Category Archives: POLITICS

African-American History, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

I Have Seen It All Now!!!!: An Encounter with a Nigerian Trump Supporter

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Yesterday, while driving to the gym, I found myself at a red light behind a vehicle with vanity plates that read Trummp. Yes, whoever was driving the car was so committed to displaying their allegiance to Donald J. Trump that they were willing to appear illiterate to the entire world.

Although it is not easy to identify a driver through a tinted back window. Yet, I was sure of what I had seen. My eyes told my brain that the driver must have been a member of the 80s R&B group Full Force because he had on some oversized stunner shades. Texturized hair shaped into a box haircut like Big Daddy Kane wore through the ’80s and ’90s. This person would have made a quantum leap in time if my eyes had not deceived me.

I was glad we both went into the same strip mall and appeared to be heading to the gym. I would soon have a clear view of who was driving the older model vehicle.

And you know what?

My eyes had not lied to me. The dark-skinned brother who emerged from the vehicle had on stunner shades, a very colorful shirt, far too tight pants, and enough gold to be mistaken for Mr. T. I recognized him as a regular at the gym and plotted to find an opening that would allow me to ask him if he were a Trump or is it Trummp supporter.

Although I rarely talk to anyone at the gym, I knew this brother spoke to any and everyone. Today would be the day that I engaged him.

In between sets, I learned he was Nigerian and a proud Trump supporter. He laughed at the mention of his misspelled license plate; the correct spelling was unavailable. I intently listened as he attempted to rationally explain his political position. He talked about economic benefits, his agreeance that all immigrants needed to be removed, the irony here was too much for me to stand, and his Christian duty. I attempted to delve into this brother’s logic by asking him why he thought most Blacks supported Harris and had been somewhat wedded to the Democratic Party since the 1934 off-year election of FDR’s first Presidential tenure.

I am unsure if I was more startled or saddened by his response.

In his opinion, the only reason Blacks supported Harris was because of Race, not substantive policy projections, and their refusal to abandon the Democratic Party was attributable to collective laziness. Such disrespect from Continental Africans has never sat well in my spirit, and I have rarely been able to resist the compulsion to hold my peace.

My counter to his ahistorical statements offended him. Anger was stitched across his face when I told him that his African ass would not be here had it not been for those lazy Blacks. He was bewildered by my assertion that morality, decency, and socially responsible individualism have rarely been applied, let alone monopolized by white Christians. Such values have been drilled into the minds of Blacks who attend any semblance of a legitimate Black church. I took the scenic route in explaining to him that he was a fool for throwing his support behind a lot of far-right racists whose language, antics, and intentions have forced traditional Republican Party members to abandon ship.

I closed my rant with the following request for all non-white Trump supporters. When those folks show you what they really think about you, stand there and take that disrespect, and you should not look for our assistance.

Rest assured that the so-called Christian Nationalist train that Trump is guiding is never late. It definitely never misses a stop when it comes to delivering unconscionable disrespect for non-Blacks who are not willing to openly accept them monopolizing anything worth having in this nation.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American History, African-American Males, African-American Men, Black Males, Black Men, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, RACE

Are Black Men Suffering From Stockholm Syndrome?: The Rise of Black Men Willing to “Make America Great Again”

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I was recently ensnared in one of the most peculiar conversations a Professor could have with a student regarding the fast-approaching Presidential election. That sense of peculiarity turned into concern when I encountered others expressing their intention to vote for Donald J. Trump. This political move is actual support for Trump and his low-information racist brigade of racists in their attempts to “Make America Great Again.” Simply put, there is a significant population of Black men determined to cut off their noses to spite their faces by voting for white supremacy and its various manifestations.

One particular discussion with a young man determined to “Make America Great Again” led me to believe he was suffering from Stockholm syndrome. The same mental disorder that ensnared Patricia (Patty) Hearst after being kidnapped by the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) in 1974.

The granddaughter of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst attributed her support of the SLA robbing of several banks to Stockholm syndrome, a malady that mental health experts term a psychological response by abduction victims who develop a bond with their captor via brainwashing.

It appears that the Black men willing to vote for Donald J. Trump are due to a perfect storm of historical illiteracy flowing from an absence of relevant education, miseducation, and an astounding inability to understand the never-ending battle for politico-economic control. After all, the colonists’ desire for political power and wealth birthed this nation.

The never-ending resistance of majority white public school boards regarding the inclusion of the Black experience has left several generations of Blacks without an understanding of Jim Crow. One only needs to listen to the illogical hair-brained assertions of pseudo-Black Studies intellectuals that have proliferated over the last few years as if they were Gremlins who have found a large body of water to dive into for verification. They have no idea that their support of Donald J. Trump is akin to turning a blind eye to Mississippi bigots while they teach Blacks life lessons.

Yet, those proudly expressing their desire to cast a vote for the sake of “Making America Great Again” a synonym for returning to an era that Rayford Logan termed The Nadir, a moment where rapes, lynchings, abductions, and burnings of Blacks were the rule of law. And before pseudo-historians assert that they were members of the Democratic Party, this is true. Yet, that spirit of unregenerate evil moved in mass toward the Republican Party during the Southern Campaign. Today’s Democratic Party is no more reflective of the old Democratic Party than today’s Republican Party reflects the values of old. No William Lloyd Garrison, John Brown, Maria Stewart, David Walker, or Frederick Douglass are found in their midst.

Time is running out for Black men to reach an understanding that this political matter has nothing to do with Kamala Harris and her racial identity; it has everything to do with the realization that your best interests are represented by those supporting unionization, the pathway to a solid middle-class, and the monitoring of those who have to this day done their best to solidify their privileged position by rigging the system in their favor.

Although I stand with those who maintain that Black men are not a monolithic population, I also understand that the interests of most Black men are best served at the present moment by the Democratic Party ticket. An inability to recognize this fact hints at you not understanding the stony road our people have trod and the long way we must go in the battle to ensure that Black people have accessible pathways for individual and collective growth.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American Males, African-American Men, Black Males, Black Men, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

What Kamala Harris Should Do If She Want To Secure The Votes of Black Men

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My position as a Professor paves the way for me to be involved in far too many discussions of Race. Usually, these intense discussions occur with Black folks who know nothing significant about Race. One thing is for sure, there is always some issue that reminds me of Black folk’s inability to appropriately analyze politico-economic decisions and then make self-advantageous decisions. I am tired of repeatedly seeing Black folks become distracted by minutiae that leads them to waste the scant political power they possess.

As mentioned above, if given enough time, some issues will arise to remind me of how inefficient my people are when it comes to thinking about Race and politics. The most recent issue is the ascension of Kamala Harris.

As a writer focused on Black men and Race, these moments resemble a fertile field. As soon as Kamala Harris’s ascension to the top of the Democratic Party’s ticket became a possibility, I heard a litany of commentary from Black men. Black men issued the following remarks.

  • She is not Black, so I will not be voting for her.
  • She has locked up so many brothers as a prosecutor.
  • What has she done for Black people from her current White House position?

I avoid the use of anecdotal evidence in my writing. So, I distrusted commentary from friends and family pledging to vote against anyone running against Trump as much as those dedicated to not voting for Harris under any circumstances. Instead of using anecdotal evidence, I waited until the polls, studies, and surveys appeared.

A recent survey from Howard University, I prefer to use data from Black sources, verified my belief that the most significant weakness for Kamala Harris’ political aspirations was found among Black men. According to the Howard University poll, Black men between the ages of 18 and 49 are not as supportive of Harris as other segments of Black America. Only 75% of the above demographic supported her, while 16% opposed.

Compared to Black America’s reliable support for the Democratic Party that began with the off-year election (1934) of FDR’s first term and increased significantly with JFK’s White House tenure, the relatively tepid support for Kamala Harris is intriguing. Does it mean that the extended gender wars have finally pushed Black males to hate Black women, or is this a sign of long overdue frustration with Democratic Party politicians who neither address nor provide any legislative solutions to the many socioeconomic problems that have shadowed Black men since the first parcel of “half-free” African men were sold to the Jamestown colony? It is not difficult to believe that many Black men are not only frustrated with their present lives but also see no solution to the racial discrimination and grinding poverty they experience daily.

To the chagrin of American politicians, Black men understand that the election of Kamala Harris or anyone else will not immediately solve their problems. At best, Black men are a means to political power for politicians who offer nothing in exchange.

Unfortunately, it appears that the Harris campaign’s most persuasive argument for wooing Black men is not legislative promises; it is highlighting Donald Trump’s wild attacks on the Central Park Five or racial discrimination charges against the real estate tycoon. If nothing else, this proves that American politicians still do not understand that the most efficient manner to garner the support of Black men is no different than the means they use on other groups. Directly state what you are offering them for their vote. Anything less simultaneously speaks volumes about politicians’ view of Black men and makes them unworthy of our vote.

I hope that Kamala Harris’ campaign learns this sooner than later because the stakes are high.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

 

African-American Males, African-American Men, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN

Wendell Pierce Implores Black Men to Support Kamala Harris

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Often omitted in the chaos surrounding the looming Harris vs. Trump Presidential election are discussions regarding when and where Black men enter. Far too frequently, political campaigns operate without much consideration for Black America in general and Black men in particular. It is almost as if we are invisible, and our pressing concerns fail to rise to the level of being after-thoughts. So, it was pleasing to hear famed actor Wendell Pierce bring up the Black men during an interview at the Democratic National Convention.

Pierce encouraged Black men to vote by reminding them of the following.

There’s blood on that ballot box. Remember those who died in the rivers of Alabama and Mississippi. For them, do the honor and vote.

Black males could be Trump’s Trojan Horse due to them feeling ignored yet again by the Democratic Party and left behind by a world that seemingly promotes the rights of every group except for heterosexual males. Further problematizing this matter are the raging wars between Black men and Black women. More than a few brothers have succinctly expressed their frustrations by stating that they are tired of Black women’s shit.

If Black male issues are left unaddressed, Kamala Harris’ historic White House bid may very well become collateral damage by them either not casting a ballot or unwisely issuing a protest vote for Donald J. Trump.

To his credit, the politically astute Pierce recognizes this matter and the potential fallout from Black men refusing to support the Harris campaign. The celebrated actor poses an interesting question to the Black men who have taken a less-than-desired position regarding Kamala Harris and what she symbolizes in the following quote.

What would make you so fearful of someone who was so beloved of you, who was so loving to you, like your mother and your grandmother and your aunts and your sisters, that you cannot be proud and embolden yourself when you see someone from your community rise up?

Although Pierce’s question holds the potential to pierce the psyche of Black men, it fails at its assignment due to the opposing views that so many Black men hold toward those who failed at their job of nurturing them as children and respecting their manhood in the present moment. To the chagrin of the Democratic Party, a significant population of Black men are willing to cut off their nose to spite their face.

Most agree that such a political strategy is foolish and bound to compromise prior accomplishments. Yet, it is considered a reasonable position by many frustrated Black men. Unfortunately for the Harris Presidential campaign, I do not see the Black men who have decided to oppose her for reasons ranging from her bi-racial identity to her being a Black female, retreating from their dogged position. Such a posture is one that I am unsure that any political party can counter because, at its core, it is illogical yet speaks volumes about how troubled a significant population of Black men are now.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

African-American Men, POLITICS, RACE

Black Is and Black Ain’t: The Irony of Kamala Harris and Black Folks

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I have been around Black folks long enough to realize that few things divide us, like political matters. One only needs to revisit the historic election of Barack Hussein Obama to the Oval Office for verification of how Black folks can split over political issues. Despite the revisionist tales of Obama’s victory, not even his ascension to the highest office in the land garnered the full support of Blacks, particularly Black men.

Then it was Obama; today, Kamala Harris divides my people. For clarity, please let me elaborate on who I am talking about when I say my people. The Blacks I am referring to are encapsulated by at least one of the following.

  • Non-wealthy/economically elite
  • They live paycheck to paycheck.
  • There has been some entanglement, directly or indirectly, with the justice system.

If any of the above represents you, it is nice to meet you, cousin.

Anyone versed in the lengthy history of Race in America is unsurprised that Black folks’ foremost issue with Kamala Harris revolves around her racial identity. Racial issues dividing Blacks in a white world is ironic. My folks railing against Kamala appear to have remixed Kendrick Lamar’s recent hit Not Like Us into a wicked Kamala diss track titled She Not Like Us.

Although there is no logical room to argue against assertions that Kamala is technically not “Black.” If being a descendant of previously enslaved Americans is your definition of blackness, Kamala does not meet that standard. I pray that after the euphoric high from such an inconsequential win, Kamala’s opponents realize that their political victory is the equivalent of worthless fool’s gold destined to lead them down an unproductive path. Those who previously sat at a crossroads of racial identity, loyalty, politics, and priorities can tell you that reliance on racial identity as a guide for political decisions inevitably ends in frustration and failure. History teaches us that racial identity is an unreliable indicator of political priorities. Lest we forget that racial allegiance played a significant part in some Black’s support of Clarence Thomas’ bid for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, an appointment that has haunted Black America for the past thirty-three years. 

This brief essay is less about soliciting support for Kamala Harris and more about directing my people to weigh political candidates on their political positions. Many of my relatives have issued intense vitriol toward Kamala Harris due to her lack of blackness and allowed that to overshadow the undeniable dangers presented by her political opponent. Ignoring Donald Trump’s political platform on matters such as promised complete immunity for law enforcement officers due to Kamala Harris’ lack of blackness promises long-term harm for my kin when one considers their frequent interactions with marauding police officers. If my people who have had repeated run-ins with law enforcement officers, and you know who you are, were looking at this political season through a lens focused on political priorities that should matter to you, you would undoubtedly support Kamala (not Black enough for you) Harris over the alternative.

It is time my people took an introductory identity political course focused on understanding political and economic interests. For the life of me, I cannot understand how my people allow such a juvenile matter as Kamala Harris’ racial identity to block their view of a bigger picture of worker rights, pay, the ability to unionize, and paths to a middle-class existence.

But I guess that your crazy asses can continue down a familiar path that never benefits you. As you consider casting your vote this political season, please remember the old saying, “If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.”

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture 2024.

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