Quote:
Originally posted by Wolfman
As much as I am uncomfortable with some right wingers, the steady drum beat of "victimization" talk of many traditional black leaders is hard to take also. We desperately need more vociferous conservative and moderate black voices in our political discourse. We need this to help keep our "leadership" honest so that we can have a broader base upon which to envision solutions to our ills and our future development.
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I agree with the tenor of Wolfman's post. Whatever people think of Jesse Jackson (my presumption, not Wolfman's) and others sometimes identified as leaders of the "victimization" movement (not my characterization), they have a credibility that resonates still with many black people because they were there, putting it (and their lives) on the line in the middle of the fight, when Black conservatives/moderates were nowhere to be found. Much of the resultant legislation of the 60s/70s came out of these efforts and helped many AfAms feel like they could at least get a foothold on the American dream.
It will take years of "traction"--- both symbolically, and more importantly, tangible ideas that translate into policy initiatives that black people see as credible/embraceable before Republicans can legitimately begin to fight for the black vote in numbers they say they want.
As long as Republicans are seen as a haven for gaffes, like the recent Bill Bennett kill black babies thing, they will lose the symbolism/credibility fight before they even start. Political symbolism (a good faith showing of intention) opens the door for AfAms, or anybody for that matter, to begin taking your policy prescriptions at face value. A good fight about political ideas is always good, but Repubs/conservatives have much more "groundwork" to do to create a climate where this "idea fight" can take place vis-a-vis black folk.
(Notice I haven't said a word about the Democrats. They are fresh out of ideas too, but benefit, IMO, because of the "history of hostility" AfAms have toward Repubs for reasons previously mentioned.)
I also agree with the Henry Louis Gates Jr. column. It's on point.