Black Conservatism: Politically Sound Ideas Do Indeed Cross Racial Lines

by Rabeh Soofi
For the average Michigan student, the words “black” and “conservative” could not signify anything more than a wishful oxymoron. But at last week’s College Republicans meeting, however, two well-known black conservatives, Judge Jeffrey Collins and Pastor Bill Hailes, came to speak about their experiences with the Republican Party. And whether liberals like it or not, as the largest group of historically “democratic” voters, many blacks have increasingly been making their conservative opinions well known and well-heard in the political arena.

It is refreshing to see the scowls on the faces of black BAMN members when Ward Connerly comes to express the inherent flaws in affirmative action. Even more so, to see someone like Starr Parker, a female black conservative, come in front of a full audience and relate her life and her struggle for independence. Or Dr. Walter Williams, who aired on an episode of 60 Minutes, talking to inner-city black and Hispanic high school kids about how capitalism works, and how to start their own business to improve their lives and further their careers. The liberal cries were heard far and near when Booker T. Washington immortalized his words by writing that he wanted to create not a new America, but a “new Negro.” Or when Alan Keyes criticized the government for promoting welfare policies that propagate entire generations of fatherless children, many of which are blacks themselves.

These are the unsung achievements of educated black conservative leaders. Every concern they have had is in the interest of their community, and in turn, the nation as a whole. Is Connerly being malicious to his race by saying that affirmative action uses discrimination to fight discrimination? Is Alan Keyes conspiring with Whitey when he shows genuine concern for inner-city blacks and minorities? Of course not. They should be the heroes, the inspirational speakers, and the mentors for the black community. Instead, they are slandered, ridiculed, and ostracized. The culprits are not only the Jesse Jacksons of the world in far away Washington. Even in Ann Arbor, the achievements and successes of these great black leaders are mocked by U-M students. Perhaps you’ve seen the many signs pleading for the release of Mumia-Abu Jamal? Well, the dear Mumia wrote about black conservatives who go out of their way to give good name to the American blacks:

“Throughout the nation one cannot ignore the repeated projection of so-called ‘Black Conservatives’ (as if Black folks here have a damn thing to conserve – besides their oppression)” (Refuse & Resist, December 1998).

Mumia goes on to conclude that “these conservatives, bred by the doctrine of their own oppression, become mouthpieces and echoes of those that wish for the very worst of their kindred.”

It is needless to say that only the delusional liberal mindset would respond to truth by distorting it or ignoring it. But what cannot be ignored is that for many years now, famous black leaders have found themselves disillusioned with the black majority and its increasingly absurd political ideals. Many black leaders who were famous and well-known in the civil rights era as being vigorously anti-segregation, have left the liberal path far behind. Prominent black activists in the 60s, such as James Meredith, who was the first black student at the University of Mississippi in 1962, were hired, nearly thirty years later, in 1989, by North Carolina ultraconservative Jesse Helms for work on his staff. Other well-known blacks, such as Roy Innis and the Reverend James Bevel, now work closely with groups affiliated with the nefariously right-wing Lyndon LaRouche, author of The New Fascism in America, now turned presidential nominee. The Rainbow Coalition will never speak of these so-called “atrocities.” These tales will never be printed in the Michigan Daily, and young, impressionable black children and students will never hear their stories.

Instead, those children will be fed lies. They will be told that they are not good enough because society won’t let them be. They will be denied hope and ambition to change the political institutions and structures that affect their lives; their only idols will be sports stars. They will turn away the above-mentioned black leaders for other black leaders who can only offer them more empty government promises that are doomed for failure. After all, it is easier to follow someone who promises you a better life instead of someone who tells you that you need to build yourself a better life. This is the inexcusable crime of the liberal left. But the myriad of lies is slowly crumbling, and the black community has begun to recognize failure of those promises made by liberals. Black conservatism will rise to dispel the myths and the hastily doctored statistics, and it will come to show the black community that conservatism does not discriminate, but that it welcomes with open arms people of every size, shape and color. It will give those children a new kind of hope demonstrated to them by educated, open-minded black leaders who have spent countless hours giving back to their communities, and showing their supporters and opponents that the movement has nothing but the best of intentions for the future leaders of America. They are patriotic, selfless, strong, and admirable. Because of this, and not promises made for to garner more votes, black conservatism shall prevail. MR