Black Republicans in the Obama age. The Real Deal or an Illusion of Inclusion?

"The recent decision by the Obama Justice Department to drop all charges of voter intimidation against the New Black Panther Party during the 2008 Election represents a sad day for all Americans. For an Administration that promised a new era in race relations, Obama and the Democrats in Congress have demonstrated that race will continually be exploited for political gain. It is outright hypocrisy that the Justice Department under Attorney General Holder is suing a sovereign American State, yet dismissing this heinous violation of our Constitution - the right to vote."

~ Allen West, Black Republican, and candidate for the United States Congress in Florida's 22nd district

Black Republicans are ATTRACTIVE!!!

Black Republicans are GOD FEARING!!!

Black Republicans are YOUNG!!!

Black Republicans are ATHLETES!!!

Black Republicans are ORGANIZED!!

Black Republicans are CONNECTED!!!


Although Michael Steele is fighting to keep his job as Republican National Chairman, 2010 has been a good year for Black Republicans. They were once hard to find like Leprechauns, Unicorns and a Cerberus. And when you did see them, they came across like the biggest herbs ever!!! Ron Christie, Republican political strategist, is always defending his fellow Republicans. It doesn’t matter how racist or ignorant they sound. He doesn’t ever express any opinion that might differ from his political party. So although he might be a decent guy, he comes across like the black manservant that always says “YESA BOSS”!! Black folks are not a monolithic race and I think it’s good that we don’t always agree. But when someone is talking about ONE black person, they are talking about US ALL.

I say that this was a good year because of their new additions to congress. And the new additions to their local and state level offices. The black conservatives that ran in predominately white districts really have something to be proud of. They stuck to their principles and were able to win people over based on actions and not rhetoric. It is too early to tell if the Republican Party will take notice and increase their reach to black folks. If their current history is any indication, I won’t be holding my breath. They have the notorious image of being a slave owner party. And it doesn’t help that their leaders all appear to be old white men.

Side Note: The face of America is changing and it’s not getting any “whiter”.

Republicans are facing the possibility of being reduced to regional party status. Sure the Democrats got drubbed in the 2010 elections but they didn’t lose the U.S. Senate. Republicans cleaned up at the state and local levels where race and class are more entrenched. But on the U.S. Senate level where people of all types have more of a vote, things are different. But again!! That still depends on the state. Think about what the future may possibly hold for black conservatives. A black Republican could have a better chance of winning the Governorship in Alabama than Representative Artur Davis. And maybe…just maybe….South Carolina will get a black U.S. Senator.

So what about the black voters that aren’t currently voting Republican? We know that the Republican Party is so/so on reaching out to blacks. But what are black Republicans doing to appeal to people that look like them? I don’t see them in “The Hood” doing voter registration drives. I don’t see them recruiting on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Where is their advertising in magazines geared towards black folks?? It’s as if they have decided to forgo reaching out because of the difficulty. Don’t they realize that black independents are up for grabs? Black independents are party-less because they don’t like either party. But they have to choose a party because it’s the only party in town. Don’t be fooled by the talk of blacks not voting. All blacks aren’t sitting at home on Election Day watching “Good Times”. If you don’t believe me ask Adrian Fenty. He won and lost his job based on black voters. In some of our American cities, blacks make up 15 - 54% (% depends on each city – check your city for more clarity) of the population.

So in the end what does all of this mean?

1. Black conservatives have an opportunity to increase their political clout if they stick to their principles.

2. In order to attract more blacks, the Republican Party needs to reach out beyond their comfort zone.

3. Black conservatives need to increase their appeal to blacks that aren’t currently in their party.

Whatever happens next I can guarantee that this is only the beginning. You have not seen the last of the Black Republicans.

When doing the Devil's bidding just isn’t good enough.

"I've never seen Buckwheat as a disparaging character. People love Buckwheat." ~ Corey Poitier

Another case of Black on Black Crime was reported last week down in South Florida. Some dude named Corey Poitier, who is running to represent Florida’s 17th Congressional District, referred to President Obama as Buckwheat. I called him “some dude” because he doesn’t even have a website. I looked hard and long and I couldn’t find any electronic traces of one. All this cat has is a twitter address and a blog. I got a twitter address and a blog!?! How are you running for congress with no website game? How do you put an election banner on your blog and call yourself an official politician? He must have decided to run on some drunken bet by his boys. Poitier, an Economics Teacher in Dade County, was apparently ill prepared for a task of this magnitude. I checked out some tidbits from his platform (below) he is running on and I’ve got bad news for him.

Illegal Immigration: I believe that our immigration laws should be enforced and that there should be no amnesty for those who have entered this country illegally.


Global Warming: I do not believe in man-made Global Warming. I believe that the earth is alive and warms and cools itself at will.

Um……living in Florida he better change his stance on Illegal Immigration. He sounds like he doesn’t live near a large percentage of Latinos. I guess North Miami looks like Wyoming in the Spring? I need people that don’t believe in Global Warming to have some type of documentation (i.e. charts, graphs, figures, an Etch A Sketch…something that backs up your belief. I’m not biased but I saw Al Gore’s movie and he made a good case for Global Warming. Mr. Poitier just says it and it makes it so??

Poitier has his work cut out for him because Florida’s 17th Congressional District usually votes Democratic during Presidential Elections. Oh, did I forget to mention that Poitier is a Republican.

I understand that Poitier wants to look good for his team but swinging on Obama like that is a miscalculation on his part. It might help him at the Florida Republican Cook Out but from the Districts voting history it might not help him with votes. He needs to run as a Moderate Republican if he wants to be taken seriously. Why? Because the Republican’s are looking crazier than crack head’s ice skating. You have Senator John McCain needing Sarah Palin’s help to keep his job (oh how the mighty have fallen!!). Batman never needed Robin to keep his name “Hot” in the streets. You have David Frum getting the axe at his place of employment for speaking out of turn. And Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is still talking loud and saying nothing. I thought the Republicans would eventually get tired of him and run him out of office but I guess they’ll wait until his tenure ends. The Republican’s problem is that the Far Right has got this political party by the throat and they won’t let up. It’s unfortunate because it means that we can’t have a spirited debate based on common sense. All we are left with is scare tactics and a bunch of red faced white folks calling black politicians names. And still no one can tell me what this behavior has to do with Healthcare?

So when I hear about Poitier getting in on the action by taking swipes at Obama, I can only hold my head in shame. It was worse when he tried to explain it away with something a 6th grader would say. Poitier of all people should know how rhetoric can whip people into doing callous acts. Let us not forget the assassinations of our former Presidents, Presidential Candidates and Civil Rights Leaders. When he calls Obama Buckwheat he is aligning himself with the same people that don’t acknowledge him as America’s leader. These are the same people that will possibly do anything to unseat him. Buckwheat, although a character in a children’s t.v. show, was a controversial figure. Buckwheat was originally a she and the character can only be physically described as a “pickaninny.” Old posters showing the black kids in the show accentuated their features by giving them big red lips. The blacks on the show say that they didn’t feel discriminated against so I have to take their word. And sure the episodes might be funny to some people but the imagery is still what it is. Regardless of what side you fall on, it was a poor decision by Poitier.

So with great dishonor and sadness I award Corey Poitier with the “Slave Catcher of the Month Award.” He has earned this for attempting to score points with people that call him “Buckwheat” when his back is turned. For this month I couldn’t think of a better recipient.

Tavis Smiley is Black in the Building.

I thought black folks said that Tavis was calling it quits with the State of the Black Union. Then what is this Black Agenda business? I came to the party late and heard Rev. Al Sharpton giving Tavis the “bizness” on his radio show yesterday. Tavis is still upset with President Obama because Obama’s black agenda is invisible. I still don’t know why blacks are surprised because Obama never said he was going to do anything for blacks. You have to stay on Obama like every other president. People drunk “hope and change” like cheap liquor and ended up with a headache. I guess Tavis is going to bring in the “usual suspects” to sit around and talk about Obama. I’m not carrying water for Obama and I’m not cheering for Tavis. Even though I’m not taking sides something is funny in the State of Denmark. The fact that they decided to do this in Obama’s hometown is suspect at best. They are too late if they are trying to shame him. Democrats in Illinois have been doing that since he’s been in office. Today some lady was actually trying to debate Rev Al on the difference between Tavis and Roland Martin. She said that Roland was a mouthpiece for Obama and Tavis is his own man standing up to Obama and his policies. WTH!! Sometimes black folks call Rev. Al with a lot of foolishness. If I was him, I would cut the phone lines but I digress. It’s going to be really interesting to see what happens from this Black Agenda. Maybe Tavis will write another book. Well at least after he finishes publishing R Kelly’s book.

Black Hollywood, after all that you have done. Why aren't you on the cover?

Here we go again!! It’s Black History Month 2010 and black folks are still complaining about being snubbed in major print magazines. Apparently Vanity Fair has decided to do an “All White” Actress cover for their March “Hollywood” issue.

Citizen Ojo’s clarification: That means no sistas that act in Hollywood are on the cover.

Once again we are crying foul because we were left out of the “Big Game.” I don’t believe for a second that they couldn’t find black actresses for this cover. They just didn’t want to. And as a black man, only speaking for myself - “that is alright with me.” I get so tired of black folks belly aching because we are not accepted by the mainstream. Who gives a damn!! We have been conditioned to believe that if we are not loved by Madison Ave, Hollywood, Wall Street and every award show (minus the Country Music Shows) we are nothing. If these mainstream rags don’t want us on the cover, we shouldn’t be upset. Duh! That’s what Ebony, Jet and Essence are supposed to be about. We are so busy trying to be accepted that we don’t realize we have our own platforms. We just need to support them. Black magazines are having a difficult time right now. But what have black folks done as a way to remedy the situation? How many of us have magazines that come to the house that have people on the cover that don’t look like us? I get on Citizen Wifey about a particular magazine that comes to the house that had Beyonce on the cover last year. One person a year!!! Why support people that don’t support you?

And before you label me as some black separatist, pump your breaks. If you like the way the magazines look at your house then disregard everything I have said. But if you are tired of being dissed on the cover of your favorite magazine – stop supporting it!! I know Essence has been coming up short as of late. It seems as if Kittie, from “Let’s Talk About Pep,” has been writing the articles as of late. These days after reading Essence you need to wipe down with a towel. And we all know about Ebony and their financial problems. Someone should have hip them to the online game way back. If you are just selling magazines without an online companion……#Fail. Black magazines need to step their game up. Their content now has to speak to the 21st century black person. But we have the power to make these magazines relevant again!!! We need to give them the same prestige we give to the mainstream magazines. That means black Hollywood needs to give black magazines access i.e. the 1st interviews and 1st exclusives. That also means that “we” the readers need to buy and support these magazines. And if we don't like their content, we tell them. Let’s do something different this Black History Month. Let’s actually tackle a problem and fix it. I know it sounds radical but it really isn’t. Just like the mainstream magazines are about business i.e. putting people in their magazines that readers recognize in order to sale products. We need to be about business too.

With Friends Like These Who Needs Republicans.

This guy, he was catapulted in on hope and change, what we hope the guy is. What the fuck? Everything he’s saying’s on the teleprompter. I’m blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.”

~ Former Governor Rod Blagojavich


‘A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.’

~ Former President Bill Clinton


One of the reasons I left the Democratic Party was the presence of “Soft Bigotry.” You saw it when Obama was running for President in 2008. White Democrats loved Obama when he spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Four years later he was labeled sexist/unqualified/foreign/ (the list goes on and on). Hilary Clinton helped to fan the flames of bigotry in order to win the presidency. Even after White Democrats acted like they didn’t know Black folks were part of the party, Blacks still stuck with the Democrats. I guess in order to vote for Obama you had to dance with the devil.


Obama endorsed Blagojavich for Governor of Illinois. And this is how he gets repaid. Blago gets in trouble with the law and all of a sudden he is Avon Barksdale. Give me a break!!! There is truly only one way to find out if he is Black. Ask his wife what’s going on in the bedroom.


Clinton was unceremoniously labeled the “First Black President” and he rode that all the way to the White House. But here he is again making some off-hand remark involving Obama. Clinton showed his natural tail in South Carolina along with lacky Bob “Pimping Ain’t Easy” Johnson. Clinton has proven that he is just another peckerwood that was smart enough to get an Ivy League education.


A fellow blogger that I respect and admire mentioned that Black folks are too sensitive. Sensitive and Paranoid yes!! But that is another conversation for another time. Both Clinton’s proved during the 2008 Presidential Campaign that they weren’t above using race to win. Black folks calling foul on Republicans and turning a blind eye to Democrats is counter-productive. Blacks can’t get so accustomed to blaming Republicans that they don’t hold Democrats accountable as well. I’m not jumping on the Michael Steel band wagon to fire Senator Harry Reid. But when it’s dirty – it’s dirty. I believe in calling foul on both sides and not playing favorites. What about you?

Funding the Movement on a shoestring budget.

Radio and Television host Tavis Smiley is the Nationwide spokesperson for the “On Your Side Tour.” He will be talking about Financial Planning to African American audiences. That’s something positive that we can all get behind. I know that Tavis has soured on a lot of folk because of his greasy 2008 Election talk. He slipped up by trying to be the spokes person for black folks. My Generation and the ones after us have come to realize a few things. We don’t need anyone speaking for us!! (uh oh!! I think I upset some folks) Black folks are not a monolithic race. We do ourselves a disservice when we ask for and expect people to speak for us. I don’t have a problem with Tavis, Dr. Cornell West and Dr. Eric Michael Dyson (keep a dictionary near you when he is talking). I don’t agree with everything that they say but I don’t wish for their silence. They were supposed to be a contrast to the black politicians we have out here. They were billed (or they billed themselves) as anti establishment. They were going to be our modern day Paul Robeson’s, Malcolm X’s, Marcus Garvey’s and Medgar Evers. They were going to keep the establishment honest like Frederick Douglass did Dishonest Abe (yeah I said it!!). But we now realize that being on the outside is a hard thing. Freedom Fighters don’t retire and move to South Beach (they end up dead, living in Africa or laying on the low in South America).


These days to push your agenda you will need to be well funded. So why not hook up with Nationwide to help tell black folks how to save money? Nationwide is a reputable company that services a lot of folks……..uh oh!!!....I have a report just in from the news room. What? Oh, okay. Scratch what I just said about Nationwide being reputable. Nationwide Insurance led survivors of Hurricane Katrina to believe they were covered from hurricane damage. Say it ain’t so Tavis? Tell me that this is a mistake. Tell me that this is a trick by the Republicans to throw salt in your game. Tell me that Nationwide isn’t involved in lawsuits with Katrina victims. I wonder how many of those individuals were African Americans? People thought it was bad when you had Wells Fargo as a sponsor of your State of the Black Union. They are being investigated and sued (in some states) for giving out bad loans to black folks. How can the slave fight against the slave master when they are working for the slave master (try saying that fast 5 times). I know if we comb through different corporations some will have shaky backgrounds. They will have done things that have hurt minorities and minority communities. If it deals with Finance, there is a good chance they might have screwed someone of color. I’m not telling Tavis to get Trojan Condoms (reputable company since the 1920’s that I have yet to hear about in bad dealings with black folks –actually most black folks I know speak highly of the company..or its product at least) to sponsor his functions. But he does need to make sure he is doing business with people that share his agenda. I’m all for keeping people accountable and that includes me being accountable as well. And I expect the same from Tavis Smiley.