A Black Conservative's (Afroconservative) Perspective on CPAC
Instead, I was pleasantly greeted by people who were happy to see a young brown face with dreadlocks join a powerful movement that's taking this country by storm.
I met individuals eager to help me accomplish my goals of becoming a published author, and I met bloggers who were willing to stand with me and fight the small minds who misrepresent the conservative movement.
I thought I would be surrounded by rich, older White men. Instead I was greeted by yes, mostly white faces, but young, energetic, and on fire for America. Cognizant of the fact that there aren't many who look like me, there was a pleasant curiosity about who I was, and what prompted my switch into conservatism.
Did I wish there were more Black people? Of course. Do I plan on bringing more Black people with me in the years to come (God-willing)? Yes. Liberals should be happy to know that since my conversion, I have liberated a few Black minds and proudly walked them over to the "right side" (pun intended). I will continue to fight for Blacks to divorce themselves from their near monolithic allegiance to a party, and a mindset that has set very low standards for Blacks. I will also continue to challenge mainstream conservatives to include "Black issues" in the dialogue.
The media elites have done a great job painting conservatives with a broad, racist brush. Keeping the wool over our eyes seems to be their Modus operandi these days. Thank God for those individuals who are willing to judge for themselves what life is like with Conservative Republicans. While I do acknowledge that there are small minds on both sides of the political spectrum, out of the hundreds of people I met at CPAC, I didn't meet one.
The objective of course, is not to turn every Black person into a "Conservative" or "Republican", but to make both political parties compete for our attention with sound policies and proposals rooted in principles meant to help us evolve--not cause us to regress or maintain the status quo. The Democratic parties' monopoly in the Black community is counterproductive. It's not my fault I want competition for the Liberals. It's the Capitalist in me.
So glad to find someone like myself here in the blogshere world.Keep up the great work you are doing
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Fine blog, save for the bit about Tom Tancredo. What ignorance do you speak of?
You may disagree with someone on an issue, but I would caution about calling someone or their views "ignorant". Plenty of intelligent people can arrive on different sides of an issue, both using reasoned logic.
If you are referring to Tancredo's speech at the Tea Party Convention, please be specific as to what you found ignorant about what he said.
If you are referencing his comment about civil literacy tests, what is ignorant about that? I don't hold his view, but it seems a logical enough conclusion that an uninformed electorate is a very dangerous thing. Much like millions of unsafe drivers on the roadways is a dangerous thing, which is why we take a driving test before the state issues us a license.
You may be projecting on to him and his comments the racism of the civil literacy tests of the past that were stacked against blacks. Remember, it was white Democrats who were behind these racist tests and unless you have evidence that these are the same tests Tancredo was advocating, then I wouldn't call his comments "ignorant".
Again, even I disagree with his view that civil literacy tests should be put into place, but there is nothing ignorant or racist about his view.
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While I can appreciate the approach Mr. Tancredo is making, his approach is eerily similar to the same tests that were used during Post-Reconstruction era on blacks as a disenfranchisement tactic to prevent them from participating in the electorate process.
It does not matter that these tactics were perpetuated by Southern Democrats - the racist paintbrush has been applied to the Republican brand now! Republicans have great ideas, but lousy marketing strategies. Remember, reality is 9/10th's perception. The idea falls flat b/c a neophyte in "spin-ology" could wipe this idea off the map.
If anything, it highlights the necessity to win the "marketing war" of ideas. Logic doesn't work on most people, especially if they have not learned critical thinking skills - a skill that is painfully absent from the curriculum in most public school systems). Either win the marketing war, or have well-meaning, well intentioned ideas scrushed by a lousy one w/ a great slogan and a great PR team (does "Yes We Can" ring a bell?!?!?)
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The way I took Tancredo's statement was not in relation to Americans, it was in relation to illegal immigrants. In my home state of Minnesota, there is a law that allows one to "vouch" for multiple voter's right to vote. Obviously, this has worked well for the Left, who take advantage of this to not only allow illegals to vote, but people from other states, who may have already voted in their own.
If you know Tancredo, I don't think the guy is a racist, he is just vehemently irritated by the shenanigans I mention, along with our open borders policy.
I am very happy to welcome you to the fold of Conservatives. Keep up the good work.
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just so great not to feel alone.I do feel it will be young people your age who will make the change that we need to see within the black community.and we can do that without lowering ourselves to the level of those on cnn and rosie odonell etc
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You would have had the same experience at the Tea Party Convention. All are welcome. Come to Tea Party events and you will see.
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I had a similar experience attending a Savannah Area Young Republicans meeting last month, my entire mission with Young Black Conservatives has been well, BLACK! For a second there I forgot there was anything else! And I too was admittedly expecting a noose or two when I arrived, but quite the contrary...people were ecstatic to learn that their message was universal and that there are African-Americans out there who "get it," and better...are trying to do something about it!
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You are awesome & I love reading your blogs! Stand firm, don't back down, be true to yourself!
Standing with you sister!
God Bless you & keep you safe.
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Here's an interesting take from the British newspaper, The Telegraph.co.uk.
http://www.solidprinciples.com/blog/wanted-short-fat-white-man-to-succeed-barack-obama/
“Wanted: short, fat white man to succeed Barack Obama”
I wanted to repost this article from the British paper The Telegraph.Co.Uk because I thought it was an interesting take on our political situation from a European point of view. I am most assuredly not endorsing the opinion that our next American President be white, short, bald or any other physical characteristic.
Competent? Oh, yes. Conservative? Please.
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It is unfortunate, but I can see something like this happening. The challenge in being the first black (fill in achievement here) is that there is a standard of excellence that must be achieved, not just for personal satisfaction, but for the sake of others that will come long after we might have expired. Call it a "double-standard", call it the old "you have to be twice as good just to be considered", etc.. .It was understood by black pioneers in the past that failure was not an option, and excellence was about as important as air is for breathing!
I believe the goal of the Obama camp was to see if a black man in America could get elected as president. Congratulations - they did it. Now what??? And judging by the way he is governing, there was no game plan for what happens after inauguration day.
He had the audacity to want to assume a job at a time when America is at a low point. So far he has not demonstrated that he have the audacity to lead - meaning going against Reid, Pelosi, radical left-wing progressives, and those who don't understand how this republic was founded and supposed to be governed!
Between Obama, Patterson, Rangel, Jefferson, Watters (and anybody else I haven't mentioned that's in hot water right now), they are establishing a precedence of incompetence that is damaging the prospects of future black leaders who still have an ounce of integrity, common sense on how the game is played, and a vision of a future that considers those who will succeed them.
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