Getting Back to Its Roots Means Increased Black Participation

The Republican Party of Texas’ web site proudly displays in its history:
“African Americans were one group of Texans that would consistently support the Republican Party in Texas in those early years. In fact, throughout Reconstruction, African Americans comprised about 90% of GOP membership, and 44 African Americans served in the Texas legislature as Republicans…The first ever state Republican convention that met in Houston on July 4, 1867 was predominantly African American in composition, with about 150 African American Texans attending, and 20 Anglos… The second State GOP Chairman, Norris Wright Cuney, an African-American from Galveston who led the Republican Party from 1883 to 1897, is said by State historians to have held “the most important political position given to a black man of the South in the nineteenth century.”

This is only the beginning of African American history and the Republican Party in the United States. In fact, similar and even greater comparisons can be made with Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida and states throughout the South.
So it seems a bit hypocritical when the leaders within the Republican Party leadership speak of going back to the fundamental principles and beliefs of the party without reaching back far enough to bring black Americans back to their true and historical roots. Unfortunately, there appears to be very little concern. Instead, the advice to the party is to pursue the Hispanic vote. A November 26, 2008 Newsmax.com article by James H. Walsh writes, “Its time for Republicans to turn their attention towards this crucial voting bloc. The Hispanic population is growing faster than whites or blacks. For more than 60 years, the nation’s black population has hovered at 13 percent of the total U.S. population…”

In addition, former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who is reportedly considering a run for the U.S. senate has also suggested increased effort to corral the Hispanic vote. President George W. Bush made an extreme blunder by appointing Mel Martinez to chair the Republican National Committee, which led to catastrophic results. Martinez’ greatest effort was join others like Sen. John McCain and President George W. Bush in a monumental effort to arrogantly force comprehensive immigration legislation down the throats of the American people! A November 30 NewsMax article quotes Gov. Jeb Bush as saying, “We can’t ignore large segments of our population and expect to win,” Bush said. “We can’t be the ‘old white-guy’ party. It’s just not going to work, the demographics go against us in that regard… Among Hispanic voters, I think we need to change the tone of the conversation as it relates to immigration. In Florida, we’ve not participated much in the chest pounding and the yelling and the screaming.” So having written off the African American community AGAIN, and apparently forever more, the party’s failed leadership prepares for the same, without attempting to restore the severed ties it once held.

For this reason alone, the essence of the entire Republican Party has been missing a very crucial element—its soul! When the average African American looks at this political organization, one sees a group of racist white men doing all they can to protect their money from the poor and the hungry! Originally organized by blacks and white abolitionists, the initial spark and driving force centered around a nucleus of God-given right to life, liberty and opportunity to pursue happiness for all men, regardless of skin color. During the time of slavery and a lengthy period afterwards, blacks-- particularly in the southern states, rallied to form this party and political movement.

Those God-given rights were irrefutable and of such a deeply-conceived concept that the nation went to war with itself to establish this great truth that all men were created equal! It was not just a complicated notion of good-hearted men, but the untiring work of devoted Bible-believing Christians—a group that today’s Republican Party leadership apparently regrets having been associated with—but as the most recent devastating political defeats infer, were no more than impostors incapable of convincing not just blacks, but the majority of the nation that their principles were best!

But if the Republican Party is to return to its true roots, it must have black people playing a major role in the decision-making processes. No one can truthfully say, nor expect success if the leadership falls short of initiating a “homecoming” for African Americans. At this point, though numbering in the millions, the true historical record strongly suggests that they are actually in exile. Being a people deeply-rooted in faith, they have been wandering in a wilderness of moral vacuity as devoted followers of the Democratic Party. Where can they go? Even some abused wives choose to stay with the cruel husband if they see no way out, and for black Americans, the only visible alternative has been to stay home! Even with the election of the first black president in Barack Obama, he is poised to only seal their fate in the tomb of Marxism.

You cannot create a lasting passion over material things, no! Not even taxes! Especially in a society where economic education is practically nil, and the mantra of rich vs. poor has been alowed to become louder than "one nation under God!" This is also because people will change as their own financial concern is satisfied. Besides, free things unfortunately will always be more attractive to the masses than freedom! It must be based upon issues which draw the fervent emotion of the human spirit such as whether a man would be a slave or a free citizen! Is there such a cause?

To be concise, the passion of the party has been wetted by the moderates and political heirs who obtain positions of influence not by merit, but by bloodline and pedigree, speaking and spouting principle without any idea of the fundamental basis for it. Being afraid of their own shadows, they readily undermine and beat up on those who truly hold the nation true to its foundation, and will not to sell out their principles and convictions just to be a part of the Washington insider class, but are simply appreciative in knowing that they are part of the Family of God-- the same God who gave them a nation to live and die for!

So in the memory of such great African Americans like Crispus Attucks, Prince Whipple, Peter Salem, and Oliver Cromwell during the American Revolution; Frederick Douglas, Dread Scott and Harriett Tubman of abolionist fame and those who worked to bring America to its point of success, I earnestly appeal to the Republican Party leadership to "remember the bridge that brought it over!"