ARE BLACK CONSERVATIVES "UNCLE TOMS"? YES ...

ARE WE BLACK CONSERVATIVES Uncle Toms? This question has haunted me for the past two months. Prior to that, I had absolutely no doubt that I was not an Uncle Tom. My political beliefs were simply different from those of most blacks. Or so I thought.

As you already know, I came to realize that my fellow African-Americans on the other end of the spectrum didn't think that this difference was "simple" at all. Most of the black population, our "leaders" in particular, believe that this difference is actually a manifest sign of evil. To paraphrase Larry Elder, this list is only a tiny fraction of the names black Conservatives have had to endure being called over the past few decades; Oreo, Uncle Tom, Boot-licking Uncle Tom, Straight-up Uncle Tom, Judas, Boy, Bug-eyed, Foot-shuffling, Sugarcane Negro, Handkerchief head, Trojan Horse, Anti-black, Pro-white, Remus, Sambo, Sambo-Tom, The Anti-Christ, Clarence Thomas supporter (as if that's a bad thing), Sniveling weasel, Evil, Ass-kisser, Coconut, Wannabe white, etc.

I've been a self-acknowledged Conservative since the early 1980s and I have been called all these names at some time or the other, on and off the net. More often it's been offline that I've faced the most abuse. It reached an extent that I would withdraw myself from any conversation with black people whenever the subject switched to politics. That has changed though ... I seem to have developed a sort of perverse sense of pleasure at making liberals squirm with a few well-phrased questions.

Throughout that time though, I have never felt like a "traitor." Until two months ago. It was the first time I have ever felt like a sell-out ... and furthermore I felt that all of us black Conservatives are sell-outs as well.

I believe that you have probably heard about the ordeal a sociology professor by the name of Jean Cobbs (as well as many others) has been going through for the past seven years at Virginia State University. Her crime is that she is an unabashed black Conservative and a Republican. For that, she has been subjected to a campaign of political persecution, discrimination and retaliation which included a basically administration-approved physical assault upon her.

This story reminded me of an experience I had in 1984 (and a lot of others after that) right after the Reagan landslide. I made the mistake of telling a group of black "friends" at my workplace who I voted for. I can't forget the looks of disgust on their faces and it still amuses me no end when I think about it. One looked as if he was going to attack me right then and there. One spat at my feet and another called me a "Sell-out," shaking his head in disbelief. After some more name-calling, all of them turned their heels on me and left me standing alone by the watercooler.

But that was not the remarkable thing. As I was getting on the bus to get home the next day, one of them suddenly came onto the bus and sat opposite me. He was the one who had spat at my feet, so I got prepared for trouble. But what he said to me surprised me completely. "I'm a Republican too." So I asked him exactly why he didn't stand up for me the day before and he answered "I have to work with these guys everyday, y'know."

I have no intention of sounding melodramatic, but being black and a Conservative is a recipe for feeling isolated. And despite the fact that I risk sounding like a "victicrat" by saying this, we are probably among the most hated minorities in the United States. For not only do whatever racists that remain continue to hate us, so do the vast majority of the minority community, and the bulk of the Left, because we dare remain off their plantation.

Over the years, I have seen far too many black fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, etc. seriously damage their ties with each other on account of politics, with the Conservative bearing the worst of it. A man I know had his wife excoriating him in public when he revealed that he voted for George Allen when he was running for Governor in Virginia. JC Watts had his father near publicly disowning him when he ran for his seat in the House. On black message boards and forums on the Internet, I have read screeds and witnessed attacks against black Conservatives that would not have looked out of place in Mein Kampf.

But the thing is, they are right to attack us. For we truly are Uncle Toms and sell-outs – though definitely not in the way they think. It is said that for evil (or bad ideas) to prevail, all good people need do is nothing, and that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. It is in regard to both these sayings that we black Conservatives have sold out.

(1) Because we have consistently failed to protect and defend our own. When brave souls such as Kay James, Alan Keyes, Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, JC Watts, etc. are attacked, where is our outrage? And if indeed we are outraged, how come the entire world doesn't know about it? When we are called names, why do we not fight back and make sure that person would think a VERY long time about it before he/she does it again? If we cannot stand up for ourselves, why would anyone respect us enough to listen to us? Is it a wonder then, that our arguments are simply dismissed and we are just called names instead of being civily debated against? Challenging the name calling and innuendo directed against us black Conservatives is not only a matter of justice, it would serve to open people's minds and thus yield dividends for us in terms of effectively taking our message to the black community. This I can personally attest to.

In November 1999, I again got into a discussion on politics with a group of co-workers, including five black colleagues. I was the lone black person who said that I thought Clinton ought to have been removed from office. Again, the reaction was similar to what I recieved in 1984, but I easily held my own in defending my view and explaining why I was a Conservative, until one black colleague (who had not even bothered to debate me and had only repeated Jesse Jackson slogans) looked at me in pure disgust, and said, "What are they paying you?" at which I got so mad, I walked away.

The next day, I went to his desk and plunked down my bank statements, pay slips and my tax return forms and reciepts over the last four years. I told him to look through them and show me where I was being paid to be a Conservative. He was so completely startled that it was all I could do to not laugh. Since then to the time that I was transferred to where I am right now (London, United Kingdom), he increasingly sought me to discuss politics and many other things, including whether or not to place his children in a private school or not. I even got him to concede that Clarence Thomas did not deserve the hatred that has been stoked against him in the black community. Imagine this happening on a larger scale.

(2) Because we have not taken our message to our people. If we truly believed that Conservative principles would help our communities best and that the grip the Left has on the black community is destroying us, then our virtual silence is unconscionable. As black Conservatives, no one is more an advocate of self-help and raising ourselves by our bootstraps. But on this issue, we've done an extremely pathetic job of living up to our own principles.

We have our brains and should we be able to muster the passion (another thing that compounds our Uncle-Tom-ness) we have more than enough bootstraps to meet this challenge. But are we pulling? The answer is an unequivocal no. The fact that most of the black media is Liberal and that most of the black community at present distrusts us makes no difference. We could make and distribute pamphlets, post leaflets, speak at churches, campaign at schools and very publicly go into black neighborhoods and look our people in the eye and tell them exactly why they should shake off the Left's shackles. This sounds a lot easier than it is, and I agree that it is. But consider Bret Schundler, a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant Male Conservative Republican, the second-term mayor of Jersey City.

Asked how it was that he was able to get himself elected with a 69% (first election) and 59% (second election) majority in a city that is two-thirds minority and that has Democrats outnumbering Republicans at least three-to-one, he simply answered that "he did it by going into the black communities and talking about school vouchers. He did it by going into the Hispanic communities and talking about tax-cuts and how they would affect individual families. To be succinct, he did it by going into communities that Republicans (even black Republicans) generally don't go to, and having a frank conversation with individuals, relating to them how his policies would change their lives." His approach paid off; he is probably the first Conservative Republican in the past few decades to have garnered 45% (second election) of the votes of his black constituents.

My question is; if he could do it, a white Conservative as he is, why can't we? The fact that we are basically standing idly by while the Left consolidates its grip on and destroys our communities should be a constant source of shame to us.

For instance the current state of our education system has long provided us with an opening (i.e vouchers/ education tax credits which are supported by an overwhelming majority of black parents yet opposed by the Left and "black leaders"), yet considering how so very important this issue is for the progress of our community, we have not taken this opportunity as we should have and I can't think of a reason why. That's why I would personally consider myself and all black Conservatives as Uncle Toms until we finally show the passion that we are honor-bound to show for our cause to uplift the black community as black Conservatives.

It is absolutely imperative for black Conservatives to consolidate our efforts and work out our approach to taking our message to the black community, rehabilitating our images in the community, and defending our reputations from slanderous attacks from the Left and their allied "Civil Rights Leaders." We need to have vigorous debates on what Conservatism would mean for our communities, the policies we support and oppose (i.e. racial preferences), the way we present our beliefs and how we will deal with an often hostile media. We ought to come out from this conference (if it ever happens) more united, more dedicated to our cause, more willing to fight for it, and more willing to aggressively campaign for what we believe in. We ought to come out from this more alert to unwarranted and insidious attacks on our black Conservative brothers and sisters on the public stage, and more ready to defend them and castigate those who would attack them for nothing more than being Conservative. We ought to come out from this with an actual course of action and with a personal dedication to executing it, and also networking with and supporting those ideologically kindred groups like BOND, CURE, BAMPAC, Project 21, NCNE, the various black Republican caucuses, etc. that are already trying to do so.

Should this Convention be able to get as participants such people as Armstrong Willaims, J.C. Watts, Kay Cole James, Walter Williams, Elizabeth Wright, Clarence Thomas, Thomas Sowell, John McWhorter, Larry Elder (a Libertarian but it's all good), Joe Rogers, Alvin Johnson, Robert Woodson, Dylan Glenn, Michael Steele, Ward Connerly, John Doggett, Shannon Reeves, Carlton Pearson, Kenneth Blackwell, Michael King, J.J. Johnson, Hurley Green, R.D. Davis, Ken Hamblin, Alan Keyes, etc. imagine what we would be able to achieve! Imagine it ... and then, with all due respect, Sir, help us make it real.

They give you that odd look. Same here with Jews. Sure its lonely feeling out of place. But I've always liked swimming against the tide. If we hadn't done those things in this country and had the courage of our convictions, we'd still have Jim Crow and segregation with us. To their credit, Republicans are not now playing the race card. The Democrats are. One would think as a country's we've acquired sufficient maturity to discuss issues without resorting to ad hominem or non-seqitur attacks but for liberals' name calling is emotionally satisfying. And if it hurts their intended targets all the better. As for black conservatives being race traitors, its eerie to see people in the black community sound like David Duke. Its all too clear that from the liberal perspective, color-blindness is in the eye of the beholder.

I've politely asked such things as "can you name something specific that a Republican has done in the last 30 years?"

To be honest I have to cite some things that Republicans have not done.

Republicans, holding to the good conservative priciples against strong centralized government have wanted State Government and local government to be central instead. When this had played into the schemes of Dixiecrat Segregationists, many Republicans were glad for numbers joining and failed to hold up the more important Whiggish priciple of Rule of Law, Equality Under the Law and Freedom from Arbitrary Power.

Only those wanting to rationalize will fail to look back and admit that our party, and even conservatism in general (along with, of course, all of machine Democrat Politics, both urban and rural) contained the elements to hide those with racial bigotry.

Failing to admit the Free Association was sometimes utilized for NO Association and even outright denial of common heritage and rights is an easy way to pretend that this is all about imaginary victimization.

Sure, the left has created a culture of Victimization to keep all special groups needy and thinking their way to power is through the Mobocracy of the Left. But failing to acknowledge that flawed individuals have walked amongst us is the easiest thing for white conservatives to do to put off the black american thinking of aligning with us.

First we must be plainly honest about all of our shortcomings. We must use Clarence Thomas's dictum from the Pope: Be Not Afraid.

I am not afraid to say that my party, my cultural groups and my neighbors have not always been the image of what they should be. The left is afraid to admit their plantation politics. Let them stay that way. I look for a brighter tomorrow.

Here is a list of dysfunctional behaviors associated with Groupthink.

This is what I believe you are in the midst of...

Illusions of Invulnerability - Members believe that abilities and decisions of the group are without flaw or beyond reproach.

Assumed Unanimity - The group assumes that all members agree to proposed alternatives. This may occur because of a rush to closure or because member agreement is not truly sought

Self-Righteousness - The group creates an inflated sense of its moral superiority over outside groups. It views its own principles and behavior as ethical or "answerable to a higher authority"

Self-Suppression of Dissent - Dissenting members remain silent to avoid conflict or risk of belonging

Mind-Guards - Some members play the role of "gatekeeper," making sure that contrary external information does not reach and disrupt the group's activities.

Direct Pressure - The group actively pressures members who challenge the dominant opinion and eventually ostracizes those who do not conform.

Rationalization - Incongruent information or warnings are shown to be weak or flawed and thus are discounted or dismissed.

Luthans Virtual Org Behavior Groups and Teams - S.M. Sommer

This is why being conservative (of independant mind) is difficult and being liberal (going along to get along)is easy.

Eddie01 "Hang in there"

Thank you for your excellent post. Narrowmindedness knows no racial bounds though...

Several summers ago, PaFamily and I travelled to Taxachusetts to attend the wedding of a relative. On the back of our (then) minivan was a 'Santorum Senate' bumpersticker. The van was only parked at a relative's house, a church, a reception hall, and another house. On the way home, while gassing up, we noticed that the bumpersticker was sort of shredded like somebody tried to take it off but couldn't (I guess Conservatives use good glue). We figured, oh well, thats what we get for being in Bahston...Fast forward to Christmas, we get not one but two Christmas cards with notes admonishing us for our 'beliefs'...I'll never live down that they are my side of the family.

Conservatism is not some religion that we can simply spread to the masses behind some message or messenger. It is a set of values, which either are in sync with individuals or not. You are not going to be able to provide information in a form that creates a form of enlightenment. My experience is that Black Conservatives usually wake up and realize that they are not Liberal, and decide to make that fact known.

I'm going to address this gross error tomorrow. You're way off the mark here.

Birth of Tha SYNDICATE
101 things that the Mozilla browser can do that Internet Explorer cannot.

But conservative also do not approve of a totally atomised society of individuals and hold that there are traditional, volitional ties that can bind and hold. Such as families or church congregations or an ethnic culture. The conservative is not an extremist and understands that there can be a balance struck between love of the nation and love of family/religion/the Buffalo Bills.
Suppose that you are Irish. That you are conservative and patriotic does not mean that you should feel guilty if you feel affinity towards people who wear green and play bagpipes on St. Patrick's day. If there is a balance of priorities I do not see any problem(If the Irish invade will you defend the nation? Do you cherish your American heritage too?).
The problem is, however, if a group considers itself apart and seperate, with completely different loyalties. Especially if the group has been or feels that it is currently discriminated by the nation at large, the group will tend to mistrust others outside of the group and will start to pass on lies and rumors against those outside of the group. Hence, Koreans are bloodsuckers, Caucasians are crackers, KFC's owners put chemicals in their fried chicken to sterilize black males. And those among the group who say otherwise or who actively consort with those outside the group will be the very black sheep of the group.

As my days in high school draw to an end, all those silly cliques and fights, suddenly take on a new meaning.

But anyway, even the black sheep are still sheep. The sheeple in the group cannot, if they are half way reasonable, denounce the dissenter outright if his words are true. He is one of them, the lies do not apply to him, and yet, he thinks differently and what he says seems true. They can wrap him up and try to block out his words but what gets through will shake their deepest thoughts. TVs can be turned off and books not looked at, but the black sheep can be in their face 24/7(well, not literally).

Yes, some liberals have radically different values and are hopeless cases, but I've seen many liberals who are budding conservatives-its just when the liberal doctrine conflicts with their values they have had no one to point that out, nothing to make them think clearly about what they believe in. You can't make a horse drink, but you can fill his trough and try to make him understand what thirst is. And that is what every black sheep should do. Point out alternative views to doctrines. Make people rethink their positions.

Like Buddhaboy wrote, Conservativism is not simply knowledge. Every crack made in their mentality will be met with disbelief, denial, and sometimes anger. And the process will be painstakingly slow. But there are things only you, sir, can do, as a black conservative. No amount of poundings from podiums will matter if people like you do not take action. I salute you, MA_knight, and all other conservatives who debate and fight victimism in the very hearts it infects.

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