Dear Community,

I’m baaaaaack!

Yup, just when you thought it was “safe” to read the Community Journal online because you didn’t have that “crazy Black conservative sucka to deal with,” here I aaaaaammm!

BUT WAIT! Before you log off all mad, in a huff and stuff, expecting the same type of “venting” I did when I wrote the column in the newspaper, I have one correction to make—or should I say admission (or should that be confession?).

Since this presidential election began, I’ve been reconsidering my so-called “neo-conservatism” that I expressed so freely when I did my column, “Just Venting” in the MCJ.

Come to think of it, I was starting to reconsider my conservative views even before the election and the emergence of Sen. Barack Obama as the first Black presidential nominee of a major national political party.

In a past Venting column, I talked about the Tuesday night meetings I attended at the (unfortunately) now defunct Blyden Delaney Academy where I, and a small group of brothas, discussed the issues of the day and tried to develop real ideas and solutions that can be applied to deal with those issues.

This group of “slightly” older Black men, who are educators, historians and businessmen, had a huge impact on my thinking and what it means to be a Black man living in America…and Milwaukee (which is often considered another country—on another planet…in another galaxy!).

At these meetings, we discussed the issues we face as it relates to relationships, combating stereotypes about us (as Black people) found in the media and the world of business, education, historical accuracy and the culture (both Black culture vs. White culture), White supremacy and privilege, the direction (or misdirection) of our youth, the decimation of the Black nuclear family, religion…you name it, we probably covered it.

Through these meetings, as well as my attendance at discussion forums sponsored by ASCAC—an organization that studies ancient African history—I’ve come to realize that though I am—still—“to some degree” conservative, I’m not the “flaming conservative” I thought I was (and that another blogger—who I know personally by the name of James T. Harris—is).

I’m more moderate now in my stance on issues. The black and white prism I used in the past to view issues has been replaced by a prism of red, black and green. In other words, the prism of Black Nationalism.

No, I haven’t become a Communist or a Socialist! When I say Nationalist, I’m talking about Black pride, cultural-self awareness, self-reliance and economic self-empowerment utilizing a group dynamic that incorporates the best qualities of capitalism for the good of the race and not just the individual.

It’s that latter part—economic self-empowerment and doing business with our own—that, I confess, I’m still struggling to incorporate more fully in my day to day life, though I get my gas from either a Black-owned gas station or one that employs Black people.

I still get coffee at one of the coffee houses at Bayshore instead of “Coffee Makes You Black,” though when I’m near or at the MidTown shopping mall, I’ll stop at the Magic Johnson owned and Black operated Starbucks.

I’m trying!

You know. Come to think of it, Black folks in general are socially conservative and politically liberal. Like you, I believe in the concept of the Black nuclear family with the mother AND the father under the same roof raising their children with values and morals…and with love.

Like you, I’m a Christian. Like you, I value the sanctity of life (I’m pro-life), but respect the right for a woman to choose for herself how to deal with an unwanted pregnancy.

I also believe a woman should be paid the same amount of money a man gets for doing the exact same job or who has the exact same position and responsibilities that go with that position.

Like you, I’m a patriotic American who loves his country; is glad to have been born in this country, which has changed in many respects (for the good) and allows for change.

Though some aspects of our American system of democracy and capitalism are flawed, it still allows people to attain the “American Dream.” When there are obstacles in the road to that dream, we join together with one voice and one goal—total attainment of the dream.

Like you, I’m for education that teaches the basics of math, reading and writing regardless of the system used: public, private, vouchers or parochial.

Like you, I believe parents MUST not only love their children, but teach them the basics (the ABC’s and 1-2-3’s) when they’re real young, give them a spiritual foundation (Christian or other faith), teach them how to behave and respect others, as well as be an ACTIVE participant in the child’s life and future.

Another reason for my “conversion” is what I’ve heard and seen as it relates to right-wing, staunch conservatism and Republicans as exhibited by the on-air “antics” of conservative mouth-pieces Rush Limbaugh and Shaun Hannity.

Both conservative talkers have used every code word possible in denigrating Obama except the “word” they and others of their ilk would really like to use. From accusing him of being unintelligent and having no experience or concept of the “real political world” (Limbaugh) or being nothing more than a “Chicago Political Machine” trained thug and “community organizer (Shaun “the pawn” Hannity and his “great American zombies”).

Their rhetoric and the rhetoric of Obama’s Republican opponent Sen. John McCain and “Hockey M.I.-“ (nope, can’t go there!) “mom” Gov. Sarah Palin (including the…ahem…pleading of a aforementioned blogger) has made me intensely question conservatism in its present form and if there is truly a place within that ideology and the Republican Party for Black aspirations.

My verdict as to whether or not there is a place for us in the “Grand Old Party”: NOT!

Apparently, I’m not alone. There are a lot of Black Republicans and conservatives who have jumped the GOP ship and pledged their votes to Obama.

That includes former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who last week Sunday, endorsed Obama for the presidency.

Like MCJ columnist Mikel Holt, I believe we, as Black Americans, must form our own political party with its own agenda for empowerment.

Well, I’m going to wrap this puppy up now. Expect more ramblings from this “recovering conservative” in the future at this new blog. Until next time…See Ya!

Sincerely,

A former Black Neo-Conservative who is now a “Moderate Nationalist.”