We’ve all too often heard hateful rhetoric directed at black conservatives for daring to think differently from their kinsmen, so when 96% of the black community votes in virtual lockstep for a candidate, it takes immense courage for a smaller number of blacks to disagree and vote in opposition. However, pulling the lever to support a conservative candidate or idea in the privacy of a polling booth is easier and safer than speaking out publicly. Ironic, isn’t it, that all of us are rightfully expected to embrace diverse shades of melanin, yet in contrast, many in the black community seem to assume or demand that there be no diversity of opinion in the political arena. Fortunately, uniformity of thought is being challenged by individual thinkers within the black community. At the end of this article are listed a number of black conservative bloggers and others who are attempting to change the minds of friends, families and strangers. They, too, hope to influence public thinking from the grassroots to the highest levels of government. Simply by raising their voices above the crowd of naysayers, they are showing leadership qualities. These individuals deserve full marks for their courage, intellect, curiosity, and fortitude despite the criticisms they probably receive.
These bloggers and thinkers understand that conservatism is the natural home for the black community, because they know traditional values keep families intact, and that good education is the fairest equalizer. For that message to be heard and better understood, they should always be free to speak their minds.
On June 30, 2008, black radio personality and author Larry Elder, published an editorial in Investor’s Business Daily titled “How A Black Can Oppose Barack Obama.” Excerpts from the article take the reader back in time, pointedly questioning their historical knowledge about conservatives and liberals. Hyperlinks have been added:
You might also want to familiarize yourself with the history of the Democratic and Republican parties, and see which one has stood up longer for the rights of people of color.
Do you know that Democrats opposed the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution--abolishing slavery granting citizenship rights to newly freed slaves and guaranteeing the right to vote (at least on paper) to blacks, respectively?
Do you know that most of the politicians who stood for segregation were Southern Democrats? Do you know that the Ku Klux Klan was founded by Democrats, one of whose goals was to stop the spread of the Republican Party?
Do you know that, as a percentage of the party, more Republicans than Democrats voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
Do you know that inner-city parents want vouchers--the right to determine where their children go to school? Do you know most Democrats, including Barack Obama, oppose this?
Most Republicans support vouchers.
Do you know that 36% of babies aborted are black, while blacks make up 17% of live births? Do you know polls show blacks are more pro-life than are whites? Yet the Democratic Party--to which over 90% of blacks belong--is the party of Roe v. Wade, requiring states to legalize abortion on demand?
Do you know that Margaret Sanger, the founder of the organization that became Planned Parenthood, believed that poor blacks were inferior and that aborting their babies made our society better? Look it up.
Speaking of helping the “underprivileged, I’d suggest you read a book called “Who Really Cares,” by Arthur C. Brooks. A non-Republican professor raised by Democrats, he examined the charitable spending habits of Democrats and Republicans. The results surprised him.
Republicans give far more of their money and time for charitable purposes than do Democrats. And the giving is not confined to their churches or other houses of worship. This, by the way, has nothing to do with income. Poor Republicans give more than poor Democrats.
Compassion is not about making people dependent on government. Compassion is about encouraging personal responsibility, and getting people to understand that life is about making choices.
Since the tragic loss of Martin Luther King, a Republican, the ideological pendulum has swung far to the left, but with the help of the black conservatives listed below, and all who follow their lead, the pendulum will eventually swing back towards the right. Perhaps somewhere between these two opposites we, as a human community, will find our shared values.
I hope these folks are connecting with each other to enlarge their circle of influence. They have the opportunity to show the way for anyone willing to listen, learn, and participate. My apologies to other black conservatives whose names I missed during my search of the internet.
NOTE: This list will be updated as new sources become known, so check back occasionally.
BLOGGERS
A Bold Conservative Digest
Another Black Conservative
Black Conservatives
Black Conservatives (Myspace)
Booker Rising
Conservative Black Woman
Digital Publius
Left Coast Rebel
Republicans for Black Empowerment
SaynSumthn's Blog
The Black Republican
The Black Sphere
The National Leadership Network of Black Conservatives
Wake Up Black America
Young Black Conservatives
VIDEOS
Dr. Ben Carson; A Real American Hero
Florida Congressional Candidate Lieutenant Colonel Allen West
Get the Race Card Advantage: A Free Pass on Everything!
Maafa21
Lloyd Marcus, Black Conservative
We The People - The New Tea Party Unity Song by Lloyd Marcus II
Why I’m a Conservative Republican
ORGANIZATIONS
African American Republican Leadership Council
National Black Republican Association
BOOKS
Black Conservative Intellectuals in Modern America by Michael Ondaatje
Showdown: Confronting Bias, Lies, and the Special Interests That Divide America by Larry Elders
Thomas Sowell, Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow, The Hoover Institution (Economist)
ARTICLES
27 articles on American Thinker by Lloyd Marcus
How the Left Trashes Black Conservatives
More on Black Conservatives
Teacher Union Holding Back Black Students by Walter Williams
The Loneliness of the “Black Conservative”
The Nobleness of Black Conservatives
The "Martin Luther King was a Republican" idea is misleading and disingenuous. Anyone who knows the history of the black vote, knows that Blacks voted Republican until the racist "CONSERVATIVE" Democrats left the Democratic party, starting in the late 40's up until the 1970's.
ReplyDeleteDr. King was not of the conservative type, per se', of today's Republican party. Dr. King was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam war, a proponent for government funded and back social programs, worked directly with, and was counseled by "democratic socialist" and openly gay Bayard Rustin, worked and organized marches with Socialist Party member A. Phillip Randolph, was a close friend with American Communist Party leader, Stanley Levison, who was also a speech writer for Dr. King.
Long before President Obama's chance meeting with Joe The Plumber, and the "redistribution of wealth" cliche', Dr. King weighed in on capitalism stating;
"something is wrong with capitalism" and claimed, "There must be a better distribution of wealth, and maybe America must move toward a democratic socialism".
- Franklin, M. 1990, "Liberating Visions", pp.125-
Everything I've stated here is on record and readily available information for anyone who want's to know the history and legacy of Dr. King. Knowing these facts, why would you even suggest that Dr. King was a Republican?? The "slogan" was not penned by anyone who knew him personally.
However, to "USE" Dr. King's name to promote, or deceive the reader into a false notion that Dr. King would vote Republican in today's Republican party, is blatantly disingenuous.
Dear p.anthony allen,
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree that Martin Luther King would probably not be considered a perfect conservative by today's standards, he is still generally acknowledged as being in the Republican camp. Even the very left-wing Huffington Post states this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/byron-williams/coretta-kings-passing-mar_b_15391.html
You might also want to read "Democrats Smeared Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the 1960’s By Frances Rice" at
http://www.nbra.info/MLKWasARepublican
Some would similarly say that John F. Kennedy couldn't pass muster today as a true Democrat because he supported tax cuts.
Political views are rarely static; they're always evolving. I accept the fact that few people could be labeled as perfect conservatives or perfect liberals. The best we can hope for is some kind of balance between the two perspectives.
You need to add the video- Maafa21 to your list. It is a stunning documentary about the Black Genocide from Abortion happening today in America. Maafa21 is fully documented and begins with slavery and even interviews and African American Woman who was Eugenically sterilized in North Carolina. But- it "Connects the dots" from slavery and eugenics to tdays abortion cartell and proves that the Planned Parenthood founders were racists and eugenic thinkers who are still carrying out that EVIL PLANS today. A Must See ( Short Prveiew here: http://www.maafa21.com)
ReplyDeleteSaynsumthn,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the video link, which I have added. The promo looks quite powerful. I have also added your blog to the alphabetical list above.
Erica, in no sense or stretch of the imagination was Dr. King a "conservative" while he was alive. While true that political views evolve, one could only guess what Dr. Kings political views would be if he were alive today.
ReplyDeleteYet guessing what he would think, does not negate the "facts" that he was an ultra-liberal in his personal views while he was alive.
Dr. King proudly accepted the Margaret Sanger award in 1966. His wife went to the event and spoke on his behalf. Dr. King fought the federal government tooth and nail to institute social programs for the poor. Dr. King gave numerous speeches opposing the Vietnam war, and even urged you men to become "conscientious objectors" to avoid going to war. In his “Beyond Vietnam” speech on April 4, 1967, Dr. King called the United States government “the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today.” Such view's (even in the 1960's) could hardly be viewed as conservative.
As a matter of fact, at the time of his death, Dr. King as planning his largest march ever. With the title, "The Poor Peoples March", Dr. King planned to march millions of "poor" Americans to the nations capital to demand the the federal government provide "jobs, housing, education, business loans and grants and financial security" to any one who wanted government assistance.
My only suggestion Erica is that if you wish to portray Dr. King as a "Republican", you should include the "issues" and political beliefs Dr. King promoted so vehemently. If you were to promote the political persona of say Ronald Reagan, wouldn't you leave out his views on abortion, taxes, government social programs and spending, capitalism or the military and national military interests???
This is a very good article, I wrote an article called "Of Toms and Sambos" that may add to this dialog http://tinyurl.com/n83tpj As a Conservative Republican who also happens to be Black, I invite you to join a discussion on American society from an unapologetic Christian world view. check out my blog Digital Publius, Hang out and share your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless You,
Hassan
http://www.digitalpublius.com
Hassan,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the compliment, which I would like to return. Your article is wonderfully thoughtful.
You astutely summarized the problems within the liberal black community when you wrote:
"If you can no longer lynch them and beat them with sticks, rot them from within, sap their will to overcome by their own energy, control them with entitlements so they live in constant fear of losing them. This way they stay ignorant and servile and they will thank their oppressors who now love them."
America needs more conservatives like you.
I have linked your article under "Bloggers". With your permission, I would like to reprint your article on this blog, with full credits of course and another link to your site. Would you consider allowing this?
Feel Free my friend, I am humbled by the suggestion.
ReplyDeleteHere is the front door to my site http://www.digitalpublius.com
ReplyDelete"in no sense or stretch of the imagination was Dr. King a "conservative" while he was alive." - p anthony allen
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying MLK was opposed to civil rights? You know the ones in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Which right stands out? Due Process to seize your life, liberty, property. But liberals/progressives supported slavery, taking your labor and liberty without being convicted of a crime in a fair trial.
More recently, you're saying MLK opposed due process to seize and sell your home or business...instead preferring eminent domain which doesn't allow selling public use property for private use. Back in the heyday of urban renewal (eminent domain for public housing and redevelopment of mostly black neighborhoods and business districts), MLK supported destroying black communities and black families? Maybe so.
But I find it hard to believe MLK supported court rulings over the Constitution. He saw plenty of examples of corrupt courts and unconstitutional rulings.
One last thing: In the 2005 Supreme Court case of Susette Kelo v. New London, Conn., was it the conservatives or the liberals who ruled against property rights? Was it a Republican or Democratic Congress that passed laws to cut off federal funding when eminent domain is used where due process is required to seize and sell real estate...no matter what color the property owner happens to be?
"in no sense or stretch of the imagination was Dr. King a "conservative" while he was alive." - p anthony allen
ReplyDeleteSo you're saying MLK was opposed to civil rights? You know the ones in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights. Which right stands out? Due Process to seize your life, liberty, property. But liberals/progressives supported slavery, taking your labor and liberty without being convicted of a crime in a fair trial.
More recently, you're saying MLK opposed due process to seize and sell your home or business...instead preferring eminent domain which doesn't allow selling public use property for private use. Back in the heyday of urban renewal (eminent domain for public housing and redevelopment of mostly black neighborhoods and business districts), MLK supported destroying black communities and black families? Maybe so.
But I find it hard to believe MLK supported court rulings over the Constitution. He saw plenty of examples of corrupt courts and unconstitutional rulings.
One last thing: In the 2005 Supreme Court case of Susette Kelo v. New London, Conn., was it the conservatives or the liberals who ruled against property rights? Was it a Republican or Democratic Congress that passed laws to cut off federal funding when eminent domain is used where due process is required to seize and sell real estate...no matter what color the property owner happens to be?