Reclaiming the Black Community
For most of my life I have blindly followed the tradition of my fathers by voting Democratic. Unbeknownst to what I was voting for, I believed the Democrats were the party for blacks. However, as one in his early thirties I have discovered that the Democratic values of government dependency, pro-choice, gay-marriage, and restriction of liberties does not match well with my values of limited government, pro-life, and free markets. It is no secret the majority of blacks share these same values, but they have either knowingly or unknowingly aligned themselves with those whom I believe have held the black community down far too long.
As one three years into the conservative agenda, I am ready to add my voice to the clarion call of Black Conservatism. I would like to make three recommendations to those with more experience and expertise in this movement to awaken the masses. We face a monstrosity of a task in November 2008, so I want us to prepare for 2012. Let us begin now to lay the groundwork to take back our communities from the destruction of the secular-progressive agenda.
First, we must find young and innovative conservatives who we can mentor. We know that style more than substance is the mark of this generation, which is most clearly seen in the Obama candidacy. Fresh faces that can clearly and effectively communicate the conservative agenda are critical to placing a wedge in the free flowing tide of liberalism in the black community.
Second, we must re-introduce ourselves to the black community. They simply don’t know what we stand for. We have to beat the L-I-F-T drum of Limited Government, Individual Liberties and Responsibility, Free Enterprise, and Traditional Family Values. Often I ask people to write down their political positions on certain topics and then to compare them to both platforms and see which party most reflects their values. Amazingly, they discover they are conservatives. The black church is a conservative institution; they just have to be reminded of that. We can make headway into this major constituent group if we tell them who we are.
Finally, we must organize. I have yet to hear on Fox or CNN of a black conservative voice. We have Evangelicals, Pro-Lifers, and Pro-Gunners, but black conservatives have no influence in the conversation because we have no unified voice. We must organize into a national coalition that recommends candidates and party office holders, solidifies our message and agenda, and develops strategies for reclaiming black districts.
I am convinced that we have the better message and can defeat the Democrats, but we have to start now and be intentional about making 2012 a year that we will win districts.
Eld. Isaac C. Hayes is the president of Heat on the Streets Ministries (www.hotsministries.com), a worldwide ministry that focuses on evangelistic-outreach and discipleship. He can be contacted at ichayes@hotsministries.com.
“Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson is the most articulate, outspoken critic of the civil-rights establishment in America today. Often referred to as “the other Jesse” and “the antidote to Jesse Jackson,” Rev. Peterson is the author of the “National Day of Repudiation of Jesse Jackson” event. As Rev. Peterson likes to say, “It looks like I have a job for life!” Rev. Peterson is also the man behind the Boycott of the NAACP, believing the organization to be nothing more than a tool of the “elite, socialist” Democratic Party.”
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/speakers/jpeterson.asp
I have seen Mr. Peterson many times on Fox News, specifically Bill O’Reilly’s show.
I have also seen Ward Connerly on Fox News.
As to CNN, you probably are most certainly correct.
As to a unified voice, the reason I no longer watch O’reilly is that he has on, as a constant guest, the despicable Sharpton.
The sad truth is that there are many fine conservative voices emanating from the Black community that are totally ignored by the major press.
Michael, thanks for your input. I have noticed lately that former Lt. Governor Michael Steele has been sitting in as a host on FOX. It is not so much that I am criticizing the networks as I am us black conservatives who need to communicate our message to our own communities. We see today that Barrack Obama is being ridiculed because he is speaking out against poor fathers. Many of us fear that kind of response and are not standing up for what we believe, which is the political hope for our communities. As a minister, I know that Jesus Christ is the only hope because he changes the human heart. Unfortunately, everyone will not embrace Christ so we have to communicate Christian values such as strong families, pro-life, etc., that will benefit our communities politically. Thanks again for your comments and I look forward to speaking with you in the future.
Your voice is much needed - what is on trial here and in the future election cycles will be the ability for the black community to free itself from its own internal enemies - those who have been complicit in the exploitation of their own neighbors and friends and relatives - the price of knowledge may be painfully high, but the cost of ignorance has been even higher -
To have blindly followed identity/ raced-based politics for decades without insisting upon measureable results has been too detrimental to even imagine.
Please keep up your work.
Ed, you are absolutely correct. This is our biggest challenge: trying to get people to think independently. Voting tends to be generational. Until we can stop our communities from voting a specific way because grandma and great-grandma did, we will be exploited by one party. Just as we argue for free markets in the economy and now education, we need a free market political system that commands the solicitation of both parties for our vote. Once the Republican party views our community as a potential voting block, we will begin to see them become more intentional in pursuing our vote.