.
Thank you for continuing these much needed conversations. I wish you and your family a blessed New Year.
Ps - As K. Carl Smith would say, I'm a Frederick Douglass Republican.
The broad brush with which you paint Republicans is just as mistakenly applied as the brush you claim Republicans paint black Americans. Prejudice, bigotry and ignorance will always exist, but their forms change as do the purveyors. At the other end of the spectrum are the deniers of fact who merchandise the issues that arise from those facts as examples of racism. There is a reason that there is no conversation about the fact (as documented by FBI crime statistics) that over 90% of black Americans who are murdered, die at the hands of other black Americans; it doesn't play well in the theater of contrived racism.
There is no doubt that racism exists, yet its most pervasive form flourishes within the liberal Democrat establishment which sees every action involving a person of color as being racially motivated. We would all be a lot better off if the media, politicians and race baiters took Dr. King's words to heart and focused on content of character instead of color of skin.
Saying I paint Republicans with a broad brush is unnecessary hair-splitting.
Your claim that racism flourishes within the liberal democrat establishment is painting democrats with a broad brush as well, we can do this hair-splitting game which takes us nowhere, or we can look at the issues and seek ways to improve.
What's the utility of stating that 90% of Black people die at the hands of Black people? What's the significance of that point to my article?
But if you want to play that game, aren't the majority of White people killed by other White people, where is the conversation about that fact happening?
I agree with your last point, but I'm not so sure the Republican Party with its stereotyping of Black people is ready to focus on individual character as much as they do treating Black people as a group.
Except people like Thomas Sowell and Glenn Loury have been trying to talk about the reasons why, but they get ignored. White-on-white violence gets analyzed to no end. Agencies have it pretty pinned down why white people kill each other.
The FBI data shows, for 2022, over 10K Black's were murdered(with 91% being at the hands of other Blacks) and only 7K Whites(81% by other Whites). How does the visible minority STILL have more intraracial murders than the total murders of the visible majority?
It stems down to gang culture and a sickness within your own community that you refuse to address(that Sowell and Loury keep trying to address), that the Democrats love playing you guys for fools with. The black community is getting played, and you don't even realize how badly.
I'm a POC, and I hated DEI. I made a point my whole life of never checking those condescending racial boxes, as if I wasn't capable of keeping up with white folks; needing a pity hire here, or a pity scholarship there.
Your generalization of Republicans is just that: a simplified generalization to justify why the world needs to beg and bow at the feet of failed DEI policies. And I honestly hope they NEVER stoop so low as to rub the backs of the Black community, and lie to them to make them feel self important.
These talking points are frankly unoriginal and stale at this point.
You complain about me generalizing about Republicans in the same comment that you generalize about Black people. The lack of self-awareness is astonishing.
Since you believe Republicans are perfect and there is nothing for them to improve on, you can go worship at their feet
Well, am I wrong? The Democrats speak of "facts" and data. And yet, when it comes to the Black community, you all fight tooth and nail to not analyze overarching themes(the percentage of fatherless kids in the Black community. The amount of gang violence compared to white communities).
You want to know what's stale? This insistence of "its not our fault. The white man's got us down, and only the Democrats make us feel better about that." At what point do you all collectively say "enoughs enough. We need to expect better from our young fathers. We need to demand better of ourselves."
But, as long as criticism is treated the same way as your response to me, the Black community will forever be trodden on and used as pawns by the Elitist Left. And that's pretty sad to watch.
1. I think comprehension is a big problem here. When did I say in my article "It's the White man's fault?" is the republican party synonymous with white? (keep telling on yourselves)
2. Was my article about Democrats or do you just need something to deflect?
3. How about you address the points I raised instead of smuggling in points I did not raise? Whataboutism is not a legitimate argument.
4. Who the hell is "you all?" your type took issues with my article calling it broad brush painting of Republicans and then goes on to paint black people with a broad brush.
5. Are Black people not American? Why are problems separated by race?
6. I'm neither Black nor American, yet I seem to understand certain US issues more than you, because you can't be reflective enough to see that critique is not attack or blame, it's simply a stating of facts, so either contest the points I raised with evidence or accept you have nothing to say.
I suggest you give more thought and consideration to viewpoints that don't align with your world view. My claim about your painting Republicans with a broad brush is anything but hair-splitting. Your statement leaves no hairs to be split, nor does mine. They are both broad statements of opinion, and one bears no relevance to the other.
It take the above referenced thought and consideration to understand the utility and significance of stating that 90+% of Black people who are murdered at the hands of other Blacks; it begins with the question, "Where's the outrage"? When a Black person dies at the hands of a White person, there are protests, demonstrations and often violence, all of which the liberal democrat establishment is all too happy to promote as an act growing out of racism, facts be damned. When a Black person dies at the hands of another Black person, there is silence. No surprise that in the realm of "Black lives matter", only the racial component of a murder inspires outrage; Black on Black murder is treated as business as usual. Again, where's the outrage?
It is true that the majority of White people are killed by other White people. Yet again, there's no outrage. Apparently, much of society has become inured to murder.
Sure, some Republicans stereotype Black people, yet the number of Black Republicans who win primaries and general elections continues to grow.
the black community, as it stands want the same welcome mat they get at the DNC - its not going to happen on the right. It leads to the same economics. More out of control spending. all you end up is coddling people into thinking the government is actually supposed to give them a leg up, which inherently leads to inflation and even more debt with bad subsidies.
it sounds like this author wants to create a 2nd DNC alternative. Not a party of traditional american family life and small non intrusive government
So you want the maternal” “empathy” of the DNC … people have to deal with the reality of life , the problem is the “less of a d” part is the censored reality and truth they’ve been taught to call “racism” . The culture cannot elevate if uncomfortable truths are seen as an attack . This is how we got to the point of not being able to have real conversations or solutions with fragile peoples. Other cultures elevate under bad conditions … because of this coddling blacks cannot. I expect Africa to rise before black Americans
Again, it's not coddling, it's not maternal empathy. It's empathy and empathy is never too much or wrong.
For example, when Black people raise concerns of indiscriminate police brutality which is a real thing. Being dismissive of such concerns is not as you put it "realities of life" to be dealt with. Being made to feel unwelcome as some Black Republicans have expressed is not being "fragile"
Treating issues like crime as a Black problem instead of an American problem is not an "uncomfortable truth"
ok , lets break down "police brutality" as it stands with policing done by humans. they are going to make mistakes. the american legal system for judgement is as perfect as it gets, it looks at your past and present. humans have to make judgement from a place of safety first. the primary idea is to not even get in trouble. This is simple, coming from a felon with 3 years of prison behind his belt.
the point is the fact of worrying about being "welcomed" is a feelings based metric. nobody is rolling the red carpet out for black people. this is NOT the DNC . that red carpet is a trap , "black" constituents want to be - coddled - . which means a form of entitlement to "kind" behavior. the GOVERNMENT is not made to do this. its about simply executing on laws and federal protection. the problem is urban cities DO have "black crime" which is culturally different in the way you have to clean it up which is different than a "American problem" .
Black culture in black neighborhoods allows even the most peaceful black people to align with criminals on values , music, and acceptable public behavior. This is coming from a literal ex felon now a top 3 engineer at a tech firm for 17 years. i can tell you explicitly about black crime deeply. its a specific CULTURE issue. changing the language to coddle blacks about this only pushes the issue down the line. sitting here and writing a article essentially saying ... "its not what you say, its HOW you say it" is definitely the problem. Black culture needs to deal with what is said without crying about HOW its said. people are fed up
Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.
I have no idea why my Twitter account is suspended.
You can also reach me on Twitter as Critical African Thinkers
https://x.com/_CriticalAT?t=GTZxwS4n_DCLgiq3HLaegA&s=09
Interesting perspective, Mr. Ekokotu.
I think that critics of Conservative viewpoints often misrepresent a perspective of "That situation is better now" with a false inference of "That situation was never a problem".
A claim that today's police are not SYSTEMICALLY racist or brutal is NOT a claim that any individual racism or brutality doesn't exist, or never did.
A claim that affirmative action is damaging to both its current victims and its purported beneficiaries is NOT a claim that alternate versions of the concept haven't existed in the past, such as your statement, "Nobody seemed to say then that it was affirmative action for White people when certain opportunities were only open to White people, but it was."
This has become a large part of the problem even in instances where the basis of a point is valid - our society has become too lazy to truly research and debate on merits, so they take turns citing outlier scenarios which support their agendas but don't accurately represent the views of the majority they're trying to condemn. Every group has exceptions, which by definition are not the rule.
This is covered in greater depth in "A White Man's Perspectives on Race and Racism". Please check it out. smashwords.com/books/view/1184004
Thanks for reading and commenting. I will check out the book you recommended.
If you have not, I'd recommend you read Adam Coleman's book "Black Victim to Black Victor" specifically chapter 21. IMO it seems issues are cherry-picked to make points. You speak about police brutality against black americans but never ask why is that a thing, if in fact it really is. Why don't you ask about black abortion rates, poor schools and housing, unemployment and compare those issues to cities and states run but democrats? What I hear you saying is blacks would rather cut their nose off to spite their face. Because the RNC doesn't court them and promise them the moon (lie) and would dare suggest they make a way when there seems to be no way, blacks say the hell with them and decide to remain in the despicable situations they are in. Blacks see the benefits of changing to the republican party but don't do it because the party doesn't talk nice to them. Much of what you state is accurate and I will not discount what others have experienced as far as being talked to like children and in need of a white savior, but at some point black people have to grow up and make decisions based on what will make them and those around them better Americans.
I have never voted for any democrat because what they support doesn't line up with my moral compass.
Though I haven't read Adam's book, I am familiar with and share his sentiments about such issues. The point of my article, though, was to articulate my observation and understanding of African American voting behavior. I don't necessarily agree with their voting behavior, but I understand it.
The reason I didn't ask about Black abortion rates, poor schools, etc. in this article is because it was the Republican Party that I was critiquing in the piece, so such comparisons would seem pointless. I like to stick to issues and tackle them separately.
I think it would be in African American best interests to not be beholden to a particular political party; however, the political party also has its job cut out for it, it should do its part as well.
About your last point, if I were American, I'd most likely always vote Republican, but that would be as far as my political participation would go.
Ok, well, Mr Ekokotu, as you claim to be a "free thinker" with a "taste for critiquing ideas to ascertain the factual and logically consistent", I would love to share just a few tidbits of fact and historically consistent information with you from an American point of view. There are many Americans who are going to disagree with me but I'm here to speak on the historical record, not on what I wish to be fact for political purposes and not based upon the corrupt and revised narratives from American liberal arts institutions. I hope that you'll discern it and apply it to your own betterment & understanding
For the majority of my life, most especially following the turn of the new millennium and to the present, we have run round and round in the same repetitive cycle over and over and over again. "Every woe and injustice perpetrated upon black America is the fault of white Republicans because white Republicans are racists!". We white Republicans are the very cause of black America's problems. One thing that I've never heard questioned is what role did black America have in the many crimes and injustices perpetrated against them as a community? There must have been something that black America did, or chose, or decided or were even led into doing that brought upon them some of the worst atrocities in US history. We hear of some who are demanding reparations from white America when for the short time slavery did exist in the US, relatively speaking, the vast majority of those slaves were held by black slaveowners. And to be clear, it was black Africans who were exporting their own fellow citizens to black slaveowners in the US amongst other places along the way. Yet, in the 17th century, black Africans held white Europeans as slaves and not a word is spoken of it. We aren't looking for reparations. We haven't even lodged a complaint. We also recognize that historically, many, if not most, ethnicities of people were enslaved to another ethnicity of people. The dirty, unspoken truth about slavery is that slavery was never about race. It was about finding slave workers who were physically strong and could endure, which Africans were believed to be able to do well. And I'm not addressing treatment of those people, I'm talking solely logistical. Black slaves were desirable because of the climate, weather and terrain in Africa which made blacks physically desirable as slaves. So, what is the difference between the two groups? Primarily, the democrat party, which knowingly and intentionally over many years, has brainwashed black America to believe that slavery was racist and that it was all Republicans who did it. But that couldn't be further from the truth.
In 1854, the Republican party was formed by a coalition of both blacks and whites who opposed slavery and its expansion. Yes, whites, too. In fact, in the endeavor to abolish slavery, some 300,000 white Republicans laid down their lives to achieve that very goal. That was in a civil war in which Republicans were opposed by democrats, who opposed abolition. President Lincoln was the first Republican president, assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a democrat.
It was Nathaniel Bedford Forrest, a democrat, who was one of the early initiators of the KKK, the militant wing of the democrat party. It was democrats who opposed Republicans in virtually all civil rights legislation, including woman's suffrage. And it was democrats who more recently looked down upon President Trump and Republicans for passing the Furst Step Act, freeing many blacks who had been unjustly punished for first and even petty crimes under Joe Biden's 1994 crime bill (obviously a democrat).
I don't know what kinds of songs and dances black America would like from white Republicans. Black America CHOSE to leave their own party when they thought they saw greener pastures in the promise of new and better jobs, largely due to a Republican candidate who supported our constitutionally appropriate 10th amendment regarding state's rights.
Black America does not need an invitation or coercing back to their own party but they do need to recognize and separate themselves from the lies and deplorable treatment of the democrat party. Who in their right mind would have ever believed that those who were actively killing them, would be the ones to team up with for any reason at all?
It's my suggestion that black America must do some real reflecting and soul-searching on these matters and decisions made by their predecessors. White Republicans did not push them away. They left on their own volition. After 100+ years, is it any real surprise that it may appear that white Republicans might have given up on them? The overall appearance is that they are perfectly content to accept the lies and just go along to get along regardless of truth.
Thank you for your response, Mr. Aaron. its quite a lot to unpack. I'll do my best to address some of the points you have raised.
I must preface my response by saying that you are making an argument, for the most part, against a position that I did not express in my write-up. The question of white people or white Republicans being the cause of African American woes was not the subject of my article, nor did I make any mention of or reference to that. I have gotten similar responses to this article as yours, and I fear many people do not understand the intent of my article.
You wrote, "We hear of some who are demanding reparations from white America when, for the short time slavery did exist in the US, relatively speaking, the vast majority of those slaves were held by black slaveowners. And to be clear, it was black Africans who were exporting their own fellow citizens to black slaveowners in the US, amongst other places along the way."
You frame slavery in the US as having happened for a "short time." Might I remind you that in the "short" 248 years of America's existence, African Americans have been in some form of bondage or legalized discrimination for at least 192 years. Your point about the majority of slaves being owned by Black slaves is ahistorical to the point of being silly.
You wrote, "What is the difference between the two groups? Primarily, the democrat party, which knowingly and intentionally over many years, has brainwashed black America to believe that slavery was racist and that it was all Republicans who did it. But that couldn't be further from the truth."
My article addresses the point above: if Republicans have left their image to be crafted by Democrats before Black people, then do not be surprised when Democrats paint you as racist. What's stopping the Republican Party from taking ownership of its messaging before Black people?
Your other points about Democrats is simply whataboutism. If you noticed my article was about why Blacks don't vote Republicans, not why Blacks vote Democrats, your invocation of Democrats adds nothing to the conversation as you do not know my feelings towards Democrats, nor is my article an endorsement of the Democratic Party.
You may very well be right in some of the points you raised, but I would have appreciated it better if you pointed out where and how I was wrong in the points I raised in the article.
Cheers!
Thank you for your response. You're correct. I did not go directly to your assertion of "why blacks don't vote Republican" (though many blacks do vote Republican and there are many very prominent, highly respected, and wise black political figures in the US) rather, I addressed head-on several of your supporting statements, providing my own personal opinion on each matter, all of which culminate in addressing your main assertion for why blacks don't vote Republican. I provided historical context sufficient to show that, contrary to your belief that the onus falls upon Republicans to change in any way to court the black vote when in historical fact, Republicans never gave blacks the boot or pushed then away. I explained to you that the Republican party is the black man and woman's party as they, in a coalition with white Americans, who too, opposed slavery, formed the Republican party. Black America CHOSE to leave their own party therefore, the onus is upon the black community to find its way back and get back.
As far as messaging goes, keep in mind, 99% of what you hear about Republican messaging comes through the democrat party filter. Needless to say, it is all disgusting. Also, remember that all of that messaging claimed by the democrat party, comes from the very party that was the party of the KKK, who once were on the tear to murder any Republican, black or white, I wouldn't be placing my eggs in that basket. That same party has been on a neverending campaign to revise history and to change the absolutely horrid and deplorable history of their own party.
What we are talking about here is the intentional miseducation, propagandizing and out right telling of lies about our nation's history through education, all of which falls under the US Department of Education. And while you may not have mentioned or discussed some of those historical facts that I did, I still chose to utilize them to support my positions in demonstrating that Republicans/white Republicans/whatever have always stood with black America - this is after all, their own party that they helped to form. We have never been against them, or made them to believe that they are not welcome on their own party. We can thank the DNC and democrat messaging for those misguided beliefs that black America has about the Republican party.
See, there are big differences between the Republican and Democrat parties. The democrat party slices everyone up into different racial classes, tax brackets, groups, sexes, ages, etc pandering to each one individually in the hope of gaining power by support of each individual group. Democrats believe in the collective vs the individual such that the individual is stifled by the whole; they want a democracy, mob-rule, the majority stifles the few. Currently, black America is having an awakening of its own. They are being introduced to and informed about many issues thst they have been badly misguided on. The democrat party, at the national level has, in the past few months, pulled their "support" for black America and have moved on to illegal immigrants as their new "underclass" by which they plan to hold on to power, hence the non-stop flow of illegal immigrants into our nation, our federal government's refusal to address the problem and further, their moves to try and stop states as Texas from protecting our own border when the federal government will not. Those are our federal and state laws. Democrats are banking on the illegal immigrant class to keep them in power - they have written off black America.
Contrary, the Republican party does not see race, color, age, sex, all the protected classes. Republicans see Americans. We are all first Americans and second whatever our backgrounds, or nationalities are. Republicans don't separate us but rather believes in empowering the individual over the collective and where state's rights follow the individual, and federal follows states rights. The Republican party believes in a hand up, not lifetime handouts which geberste and foster government dependency - this particular belief is exactly the opposite of democrats beliefs in endless handouts which contributed greatly to the many woes and injustices to black America, which at one time, had an even stronger family unit than white America.
The very bottom line is that the democrat party has systematically and ruthlessly sczhit all over black America from supporting their enslavement and rejecting them being freed to be American citizens to murdering them by the KKK to pushing theirceugenics programs and abortion clinics to infesting their communities with hard drugs that resulted in broken homes, single moms, crackhead dad's and babies neglected to inhumane and harsh prison sentences that denied education and hope fir better futures.
One must ask, who in their right mind would want to be affiliated with such a political party? If I were black, I sure as hell wouldnt. In fact, I would be voting Republican.
I’d say I agree that ultimately black Americans need to not be beholden to any political party and Republican do need to make a better effort at reaching out to blacks and sharing their message.
Trust in nothing from Elon Musk...
Mr. Ekokotu, I respect and appreciate what you have to say. Much of it I believe you are spot on. As Thomas Sowell says, some people are on 'Moral Crusades'. Moral crusades can distract from government overreach and disregard unintended consequences, contributing to polarization and lack of productive discourse.
The actions against Rob Smith, a decorated US veteran, was abhorrent and disheartening. Actions such as this must be called out. I think you have people who are either new to politics, or lifelong democrats who left the party and immediatly start to oversteer and veer off course.
As in the case with Katanji Brown Jackson, I absolutely do not believe she is wholesomely qualified to be a US Supreme Court Justice. Her partisan & bias answers to hearing questions made that abundantly clear. It was made clear, by Biden's own words, that she was chosen specifically to BE the first black✔️ woman✔️, not because she HAPPENS TO BE the first black woman.
All the while, ignoring who could have been the first black woman Supreme Court Justice, Judge Janice Rogers Brown. Now to be clear, Judge Brown never received the nomination, only considered, and I think that was a grave mistake. Instead we got Justice Roberts.
The Democrats pushed back & criticized Judge Brown not on her qualifications, but the fact that she was diverse in her values. Ol' Scranton Joe even threatened to fillibuster if she became the nominre, thereby effectively eliminating Judge Janice Rogers Brown. If we had strong republicans back then, they would have put forth Judge Brown, and shine a light on her accomishments & qualifications and let the opposition fall flat on their face - but so goes ghe "go along to get along" mentality that brought us to where we are today.
Thank you for continuing these much needed conversations. I wish you and your family a blessed New Year.
Ps - As K. Carl Smith would say, I'm a Frederick Douglass Republican.
The broad brush with which you paint Republicans is just as mistakenly applied as the brush you claim Republicans paint black Americans. Prejudice, bigotry and ignorance will always exist, but their forms change as do the purveyors. At the other end of the spectrum are the deniers of fact who merchandise the issues that arise from those facts as examples of racism. There is a reason that there is no conversation about the fact (as documented by FBI crime statistics) that over 90% of black Americans who are murdered, die at the hands of other black Americans; it doesn't play well in the theater of contrived racism.
There is no doubt that racism exists, yet its most pervasive form flourishes within the liberal Democrat establishment which sees every action involving a person of color as being racially motivated. We would all be a lot better off if the media, politicians and race baiters took Dr. King's words to heart and focused on content of character instead of color of skin.
Saying I paint Republicans with a broad brush is unnecessary hair-splitting.
Your claim that racism flourishes within the liberal democrat establishment is painting democrats with a broad brush as well, we can do this hair-splitting game which takes us nowhere, or we can look at the issues and seek ways to improve.
What's the utility of stating that 90% of Black people die at the hands of Black people? What's the significance of that point to my article?
But if you want to play that game, aren't the majority of White people killed by other White people, where is the conversation about that fact happening?
I agree with your last point, but I'm not so sure the Republican Party with its stereotyping of Black people is ready to focus on individual character as much as they do treating Black people as a group.
Except people like Thomas Sowell and Glenn Loury have been trying to talk about the reasons why, but they get ignored. White-on-white violence gets analyzed to no end. Agencies have it pretty pinned down why white people kill each other.
The FBI data shows, for 2022, over 10K Black's were murdered(with 91% being at the hands of other Blacks) and only 7K Whites(81% by other Whites). How does the visible minority STILL have more intraracial murders than the total murders of the visible majority?
It stems down to gang culture and a sickness within your own community that you refuse to address(that Sowell and Loury keep trying to address), that the Democrats love playing you guys for fools with. The black community is getting played, and you don't even realize how badly.
I'm a POC, and I hated DEI. I made a point my whole life of never checking those condescending racial boxes, as if I wasn't capable of keeping up with white folks; needing a pity hire here, or a pity scholarship there.
Your generalization of Republicans is just that: a simplified generalization to justify why the world needs to beg and bow at the feet of failed DEI policies. And I honestly hope they NEVER stoop so low as to rub the backs of the Black community, and lie to them to make them feel self important.
These talking points are frankly unoriginal and stale at this point.
You complain about me generalizing about Republicans in the same comment that you generalize about Black people. The lack of self-awareness is astonishing.
Since you believe Republicans are perfect and there is nothing for them to improve on, you can go worship at their feet
Well, am I wrong? The Democrats speak of "facts" and data. And yet, when it comes to the Black community, you all fight tooth and nail to not analyze overarching themes(the percentage of fatherless kids in the Black community. The amount of gang violence compared to white communities).
You want to know what's stale? This insistence of "its not our fault. The white man's got us down, and only the Democrats make us feel better about that." At what point do you all collectively say "enoughs enough. We need to expect better from our young fathers. We need to demand better of ourselves."
But, as long as criticism is treated the same way as your response to me, the Black community will forever be trodden on and used as pawns by the Elitist Left. And that's pretty sad to watch.
There are a couple of things here.
1. I think comprehension is a big problem here. When did I say in my article "It's the White man's fault?" is the republican party synonymous with white? (keep telling on yourselves)
2. Was my article about Democrats or do you just need something to deflect?
3. How about you address the points I raised instead of smuggling in points I did not raise? Whataboutism is not a legitimate argument.
4. Who the hell is "you all?" your type took issues with my article calling it broad brush painting of Republicans and then goes on to paint black people with a broad brush.
5. Are Black people not American? Why are problems separated by race?
6. I'm neither Black nor American, yet I seem to understand certain US issues more than you, because you can't be reflective enough to see that critique is not attack or blame, it's simply a stating of facts, so either contest the points I raised with evidence or accept you have nothing to say.
I think we both know whose lack of self awareness is astonishing.
I suggest you give more thought and consideration to viewpoints that don't align with your world view. My claim about your painting Republicans with a broad brush is anything but hair-splitting. Your statement leaves no hairs to be split, nor does mine. They are both broad statements of opinion, and one bears no relevance to the other.
It take the above referenced thought and consideration to understand the utility and significance of stating that 90+% of Black people who are murdered at the hands of other Blacks; it begins with the question, "Where's the outrage"? When a Black person dies at the hands of a White person, there are protests, demonstrations and often violence, all of which the liberal democrat establishment is all too happy to promote as an act growing out of racism, facts be damned. When a Black person dies at the hands of another Black person, there is silence. No surprise that in the realm of "Black lives matter", only the racial component of a murder inspires outrage; Black on Black murder is treated as business as usual. Again, where's the outrage?
It is true that the majority of White people are killed by other White people. Yet again, there's no outrage. Apparently, much of society has become inured to murder.
Sure, some Republicans stereotype Black people, yet the number of Black Republicans who win primaries and general elections continues to grow.
Good piece
Curious; why is his Twitter account suspended?
What a country crock of shit.
the black community, as it stands want the same welcome mat they get at the DNC - its not going to happen on the right. It leads to the same economics. More out of control spending. all you end up is coddling people into thinking the government is actually supposed to give them a leg up, which inherently leads to inflation and even more debt with bad subsidies.
it sounds like this author wants to create a 2nd DNC alternative. Not a party of traditional american family life and small non intrusive government
On the contrary, I don't think it's Democrat "coddling" of Black people that attracts them to the DNC. IMO the RNC needs to be less of a d*ck.
So you want the maternal” “empathy” of the DNC … people have to deal with the reality of life , the problem is the “less of a d” part is the censored reality and truth they’ve been taught to call “racism” . The culture cannot elevate if uncomfortable truths are seen as an attack . This is how we got to the point of not being able to have real conversations or solutions with fragile peoples. Other cultures elevate under bad conditions … because of this coddling blacks cannot. I expect Africa to rise before black Americans
Again, it's not coddling, it's not maternal empathy. It's empathy and empathy is never too much or wrong.
For example, when Black people raise concerns of indiscriminate police brutality which is a real thing. Being dismissive of such concerns is not as you put it "realities of life" to be dealt with. Being made to feel unwelcome as some Black Republicans have expressed is not being "fragile"
Treating issues like crime as a Black problem instead of an American problem is not an "uncomfortable truth"
ok , lets break down "police brutality" as it stands with policing done by humans. they are going to make mistakes. the american legal system for judgement is as perfect as it gets, it looks at your past and present. humans have to make judgement from a place of safety first. the primary idea is to not even get in trouble. This is simple, coming from a felon with 3 years of prison behind his belt.
the point is the fact of worrying about being "welcomed" is a feelings based metric. nobody is rolling the red carpet out for black people. this is NOT the DNC . that red carpet is a trap , "black" constituents want to be - coddled - . which means a form of entitlement to "kind" behavior. the GOVERNMENT is not made to do this. its about simply executing on laws and federal protection. the problem is urban cities DO have "black crime" which is culturally different in the way you have to clean it up which is different than a "American problem" .
Black culture in black neighborhoods allows even the most peaceful black people to align with criminals on values , music, and acceptable public behavior. This is coming from a literal ex felon now a top 3 engineer at a tech firm for 17 years. i can tell you explicitly about black crime deeply. its a specific CULTURE issue. changing the language to coddle blacks about this only pushes the issue down the line. sitting here and writing a article essentially saying ... "its not what you say, its HOW you say it" is definitely the problem. Black culture needs to deal with what is said without crying about HOW its said. people are fed up