Category Archives: PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020

POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020, RACE

DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS: WHY BLACK PROTESTORS WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DO WHAT TRUMP SUPPORTERS DID AT THE CAPITOL

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Now, the world don’t move
To the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you,
May not be right for some.

(Different Strokes Theme Song)

It is a complicated proposition to get Black children to understand the concept of injustice. In fact, injustice and differences based on racial identity are some of the most foul-tasting things that Blacks, regardless of age, must endure. Despite what many may think, the swallowing of injustice is not an acquired taste. One never gets used to it.

There is no reasonable way of arguing against the reality that, as the Different Strokes theme song pinned above informed us, there are different strokes for different folks in America. Although this reality is unfair, it is the only one available to Black America.

As I watched the hostile takeover of the Capitol yesterday, I, along with millions of other fair-minded Americans, mused that under no circumstances would Blacks be allowed to do such things by any law enforcement agency. A Black uprising would have been dealt with in the same manner as Nat Turner’s rebellion, the Stono Rebellion, or John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. Although I am well-aware that members of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense entered California’s State Capitol with weapons in 1967, the Panther invasion was child’s play compared to the attempted coup delusional Trump supporters failed to execute in front of a gawking world.

What occurred yesterday was only possible by Whites who have been privileged their entire lives. The treasonous activities of yesterday displayed a fervent belief that this is their nation in the mind of Trump supporters, and they are determining their destiny in the same manner that the Founding Fathers broke away from British tyranny.

Despite what many may wish were true, the harsh reality is that yesterday’s events are little more than what occurs to the minds of some White citizens who have lived in a world where white power is buttressed by a white privilege that has paved a path to white politico-economic monopolies. When this biased and unfair system is disrupted, well, all hell will break loose. We must not forget that these people were allowed to behave in the manner that they behaved in yesterday; there is no allowance for such activities from Blacks, the most oppressed group in this nation’s history.

At this moment where people around the globe are aghast at Trump supporters’ attempt to overturn a democratic election through force, Black America looks on with amused contempt and envy at the appearance of yet another unmistakable articulation of a blanket White privilege that covers all. In the end, it is yet another reminder that the world is unfair, and America decidedly bends towards whiteness, as it always has, regardless of one’s politics, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. I guess that it is true that

The world don’t move
To the beat of just one drum,
What might be right for you,
May not be right for some.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2021.

 

African-American Males, African-American Men, Black Males, Manhood, Race, and Culture Interactive, MRCi, POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020, RACE

What the GET YOUR BOOTY TO THE POLL initiative tells us about apolitical black males

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  • Please join us tonight (10/8/2020) @ 7:30 EST — 6:30 CST as we discuss this topic. Click here to gain entry.

Although it may be difficult to believe, I have moments where black males of all ages challenge my sanity. Trust me when I say that the words of trusted friend William A. Foster IV’s comment that

The black intellectual is the loneliest person on the planet

resonates within my soul. In this era of “wokeness,” my encounters with black men who prefer to pontificate about irrelevant revisionist history topics instead of developing liberation are increasing.

Experience has taught me that some Black males have doused themselves in outlandish conspiracy theories and revisionist history interpretations informed by nothing more than ridiculous half-baked YouTube and Facebook videos. I have learned that such people prefer unproductive conversations that hide their cowardice behind crazy talk and unrealistic goals. I am convinced that if Frederick Douglass were alive, he would address these loud-mouth phrasemongers with the following admonishment.

It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.

I am confident that not even Frederick Douglass could move such people beyond endless discussions of irrelevant historical facts that hold no potential to liberate blacks.

Such people foolishly believe that their careless talk paints them as a formidable opponent to mighty whites. The alluded to idiocy is an obvious sign of their unwillingness to abandon their rabble-rousing in favor of meaningful politics. I have tired of planting black liberation seeds in barren soil.

It appears as if I am not the only one frustrated with black males’ disengagement with the political arena. As the 2020 election season approaches, the usual groundswell of getting out the Vote is occurring. Predictably, few of these endeavors target black male voters.

My how things have changed

The latest group to address this issue of getting black males to the Poll are exotic dancers. Yes, you read that correctly, a rising tide of exotic dancers are imploring apolitical black men to get their booty to the Poll.

The women behind Get Your Booty to the Poll may be able to reach black men who have ignored standard voter registration drive initiatives. This latest effort to get out the black male vote is innovative, intriguing, and problematic.

Although the Get Your Booty to the Poll effort is notable, it raises troubling questions regarding why some black males are so afraid to confront other groups on the political battlefield? The prophetic words of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Chicago-branch of the Black Panther Party, should haunt many black males. According to Hampton,

War is nothing but politics with bloodshed, and politics is nothing but war without bloodshed.

I reserve the coward label for extreme circumstances.

How strange would it be if the missing ingredient in getting black males to the Poll is booty cheeks? Most of us could never fathom that instead of political education classes and voter registration drives, our efforts would have been much more productive had we used sultry black women to swing on poles with the words “Vote! Vote!” on their left and right cheeks?

The above leads me to ask the following question.

Have black males fallen into a bottomless abyss of foolishness and political ineptitude?

It is incredibly disappointing that our best hope to grasp the attention of apolitical black males is by writing the word Vote on the booty cheeks of scantily clad strippers. Lord knows that I wish that we weren’t in the midst of such an important political season; however, this moment mandates unprecedented voter turnout for apparent reasons. It appears that the nation’s future direction may be determined by how many black males are coaxed into a voting booth by booty cheeks.

I guess that in the end, a vote is a vote after all.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2020.

 

POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020, RACE

Dog Whistles Delivered Via Bullhorns: The Case of Donald J. Trump and White Nationalism

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I am sure that not many were surprised at Donald J. Trump’s inability to answer the following question by Presidential debate moderator Chris Wallace in front of an audience of millions around the globe.

Are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups?” asked moderator Chris Wallace during the debate, adding, “And to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha [Wis.] and as we’ve seen in Portland [Ore.]?

As expected, Donald J. Trump fumbled yet another opportunity to partially redeem his image as an embattled figure. I am sure that there were many undecided voters seeking a reason to support Trump who cringed when he failed to definitively state his opposition to white nationalism.

Maybe, Trump deserves kudos for offering an indecipherable response that translated into unyielding support for white nationalist groups. Democratic Vice-Presidential candidate Kamala Harris was quick to term Trump’s failure to denounce White Nationalism as “a dog whistle through a bullhorn.” In many ways, Trump’s response was akin to an open letter of support for white nationalist groups.

At this moment, no one, regardless of their political leanings, is shocked by Trump’s embrace of white nationalism. What Trump intended as a reminder to white nationalists should serve as a deciding-factor to undecided voters. There may be no more obvious reminder of Trump’s questionable character, priorities, judgment, and worldview.

If I were provided an opportunity to address undecided voters, I would remind them that character is an extremely important factor when leaders are being chosen. It is character that serves as an innate moral compass that equips them to weigh conflicting factors that impede the path to simple decisions.

After last night’s performance, there should be no doubt whatsoever that Donald J. Trump does not have the requisite character to rise to the occasion of leading the free world. I hope that undecided voters shudder at the prospect of such inept leadership and immorality residing in the White House for another term. In all likelihood, this nation will not emerge from such a travesty as the world leader that it has been for decades.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2020.

 

 

POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020, RACE

Platinum Plan Don: Why Black America Must Reject Donald Trump’s Desperate Pleas for Support

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In a long-forgotten moment of brilliance, famed TV problem-solver Dr. Phil McGraw issued the following truism.

The greatest predictor of future behavior is relevant past behavior.

This insightful observation came to the forefront of my mind when I listened to Donald J. Trump’s “Platinum Plan” that has been targeted at Black voters in several key battleground states.

During a recent campaign event sponsored by “Black Voices for Trump”, the embattled political figure and failed businessman issued promises to Black America as if he were handing out candy bars.

According to Trump, if re-elected to the Oval Office, he would deliver the following to an economically struggling Black America.

If you vote Republican over the next four years, we will create 3 million new jobs for the Black community, open 500,000 new black-owned businesses, increase access to capital in Black communities by $500 billion.

As president, I will work to advance racial equity across the American economy and build back better. I promise to fight for Black working families and direct real investments to advance racial equity as part of our nation’s economic recovery.

Trump spoke as if he were addressing lowly enslaved Africans who solely depended on him for their survival. If one closed their eyes, it would not be a stretch to envision Massa Trump placing an extra portion of pork fat in the meal ration. As if his pandering could not be any worse, Trump promised to make Juneteenth a federal holiday while making a passing reference to Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbrey.

Let’s be clear on this matter, Trump’s previous behavior during his first-term in the White House has left much too be desired from Black Americans. If we apply Dr. Phil McGraw’s quote that “the greatest predictor of future behavior is relevant past behavior” to Trump’s record, Blacks would have to be the very definition of naïve and politically immature to place any faith in the alluded to Platinum Plan.

Let us be clear on this matter, Trump’s desperate attempt to win the fast-approaching Presidential election will cause him to issue promises that he has no intention of honoring. One needs to look no further than his self-serving pandering to anyone or entity that he perceives capable of bolstering his crumbling foundation.

I pray with every fiber of my being that Black voters are not naïve enough to believe for one second that the boatloads of promises being made by the Trump campaign hold any real promise for the amelioration of their economic poverty and political powerlessness. From my perspective, it is impossible for a single-member of Black America to advance a logical argument in support of Donald J. Trump’s platform, an impossibility that is reinforced by his penchant to pander to White Nationalists on a Monday morning and Black America Monday night.

In many ways, Trump is a political chameleon whose changing colors are dictated by what needs to be presented to maintain power. It does not take much intelligence to sift through his rhetoric and determine that the most important element in Donald J. Trump’s life is not advancing Conservative politics, it is extending his ability to serve as a grifter seeking to steal everything in sight.

For Blacks on both sides of the aisle seeking a path to Black uplift, Donald J. Trump’s past behavior indicates that future decisions will not provide a reasonable path to uplift. Although I would like to say that my community should proceed with caution. The truth of the matter is that they should not proceed at all as Trump’s Platinum Plan is merely another form of fools gold.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2020.

POLITICS, PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN 2020, RACE

“Let’s Get This Right”: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Reach Out To Black Men Regarding the Criminal Justice System

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At times it appears that African-American male voters are a forgotten commodity. This invisibility extends to a Democratic Party who have historically been incapable of securing any political victories without the overwhelming support of Black America. In recent times, Black male voters have been rendered invisible by even the Democratic Party. This invisibility is heightened by the rhetoric of political pundits who remind all that Black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party.

Although I do agree that the political support of Black women will be crucial in the fast-approaching presidential election, the Democratic Party is courting danger if they fail to address Black male voters. We must not forget that Black male voters cast 13% of their ballots for Donald J. Trump. Let’s keep in mind that Black males were over three times as likely to vote for Donald J. Trump than their female counterparts. I am sure that you agree that in an election that is as tight and important as this one that it is crucial that Black males get out to vote.

It appears that someone within the Democratic Party has recognized the crucial nature of the Black male vote as it plans to debut two barbershop talk political ads titled “Trust” and “Get This Right” specifically aimed at this population. The overture is much-needed as Black male voters have often been a forgotten element in the political arena. However, as noble as the outreach effort is, it is the message that will be communicated that is more important.

Let’s face facts, the combination of Joe Biden, the creator of the 1994 Crime Bill and Kamala Harris, a former prosecutor has many Black men “feeling some kind of way.” For Black men, the foremost victims of centuries of mass incarceration schemes that began the moment stolen Africans arrived in British mainland colonies to present-day, such a political ticket is less than desirable. Make no mistake about it, Black men are not only aware but also concerned by the Biden/Harris ticket. Many are so unenthused by the Democratic Party ticket that they are planning to forego participation in this year’s election; many have expressed their intentions to support Trump.

It can not be emphasized enough how important it is for Democratic Party leaders to divest from a baseless belief that Black men are (a) unaware of the issues impacting their lives and (b) incapable of withholding support from the Biden/Harris ticket if both candidates do not address prior actions and statements on matters that are of supreme importance to Black men. If provided the opportunity, I would advise the Democratic Party to bring forth substantive offerings as Black men are far too savvy to be mesmerized by mundane political jargon.

The second ad titled “Get This Right” focuses on Joe Biden’s new plan to correct his historic missteps regarding criminal justice. Huge-swaths of Black America has neither forgotten nor forgiven then-Senator, Joe Biden, for his draconian crime bill that in all probability negatively impacted every African-American either directly or indirectly. Now, a repackaged Joe Biden is seeking to court African-American male voters with a platform that revolves around criminal justice reform. Unlike Senator Biden, Presidential hopeful Biden wishes to do away with mandatory minimum sentences as well as reforming the cash bail system and private prisons. Presidential hopeful Biden articulates the following in the “Get This Right” ad.

I believe my criminal reform justice package is as strong, or stronger than anyone else than anyone has proposed.  

Of course, only time will tell if Black men will be moved by the Democratic Party’s outreach effort. Let’s be honest, the repercussions of Joe Biden’s 1994 Crime Bill was an affront that impacted Black men first and foremost as it facilitated their sons, nephews, friends, and associates, if not them directly. For most, the new ads will be received as little more than political posturing aimed at securing their vote. I guess that the Democratic Party’s recognition of the Black male voter is some form of progress as they have historically been ignored during the majority of national-level political races.

This recent recognition is not much in the grand scheme of things, however, with all things considered, it is something.

Dr. James Thomas Jones III

© Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2020.