“Give Conservatism a Chance” by Jimmie L. Hollis

Op-ed submission by Project 21

In his book “It’s OK To Leave The Plantation”, C. Mason Weaver said the next logical step for the civil rights movement is the rise of a black conservative movement. Weaver, a black conservative, former congressional candidate and public speaker, says that hysteria, angst, crime, family breakdown and many other ills facing America today are prophetic of the progressive agenda. It was not Weaver’s opinion that black conservatives could solve all these problems overnight, but at least black conservatives could be counted upon not to perpetuate the failed progressive ideas and programs that created this mess in the first place.

Weaver also wrote, “There has always been two sides to the civil rights movement, violence and non-violence. From the suffrage movement to Nat Turner to the Abolitionist and Toussant L’ Overture, we have always had a choice in this struggle. If you followed Dr. Martin L. King’s way or Malcolm X’s, the choice was still non-violence or violence. However today’s choices are different and alarming. This nation seems to be dividing itself into violence and passive victims. The violence is towards our own people, and the passiveness is toward those leading us back onto the plantation of hopelessness.” Weaver wrote this over a dozen years ago. How have things changed since then?

On one hand, there is the Obama Administration and a progressive majority in Congress that is working fiercely to enact as many new big-government policies as possible. On the other side, the tea party movement grew out of opposition to Obama’s overspending, overregulation and a foreign policy that overlooks dangerous threats to our national security.

I have written and spoken on these very issues in the time since Weaver’s book was published. It is clear to me and other free-thinking blacks that the constant mantras of “give us more,” “feed us,” “we cannot make it without your help” and “you owe us something” that is championed by progressives have all worn out their welcome.

It is often said we should give hope, peace, change and prosperity a chance, which is what independent conservative thought represents. So, give conservatism a chance!

In his book, Weaver also wrote, “It is time to evaluate our communities and our decisions. Forty years ago we decided government handouts, welfare, job training and birth control assistance were needed in our communities. Well, it is time to check on this noble mission and evaluate its progress. We have faithfully given our vote to one party and it is time we look at what we have received for our loyalty. We have blindly followed self-appointed leaders in social, economic and political ideology; lets see if it has benefitted us.”

Again, Weaver hit the nail on the head. It is evident that our loyalty and trust have been used and abused over the years by progressives and those who claim to speak for black America. I have long labored to introduce free-thinking blacks to the idea of becoming more politically independent and leaving the political and social plantation run by the progressive movement. We must not allow any political movement or party to take us for granted.

Go to a tea party with an open mind. Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi control the bully pulpit. People owe it to themselves to hear the opposition — free of the filter of a media that seems all-too-wiling to provide a negative portrayal of the tea parties.

As a black conservative, I know that fighting the stranglehold progressives have on black America presents a long and uphill battle. I also know that too many of our own have vested interest in maintaining the status quo and seeing to it that nobody escapes from the plantation.

I am also comfortable with the fact that I am seeing more and more black Americans across this great nation who are waking up and realizing that — as Weaver said — it is OK to leave the progressive plantation. But, most of all, they are realizing it is in their best interest to do so.

Jimmie L. Hollis is a member of the National Advisory Council of the Project 21 black leadership network.

Quote(s) of the Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Just because you cook eggs in the oven doesn’t make them biscuits.”

 

“The only way we’ll get freedom for ourselves is to identify ourselves with every oppressed people in the world. We are blood brothers to the people of Brazil, Venezuela, Haiti, Cuba — yes Cuba too.”

Malcolm X

Rejuvenated Purpose? AfroSpear 2.0

A few days ago a member of the AfroSpear Google Group asked this question:

“It appears that the Afrosphere Google Group has died a slow and unfortunate death. Is the Afrosphere a group in name only? What should be the next steps, if anything for the Afrosphere Google Group?”

First, it’s difficult to keep something alive when you keep getting it’s name wrong. However, it started an interesting conversation within the AfroSpear Google Group where members provided their opinion, understanding and vision of what the AfroSpear has meant to them and where it should go. Fortunately, most felt it hasn’t died… as yet… and it still has the potential to carry on and be relevant within the AfroSphere and beyond.       

Eddie Griffin gave a quite thoughtful and inspiring response which I want to share:

Sorry I am late for the party… responsibilities… responsibilities… responsibilities… from family, to church, to the community. Nevertheless, I share intimate time and experiences with members of the Afrospear, both through the Google group and on Facebook. To me, the Afrospear is like members of my family.

I run from battle to battle, and never get trenched down in trivia and personalities. I confess that I did not vote in the mid-term election. But of course, I would not advocate the same to my Afrospear colleagues, living in different sections of the country. I already have my political lineup in Texas, and I was not about to become part of the “shellacked”, when the “counter-revolution” to the Obama administration became evident. Eddie Griffin does not participate in defeat. Neither do I debate a fruitless political debate with colleagues.

It is what it is… a shellacking that has nothing to do with this part of Texas. I have been busy trying to get whatever I can from the Obama administration for our people, our kids, particularly federal funds for education. With education, we can dig our way out. With these minimum-wage stimulus jobs, we can work our way out of the hole. And, ObamaCare (as the call it) now covers “blue babies” which was once a “pre-existing codition”.

Some members of the group choose to join in the chorus of Tea Party critics… so well and good. But I am not going to debate while our boy holds the presidency. It is up to the opposition to take it. And, if they do, they can still never undo the infrastructures we have built.

I am satisfied with a one-term president, if that is to be. Four years are enough to get done what we need to get done. And if, by chance, we get another four, then that would be icing on the cake.

I am satisfied that, for once, a black man had the opportunity to look into the federal government’s dark secret closet, and find all the tales and conspiracies waged against African-Americans over the centuries.

I can breathe easier and move on to other priorities like Education, a subject shared intimately between me and many individual members of the group. As everyone, from the beginning, knew, Eddie Griffin has four priorities: (4) Social Justice and Public Safety; (3) Economic Development; (2) Education; and (1) Religion (my faith). All of my work has been concentrated into these four areas. Politics is merely a vehicle. Protest is a vehicle. Blogging is a vehicle.

I never confuse the means with the ends. We are a means to each other, whereby we can (if we cooperate and work together) reach a greater end. In the meantime, most of us work in silence without much fanfare, calling only upon members of the group who support our position. This is the way it should be. We support each other’s cause on a selective basis, not as a universal single voice.

We do, however, have mutual areas upon which we have chosen to associate and work together. I see no need for this platform to be abandoned, though everyone may not support any one individual cause to their likings.

Happy Holidays,
Eddie Griffin

sat’day riddymz

Working Man’s Death

Some days I hate my job. However I am thankful for it and for the lifestyle and security it provides for me and my family. I appreciate it even more when I watch documentaries like this 4-part series on Aljazeera called “Working Man’s Death”. It provides a glimpse of the harsh realities of the physical work in the 21st century.

As you watch on your laptop or desktop computer, in a warm room with a full stomach, probably drinking a cold beer, or a popular branded coffee or tea, or a glass or bottle of clean water, my hope is that it brings your life into perspective, particularly when you sit to write how oppressed and shitty your life is.

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“Kudos Jammeh shall you live up to your words” by Nkwazi Mhango

Many things have been said and written about Gambian strong man Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Diliu Jammeh. He was listed among the horrid and stinking dictators Africa has ever had. He’s renown for his iron fist when it comes to manning a tiny west African country. So too, he likes honours, braggadocios and titles even where he does not deserve. You can see where a string of his fickle titles like “Professor, Doctor, El Hajj” and other emanates.

Despite all above, he recently stole thunder shall his promise not end up being a mere confabulation or something near.

The media recently reported that he is intending to stand down. What a big heart that does not need to be recanted! He won’t seek a fourth term in office after lapsing the third one, the media has reported. This, by all standards, is good and welcome news. Shall he willingly quit, this is but a boost for democracy shall he live up to his words. And indeed this puts him in the group of nobles and statesmen.

We need to congratulate and encourage him for seeing the light. We need to tell him that he should live up to his words as we say go Jammeh go!

Things have changed. Dictatorship does nary pay. In future, thanks to the establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC), dictators and vote riggers won’t have a place in Africa, thanks to its prosecution of violence and crimes that dictators have always used and relied upon to cling unto power.

Other dictators need to read from Jammeh new scriptures shall they want to go down nobly. What they’re required to do is read and honour the signs of the time and changes accompanying them, shall they want to live as free bin-Adams after abdicating from office.

Strictly speaking, shall Jammeh live up to his words, he’s likely to beat many so-called democratically-elected rulers whose power was obtained by evil means of bribery, intimidation, scheming, lying , rigging and what not, as it recently happened in Tanzania. Thus, this makes more sense to rulers like Jakaya Kikwete, Mwai Kibaki, Yoweri Museveni, Paul Kagame, Dennis Sassou Ngweso and Meles Zenawi.

Others that have to deeply and aggressively dive into Jammeh’s scriptures and take a leaf are Robert Mugabe, Theodoro Obiang Ngwema, Blaise Compaore, Muamar Gadaffi, Joseph Kabila, Hosni Mubarak and other many more.

Africa won’t forge ahead without getting rid of a corrupt kit and and caboodle of ramp-fed ronyons and election thieves-in-chief. This cabal of criminals are causing more harm and mayhem for Africans than other enemies such as ignorance, globalization, neo-colonialization and so forth so to speak. The money they are spending on consolidating their power suffices to bring about positive changes to our people. The army of major domos and praise singers they keep and finance won’t help them any more. The money they steal and squander suffices to create harmonious and healthy environment for them and their people to live peacefully and securely instead of living behind fears and arrogance.

Jammeh goes down in history books as the man that saw the light and tomorrow at the right time, shall he not become a turncoat as always politicians, especially rulers have been. The good thing about Jammeh’s new take is the fact that the citizenry almost everywhere in Africa has always been ready and able to forgive. Refer to how Kibaki is currently emulated and honour for ushering the new constitution in and taking on corruption head on.

It is, thus, not too late for the rest to emulate Jammeh’s stance with regards to the future of democracy in his country and Africa in general.

If Jammeh who came to power in 1994 can truly and practically contemplate about leaving the office, what of those that came before him? What of those that messed even more than him? If Jammeh would see his failure, what of others that have even messed a great deal more than him?

Methinks, the reward for those messing up for a long time should be to stand down. Rulers and leaders come and go, but the nation remains and it will remain ad infinitum.

History shows that military rulers who relinquished power willingly have since lived respected and good life altogether. Those enjoying and commanding exemplary lives thanks to ushering democracy in are Mathieu Kerekou (Benin), Abdulsalami Abubakar (Nigeria), Olusegun Obassanjo (Nigeria) and Jerry Rawlings (Ghana). Soon Sekouba Konate of Guinea will proudly come into the big picture shall he keep his zeal and promises. So too, Niger’s military junta can win accolades shall they do what they have been saying with regards to returning democratic elected government in the country.

In a nutshell, shall Jammeh’s vow be put in actions, it needs to be recommended. 

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

sat’day riddymz

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Interview With Aristide

Aristide Speaks from South Africa.

 

“…The picture is that in Haiti, we have the same people who organized the invasion of 2004 after kidnapping me to put me in Africa. They are still there. That means there is a kind of neo-colonial occupation of 8,900 UN soldiers with 4,400 policemen spending, more or less, fifty-one million US dollars a month in a country where 70% of the population lives with less than a dollar a day. In other words it’s a paradise for the occupiers. First we had the colonization of Haiti and now we have a kind of neo-colonial occupation of Haiti. In my view, they don’t want me back because they still want to occupy Haiti. …”