From: cr614@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Monee C. Kidd)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african.american
Subject: Black conservatives
Date: 13 Jan 1993 01:57:40 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: cr614@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Monee C. Kidd)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu

In a recent article, dem2@pyuxd.uucp (Me) has this as a sig. file:

>+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
>|"I must confess that, other than their own self-advancement, I am at     |
>|  a loss to understand what it is that the so-called black conservatives |
>|  are so anxious to conserve."    -- A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr.           |
>+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

     Leon Higginbotham and his wife Evelyn teach here at Penn; they are a
facinating couple with a lot of good thoughts about the above topic (and
others!), and I'm glad this quote was here, 'cause in light of the recent
discussion I've been thinking about black conservatives.

     What exactly *is* a black conservative? Well first of all, a
conservative is someone who belives that the status quo is pretty much the
way to go. They believe that everyone in America is afforded the same
opportunity and that everyone can achieve the so-called American dream if
they put their mind to it. (I'm sure I am oversimplifying; those who
subscribe to that political mind set, please fill in the gaps.) It seems
inconceivable to me that anyone could actually believe that this country
affords us all a level playing field, let alone a black person. 

     Have you ever know a lower middle class or lower class white
conservative? I have.  For the most part, the `system' works for white
people no matter what their social class. The lower middle class white
person can still share values with the conservative politicians, such as
being pro-life or espousing minimal government intervention. But have you
ever met a lower middle class or lower class *black* conservative? This is
a breed I have never met, and doubt I'll ever meet. Conservative values
seem to go against everything that an inner city black person faces on a
day to day basis; they want anything but the status quo.

    Therefore, most (all?) black conservatives are at least middle to upper
class citizens. Most who are of a certain age have benefited from
afirmative action programs and now are the loudest opponents of that
system. `Brothers' like Clarence Thomas should know that were it not for
the dreaded `quota', he may not have made it where he did. The call to pull
oneself up with ones bootstraps sounds like `I got mine, you get yours -
and I don't care how.' To me it seems like a betrayal of your people to
leave behind your culture and community as Thomas has done (I use him as an
example simply because he is the most readily available example in my
mind.) When I say he's left his culture behind, I am not referring to the
fact that his wife is white (though....) What I am really talking about is
an attitude about the rest of the black race. His attitude seems to be (and
I admit this is not a quote) `*They* can do whatever they want to; it's no
concern of mine.'

     I suppose my parents' income tax papers for this year will classify my
family as upper middle class. However, I believe that no matter how much
money I make, I always have a responsibility to the brother on the corner.
Because in the eyes of mainstream America, I am black before I am anything
else. And but for the grace of God, I could be that homeless single
teenager with six children. I believe that in order for the black race to
survive in this country - and that should be a wish of anyone who dares to
call themself black - we need to think about each other's welfare. The idea
of extended family that we left in Africa has got to come back, because we
are only as strong as our weakest link. I believe it is my responsibility
to do as much as I can to help the brothers and sisters who haven't been
afforded the opportunities that I have. And they have been opportunities
that not everyone gets. Clarence Thomas and the other conservatives have
been blessed to receive what they have; that they think their station in
life is a God-given right of all Americans is a farce. 

     I consider myself politically moderate. I have moved from the far left
because I don't believe in a lot of government programs to help people. I
think communities can help themselves. Not people, many individuals are not
strong enough to face the daily hurdles and jump them alone. But my family
did it, with someone else's help, and we believe it is our responsiblity to
reach back and pull someone else up. As one professor here once joked, the
only thing black conservatives reach back to pull is the wool over their
eyes. Any thoughts on this new trend towards black conservatism? I know
I've pretty much just slammed the whole idea, but know that this isn't an
attempt to flame anyone, just a post to draw out some interesting discussion.
-- 
       "Whatever happened to Peace?"    -Eric B. & Rakim               
     ********    This is our year - GO CAVS!!!    ********       
                         ~ mc kidd ~                                   
~ cr614@cleveland.freenet.edu ~ kidd47@wilma.wharton.upenn.edu ~ 
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