Black Conservative Declaration
© February, 2004 by Leondray D. Gholston
In order to dissolve the shackles of our captivity and realize the full measure of our freedom, we the Black Conservatives stand to be counted.
As the grandchildren of bondage we have witnessed the “Emancipation” of our bodies from the tyranny of slavery, Jim Crow, and other “Ordinances of Hate”. The “prize” of intrinsic governance over our own work by our own authority has been realized. No longer are we chattel to come and go or pluck and sow at the capricious dictate of anyone else.
By our centuries of struggle we have amassed and paid in full the “blood money” of our Liberty’s ransom. Many of our people continue to carry the last and largest of chains. This chain is not forged of iron but rather of “ideas”. In doing this they have imposed an obscure litmus test to determine the “blackness” of an individual, action, or idea. Thereby creating divisions, acrimony, and misguided the youth and many members of our community. To this end our people have become to ourselves the most brutal of overseers. As evidence the following is submitted before God our Judge and the jury of our collective conscience.
Many of our people have held fast to and perpetuate the myth of a monolithic and liberal mindset.
THEREBY:
Denying our selves the right of intellectual freedom and expression.
Continuing the cruel practice of internal segregation.
Ostracizing and affixing epithets to our best and brightest.
Behaving contrary to our conservative upbringing.
Misusing our gifts, skills, and “shared fortunes”.
Failing to pass on the crucial inheritance of our family values.
Failing to support our families, schools, and businesses.
Thinking no more as valiant people but rather as a populace of victims.
Turning from opportunity and no longer producing “giants” in our collective society.
Allowing our “community” to be marginalized and repeatedly taken for granted.
Becoming lethargic in the practice of our collective Faith.
Our collective responsibility and charter is to enjoy and pass on to our posterity the complete measure of both freedom and success. It is to this end that we unite and pull together with our collective and undivided hope, wisdom, and abilities. The need has never been greater for the unity of Black Conservatism and to ensure equal footing in the mind, body, and sprit of Black America. Before we can advance together we must stand together, and before that we must recognize and respect each other.
We are Black. We are Conservative. We are neither “sell outs” nor “house servants” nor are we “brainwashed”. We represent a growing segment of both the Black and moreover the American social-political landscape. We are not going to fade into oblivion. We are and always have been a part of our community and are equal successors to the legacy of Fredrick Douglas, J.C. Watts, Sojourner Truth, Dr. King, Madam C.J. Walker, Colin Powel, Condoleeza Rice, Charles Drew, and all the “giants” that we have produced.
For these reasons we deem it fit and proper to assume our rightful place among ALL peoples and to declare and establish our complete independence from the misguided mantras that have made indictments contained in this document possible.
1Posted with permission of Leon D. Gohlston who resides in Aurora, Colorado and is a member of the Colorado Black Republican Forum
In order to dissolve the shackles of our captivity and realize the full measure of our freedom, we the Black Conservatives stand to be counted.
As the grandchildren of bondage we have witnessed the “Emancipation” of our bodies from the tyranny of slavery, Jim Crow, and other “Ordinances of Hate”. The “prize” of intrinsic governance over our own work by our own authority has been realized. No longer are we chattel to come and go or pluck and sow at the capricious dictate of anyone else.
By our centuries of struggle we have amassed and paid in full the “blood money” of our Liberty’s ransom. Many of our people continue to carry the last and largest of chains. This chain is not forged of iron but rather of “ideas”. In doing this they have imposed an obscure litmus test to determine the “blackness” of an individual, action, or idea. Thereby creating divisions, acrimony, and misguided the youth and many members of our community. To this end our people have become to ourselves the most brutal of overseers. As evidence the following is submitted before God our Judge and the jury of our collective conscience.
Many of our people have held fast to and perpetuate the myth of a monolithic and liberal mindset.
THEREBY:
Denying our selves the right of intellectual freedom and expression.
Continuing the cruel practice of internal segregation.
Ostracizing and affixing epithets to our best and brightest.
Behaving contrary to our conservative upbringing.
Misusing our gifts, skills, and “shared fortunes”.
Failing to pass on the crucial inheritance of our family values.
Failing to support our families, schools, and businesses.
Thinking no more as valiant people but rather as a populace of victims.
Turning from opportunity and no longer producing “giants” in our collective society.
Allowing our “community” to be marginalized and repeatedly taken for granted.
Becoming lethargic in the practice of our collective Faith.
Our collective responsibility and charter is to enjoy and pass on to our posterity the complete measure of both freedom and success. It is to this end that we unite and pull together with our collective and undivided hope, wisdom, and abilities. The need has never been greater for the unity of Black Conservatism and to ensure equal footing in the mind, body, and sprit of Black America. Before we can advance together we must stand together, and before that we must recognize and respect each other.
We are Black. We are Conservative. We are neither “sell outs” nor “house servants” nor are we “brainwashed”. We represent a growing segment of both the Black and moreover the American social-political landscape. We are not going to fade into oblivion. We are and always have been a part of our community and are equal successors to the legacy of Fredrick Douglas, J.C. Watts, Sojourner Truth, Dr. King, Madam C.J. Walker, Colin Powel, Condoleeza Rice, Charles Drew, and all the “giants” that we have produced.
For these reasons we deem it fit and proper to assume our rightful place among ALL peoples and to declare and establish our complete independence from the misguided mantras that have made indictments contained in this document possible.
1Posted with permission of Leon D. Gohlston who resides in Aurora, Colorado and is a member of the Colorado Black Republican Forum
posted by Robert at 7:17 PM
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