“Politicians Be Damned – Statesmen Are Needed!”
By
Gregory V.
Boulware
‘What Defines a Republican, a Democrat, a Politician, or a Statesman?’
What is a ‘Republic’
as opposed to a ‘Democracy?’
How
many of us have actually met or spoken to a “Black Republican?”
Would you know of one who actually represents you and your community? What about
the Asians, Latinos, Native Born Indians,
and other non-white groups? How about
Black Tea Party Members?
Would
you believe it if I told you that Dr.
Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglas, or George Washington Carver were staunch Republican Members and
Supporters of the party?
Maybe
you might think that I’m completely ‘crazy’ or ‘off-my-rocker’ to say such a
thing. But, I’m here to tell ya – oh yes, it’s true!
However,
they also stood up and fought for us – they tried to educate our people on the
country / world economics, political clout, held and maintained a strong-ness
in our (your) beliefs.
One
such portal to education, economical strength building, and political clout was
the now gone, ‘Philadelphia Berean Institute!’
“The Jewel In
Our Community”
would have/has turned One Hundred and Sixteen Years Old. It was founded in 1899
on the original site of 1901 Girard Avenue, in the heart of North Philadelphia.
The Rev. Matthew W. Anderson, one of
the first Black Graduates of Princeton
University developed a school for the economically disenfranchised masses
of Southern Blacks who migrated to the North in droves without the education,
economical savvy or political clout it took to prosper in the predominantly
white power structures of the country’s northern cities.
Back
then, students were taught and trained in plumbing, carpentry, dressmaking and
tailoring professions.
Today
(pre-closing), the school teaches accounting, business administration,
electronics, paralegal services, data processing, computer science and repair,
secretarial science, cosmetology and barbering, among a host of other available
educational programs. The college (post 1900) specialized in Career
Certification and Associate Degrees. Students who qualified for the courses either
had to possess a high school diploma of G.E.D.
The
courses have changed (from past to current) while the mission continued. Dr.
Spencer, who was ‘Dean’ when I attended, said:
“The
main goal is to keep tuition affordable and create a state-of-the-art campus.
We hope to expand our campus by 2005 with the addition of a new building, right
across from the existing building on this very site.”
That
dream never came to pass.
In
a 10 year span, Berean Institute had graduated more than two thousand students.
That’s an average of about two hundred graduates per year – with the majority
being ‘Black Americans.’
The
school, barbering and cosmetology, the two main professions where Blacks could
always become successful entrepreneurs, were offered; continued to peer into
the future by tackling and taking head-on the premise of a national shortage of
computer technicians or technology workers. The Government Educational Grant of
$2.8 million federal dollars was received by Berean to offset the danger to the
economy. Ney-sayers accused the government of allowing foreigners to come into
the country for those American Jobs – the open computer industry tech
vacancies.
“We
got this grant to try to offset that, so companies can’t keep saying, ‘we’ve
got to go overseas.’ We have many needy people (and who are needed) right here
in North Philly who can be trained to fill those jobs,” said Dr. Norman K.
Spencer.
The
Berean Institute facility has also played host to a number of community affairs
and a meeting place as well as being a place of educational upgrading. The
Million Woman March was germinated here in 1997. Additionally, other
Philadelphia chapters of alumni groups, Historical Black Colleges and
Universities (HBCU’s) have utilized the facility for their activities and affairs.
Where
is this significantly needed institution now? What has happened to this sorely
missed and needed Black College? Was its demise simply greed and corruption or
some politically motivated ingenuity?
In
Philadelphia, republicans (media reporting records) are outnumbered nine to
one, and African American Republicans are outnumbered by a ratio that’s too
ridiculous to bother mentioning.
That
doesn’t mean Black Republicans don’t exist. Here in ‘Philly,’ there is a group
called ‘The Philadelphia Republicans of
Color (the Philly ROC). Believe
it or not, some African American candidates do run for political office in this
city – as Republicans.
“Philly’s
Black Republicans are often scorned by both political constituencies,” said a
weekly Philadelphia newspaper. “Whenever the white republicans wanted to post a
Black face in opposition of Our Sitting President – ‘Obama’ – they were always
lead around like they were dogs, like puppets on a string. They were portrayed
as controllable window dressing.”
“The
democratic party must be defined by what it stands for,” shouts Brother Al Sharpton. “Too many centrist
democrats have moved the party to the right. As demonstrated by the past and
recent elections. The base of the democratic party has felt abandoned by the
many – so-called minorities, women, progressives, and young people.”
Brother
Al was one of nine 2004 presidential candidates who happened to be Black.
Another candidate of color was a female. Her name is Sister Carol Moseley Braun. She and Brother Al were some of George
Bush Jr.’s harshest critics.
“The
Bush Administration has been a disaster – Americans have lost and continue to
lose jobs. Many are without healthcare, and the republican president has given
massive tax cuts to the richest one percent in our society,” says Braun.
Reparations
are likely to be addressed by these two African American Candidates. Carol
Moseley Braun states her support for reparations. She says it should not be
forty acres and a Lexus, but a program that brings Americans together to
resolve the nation’s contradictions between the society’s commitment to
equality, opportunity, and how so-called minorities are actually treated.
“Education
is the silver bullet; we need to rebuild crumbling schools!”
“Too
many political figures want to direct public resources to private education via
the voucher system. We cannot afford to write off the majority of America’s
children. And I would have a foreign policy that recognizes that we, Black
People, are part of the global village – whether you want us or not! America
should be an international healer not a bully,” says Sharpton.
Carol
Moseley Braun’s credentials include a law degree, a term in the US Senate, and
was ambassador to New Zealand. She was the only former diplomat in the
presidential race that year. Carol’s experience, in addition to the
aforementioned, also show that she served as a State Representative and the
Cook County Recorder of Deeds – she was the only candidate who proudly served
both levels of government; local and state.
Al
Sharpton was the only candidate who has never held public office. His
contentions are that his leadership skills are far from lacking.
Al’s
plan is to connect with the people. The candidate has spent many weeks on the
road pushing his agenda. He has gone to college campuses, churches, grass-root
communities, and to the streets. He said “That’s where the people are!”
“Do
you really think that Black folk would struggle through slavery, carrying bags,
talking about ‘we shall overcome’ and all those kinds of things; that a little
voter ID issue would have actually stopped us from registering for the vote?
Only a fool would think that Black folks wouldn’t go out and do what they need
to do when they think their rights have been threatened!” says a Black
Philadelphia Republican.
“We (Black
Republicans) love President Obama! We, at least I, think it was great that
he’s an African American person who has made it to the level of being
recognized as being the First Black
President.”
Another
Black Philadelphia Republican rationalized what Paul Ryan mouthed during an
interview while campaigning for vice-president.
“I
think it’s cool that we have our first African American Presidential
candidate.”
If
one can or could believe in that sincerity, ‘Willie Lynch’ would make a great
candidate too.
A
third Black Republican told of how he caught all kinds of negativity for
broadcasting his respect for the then candidate; President Obama!
He
said that he had to go off and checkmate just about everybody in the building.
“Did
they think that they could actually tell me how to think? We believe in
politics and we believe in our platform, but let’s keep in mind that we’re all
part of the human race and we’re all Americans, and Obama is our
Commander-in-Chief!”
One
of the three interviewed Black Republicans thought republicans should do what
Malcolm X did. That exercise is to go out into the field and rap to the people.
He added, if Malcolm were here today, he’d probably say go out into the field
and rap with the people.
“Ya
know…we as Republicans have to stop that… We have to speak with the people and
not to them or at them. I hear a lot of people in the Tea Party say they don’t
understand why (so-called) minorities don’t become republicans. Did anyone
question the fact that Martin Luther King was a Republican? No one cares!
Half
of em don’t even know about that. I don’t believe they actually care either.
Folks are tired of white republicans talking from D. C. and Harrisburg while
not even bothering to go to the neighborhoods and speak with the people.
It
should be very important that republicans focus on recruiting and speaking with
our neighbors and getting the word out. The other thing is the need to show up
at the community meetings. They don’t see us in the neighborhoods, we don’t
exist there.
And
we as African Americans need to understand that we’re dominant in many of the
world’s major sporting competitions and the music industry. What is not
understood is why we have an open door opportunity in this city to take over a
political party – we just sit and cuss and fuss to deaf ears.
The
Republican Party needs to understand that the demographic sands are shifting
very quickly right under our feet. And it is highly possible this party will
cease to exist by 2016.
Republicans
need to become more sophisticated. We are no longer working on a local, state,
or national platform. We are working now toward a global economy.
The
Party has by-passed the Black Community and gone straight to Latino’s, knowing
the Hispanic Population has increased drastically and continues to grow.
Republicans
feel that Blacks are so indoctrinated with the Democratic Party for so many
years, they’re a lost cause and they’d have a better chance with the Spanish
population because they are not so ingrained.”
Another
spin from Republicans is the worry concerning Blacks in the Democratic Party
using a famous named person on the ballot, while a bad incumbent who hasn’t
done anything outside or from inside an official political position, hides
behind the so-called famous person on the ballot. The premise is that we’re
going to go in and vote for everyone on this list because our so-called famous
person is on here as well.
These
are some of the reasons that we as Black Entrepreneurs have become Republicans.
We tell people to stop hitting the one lever; the straight lever, voting for
the entire list. We don’t want our people to be duped of hoodwinked either by
Democrats of Republicans.
“An
excellent opportunity has presented itself for the Republican Party. However,
they have not taken advantage of it because we are Black,” said another Philly
Party member of color.
“We
are not acknowledged as much as we should be – we’re put on the side until
needed – and that needs to stop.”
Many
Black Philadelphians have never met a Republican in the first place, let alone
a Black one. Republicans have traditionally been demonized in many Black
households. One of the Black Republicans related his first experience in South
Philly’s Wharton Street Center. He painted a vivid picture of his first contact
while chairing a community based board at the center.
The
Wharton Street Community Center has an historic and proudly rich history
relating to Abolition, Quakers, and Slavery – according to the chairman, back
in 1982 a lady came up to him and asked if he’d like to make history. She said
they wanted to hold a meeting of Black Republicans at the center for the first
time. The chairman, then a Democrat, was set aback.
“A
Black Republican” I had never seen or heard of a Black Republican!
He
itched with the curiosity and enthusiasm of seeing and meeting a one. He did
not even ask them for rent money. He just wanted to see if these particular
human beings existed. He said that he was surprised at how many actually showed
up.
“I
was stunned and flabbergasted! I sat in the back of the room because I was a
Democrat. The gentlemen who entered the hall were very well dressed, mannerly,
and neat. They were not drunkards or ‘Uncle-Tom-ish’
either. They just appeared to be well-to-do regular Black Men preparing for a
community Town Hall Meeting.
Then,
in walks this tall light-skinned Black Man. He was very well dressed in a
bright yellow satin shirt, silk tie of gold, and a beautiful maroon colored
semi-pin-striped suit. He was followed by neatly dressed happy faced rotund
white guy. They stepped right in front of the group and announced the
disbanding of this meeting.” The Chairman continued his story.
“The
two men were local Republican Party Officials. They said to everyone present ‘you’re
not having a meeting her tonight’ – I was shocked – ‘you all don’t have the
proper permission to do so.’ The next thing I knew, the group got up and left
the building without comment or complaint.
That’s
when I said to myself, they need someone like me in there. That was my first
contact with the Republican Party – on the Black side.”
The
third Black Philly Republican expressed his first-hand experience.
“We
had to go to the state party on three different occasions. It started for me
then. It was 2010 when I ran for governor. My position was:
“If
you have a complete compliment of other candidates listed on the Republican
Website, we, the Black Candidates ought to be listed there as well!” expressed
the Philadelphian.
“After
the first 2010 episode, I switched from being a Republican to an Independent.
The following year, I converted back to Republican because it was where I felt
comfortable. Becoming an Independent has proven to be a very lonely experience.
In
2012, I was asked to run for the second Congressional Seat. After I
relinquished the run, and agreed with them to do so for the US Senate Race. In
reality, I understood that I didn’t stand a chance in hell of winning.
In
order to help the Party, the best thing that I could do for the Black
Republicans was to run for the seat and raise the profile of the party – even
in the face of the United States President.
My
campaign allowed a strategic decision to oppose the repeal of the Affordable
Care Act. When that was done…all hell broke loose and everybody went ape-shit
crazy. All of the Republicans, the Tea Party, etc., were going behind our back,
saying that I’ve decided to drop out of the race; they recruited another
candidate. I was called “RINO” by the Tea Party. They said that I was
un-American, I was anti-American, and pro Obama.
Back
in the 1970’s, I was asked to join ’The
Junior Police’ by a back-in-the-day politician. He suggested that if we, my
‘Homies’ and me, supported his
campaign; would be able to go into the police academy; and when we graduated we
could look forward to sitting and working behind a desk until we turn
twenty-one.
In
Pennsylvania, back then, you weren’t allowed a gun until age twenty-one.
The
bastard, after the election, turned right around, and every Black person who
helped him by running him around in and throughout the neighborhoods,
introducing him, bringing him into the Black Churches and all…screwed us in
every way possible! I could not, for the life of me, understand why. I wasn’t
particularly politically savvy back then. But I finally did figure it all out
and finally got it. Someone was decent enough to ‘Hep’ me to what it was he did. He threw us to the side; under the
bus; out onto the street; in the garbage – we had suddenly become a load of
shit; taboo, refuse, the discarded shredding. This is the problem I had with
the Republican Party!
They
wanted to use, and use us again, and again. And once they did that and got what
they needed from us, it was to hell with you and your kind – not caring or
thinking about tomorrow or the future for that matter.”
The
Eldest participant in this discussion stood up and walked over to a nearby
window. The glazed look upon his face brought an abrupt, yet insidious
disposition when he espoused a bitter memory.
“We
all have to remember, up until the 1940’s; African Americans weren’t allowed
into a general hospital in any given city, town, or borough in the country. We
had to go strictly to a Black only hospital or get delivered by a midwife. If
the midwife didn’t keep any treatment, birth, or death records, you didn’t have
a record of birth. Fifty percent of Black Senior Citizens living today do not
have a real or original certificate of birth. Many simply didn’t know where
their birth certificates were. Republicans counted on that when they proposed the ‘Voter ID Act. If you can remember,
in 1956, the Hall of Records in Philly caught fire and was burned to the
ground. Of course, the fire destroyed a whole bunch of people’s birth records.
So how is the Voter ID law supposed to be fair to those people?”
The
second of the three interviewed Black Republicans stated if the Republicans had
come to us, any of us – and said:
“We
want you to help us defeat this Democratic President. The color of his skin
doesn’t matter.” He stood up from his chair with a smirking smile upon his face
and continued speaking.
“We’d
have responded – ‘At this particular time, going against President Obama, a
Black Man – I think you’d better think again.’” He continued speaking after
re-seating. “What they did was not include us or anybody in their decision
making – to not even ask us what we think or thought!
When
it came to pass, we…I laughed. I laughed at what they’d done with the Voter
ID Law because in knew that Black Folk are primarily moved by emotion.
But, when you think you’re going to take something from Black Folk, that’s when
we become your worst nightmare. I knew we were going to be a nightmare to
Republicans because only a fool would think that Black Folks wouldn’t go out
and do what they needed to do when they think their rights and liberties are
being threatened – that was surely the dumbest of moves.”
All
three interviewees agreed. The second Black Republican Party Member chimed,
“That’s one of the reason’s I try not to disrespect the Commander-In-Chief by referring to the ‘Affordable Care Act’ as “Obamacare!” It is not Obama Care!
Republicans have told me ‘we’re not voting for you because you don’t stand for
the repeal of the Affordable Care Act!’
Well,
don’t vote me – idiot!
They
are contradicting themselves by chastising Chairman
Harris for making a comment about respecting the ‘First African American President of The United States.’ First
of all, you need to understand, most of my heroes do not appear on a damn
stamp. If you really want to know – in reality, W.E.B. Dubois and Frederick
Douglas were the ultimate Republicans!
Now
what is a Republican?
If
I had to distinguish myself between a Frederick
Douglas Republican and a Reagan Republican, one could firmly believe the
choice would be a Frederick Douglas Republican!”
My
way or the highway?
It’s okay to be
a Republican or a Democrat without compromises. But you need to come to the
table – the art of legislation is about compromise – not the ability of
receiving rewards for contempt and complete stupidity. Will you not exercise
your right of choice and vote for the best candidate that you see fit?
We
shall see…
What is a
Democrat, a Republican, or a Statesman?
Politics:
The
art and science of the government of a state – public affairs of public life as
they relate to this – the opinions, principles, or policies by which a person
orders his participation in such affairs – scheming and maneuvering within a
group.
A Politician:
A
person engaged in politics and in the techniques of civil government – in a
derogatory sense – a person engaged in politics (is) merely for personal gain.
A Republican:
a)
A Republic is a form of government in which the head of state is an elected
president rather than a monarch; a form of government in which the sovereign
power is widely vested in the people either directly or through elected
representatives; a state with either of these forms a government; a society
whose members are equally engaged in the same activity, the republic or
letters. (publicus; public)
b)
A Republican is pertaining to, characteristics of or having the nature of a
republic; favoring a republic – republican of or belonging to the Republican
Party; a person who supports the form of government of a Republic Republican, a
member of the Republican Party.
The Republican
Party:
One
of the two main political parties of the U.S.A. (cf. Democratic Party). It was
formed (1854) by anti-slavery groups
to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act, and attracted many ‘Whigs,’ ‘Free-Soilers’ and those ‘Know-nothings’ who opposed slavery.
It
rapidly gained power in the north and held its first National Convention in
1856. Lincoln became the first Republican President in 1861. The Republicans
held the presidency from then until 1913, with the exception of the
administrations of 1885-89 and 1893-97 of Cleveland.
They
were weakened by the secession of the Liberal Republicans 1872 and the ‘Mugwumps’ in 1884.
In
the late 19th century the Republican Party favored ‘Protective Tariffs’ and the ‘Gold Standard.’ After the
administrations of Theodore Roosevelt and Taft (Taft-Hartley Act), the
secession of the ‘Progressive Party’
split the Republicans 1912. They returned to power in 1921-23 under Harding,
Coolidge, and Hoover, but were blamed for the economic crisis of 1929 and were
out of office until the administration of Eisenhower, 1953-61.
A Democrat:
a)
Democracy is a form of government by the people, usually through elected
representatives; a state so governed; social equality democracy, the principles
of the Democratic Party.
b)
A Democrat is someone who believes in Democracy; Democrat – a member of the Democratic
Party; Democratic pertaining to, characterized by, believing in, or practicing the
principles of, political Democracy – Egalitarian – Democratic of or belonging to
the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Party:
One
of the two main political parties of the U.S.A. (cf. Republican Party). Its origins
are traditionally linked with Jefferson’s Anti-Federalists who supported state’s
rights and the interests of workers and small farmers.
The
party too it’s present name and developed its organization during the presidency
of 1829-37 of Jackson.
The
Democrats won all presidential elections except three in the period of 1800-1860.
They were split in 1854 over slavery, became associated with the ‘Slave-owning South,’
and were out of office after the Civil War.
Campaigning
for lower Tariffs, they were again in power 1885-89 and 1893-97 under Cleveland,
and 1913-21 under Woodrow Wilson. Under Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933-45, the Democrats
were identified as the ‘Reform Party’ with the new deal. They remained in office
until 1953, and regained the presidency in 1961, but lost in again in 1968.
A Statesman:
A
person having a large degree of responsibility in the government of state. Such
a person when characterized by wisdom and broadmindedness – Statesmanlike; The characteristics
of a
WISE
STATESMAN!
Til Next Time…
Reference(s)
and Acknowledgements:
Black
Enterprise Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Weekly, Dictionary.com, and BoulwareEnterprises
~BoulwareEnterprises~
“Article Posting Sites”
"Amazon"
And
"Twitter"
*/
>
/*
"FAIRMOUNT"
Remember the Massive Fire at the
Philadelphia Zoo?
At 12:40 a.m. Sunday, the guards
returned and found flames on the roof. Fire and zoo officials pinned the blaze
on an electrical...
Pg. 63 - 'FAIRMOUNT' - Terror in
The Park!
*/
"The Spirit of the Soul and the Death of Morals: From Whence Comest Thou?" http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377562-the-spirit-of-the-soul-and-the-death-of-morals
“ONE PEOPLE, ONE PLANET, and THE
CHILDREN OF ONE GOD!”
“The Un-Obscure”
'The Triplets and One'
http://theeyeofcain.blogspot.com/
http://thehebrew-israelitesandjapan.blogspot.com/
http://theessenceofinvasionandannihila.blogspot.com/
http://yahvehthefatherthelosttribesoftwelve.blogspot.com
http://theeyeofcain.blogspot.com/
http://thehebrew-israelitesandjapan.blogspot.com/
http://theessenceofinvasionandannihila.blogspot.com/
http://yahvehthefatherthelosttribesoftwelve.blogspot.com
‘BookCrossing’
"The Spirit of The Soul and
The Death of Morals": Whence Comest thou? Paperback – Large Print, January
12, 2012
By
Mr. Gregory Vernon Boulware (Author)
A Philadelphia Story Teller:
“Howl Of An Angel”: Pt. 2 ‘The Loch of Satanus’
ASIAN VOICES
NHK website.
Sep. 4, Thu.
Hong Kong on the Brink
SAPPHYRE
JASON KOMITO
'Black Cowboys’
~ The Acrimonious, Gauche, and
Incongruous - ‘Ajantala’ ~
http://boulwareenterprises.wordpress.com/2014/09/30/the-acrimonious-gauche-and-incongruous-ajantala/
‘The One Thing I Know Is…’
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