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Oh No! Not Again! Time to Address GOP Racial Insensitivity
On January 4, 2012, on the Black Olive Branch Blog , I wrote a piece which pointed out Santorum's false assumptions regarding Blacks in Iowa being on the welfare rolls. I suggested he take a time-out to reassess the validity of his assertions. Now to hear Newt toot the same?
In Gingrich's own words:
More people are on food stamps today because of Obama's policies than ever in history. I would like to be the best paycheck president in American history. Now, there's no neighborhood I know of in America where if you went around and asked people, "Would you rather your children had food stamps or paychecks," you wouldn't [SIC] end up with a majority saying they'd rather have a paycheck.
And so I'm prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I'll go to their convention and talk about why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps. And I'll go to them and explain a brand new Social Security opportunity for young people, which should be particularly good for African-American males - because they're the group that gets the smallest return on Social Security because they have the shortest life span.
WOW! Not sure to which African-American community Mr. Gingrich is referring - or if he believes all Blacks live in the same communal cluster.
Surely he also knows not all Blacks are on food stamps. In fact according to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 28 percent of households that receive food stamps are Black to 59 percent that are White. Of the number of households in America 78 percent of American households are White and 12 percent Black, within a U.S. population of 72.4 percent White and 12.6 percent Black.
Whatever point he was trying to make, it got lost in racial stereotyping and erroneous assumptions.
Both Santorum and Gingrich are playing to a certain Republican base which may believe this to be true. Perhaps even they are hoping that those who do not know the facts, will not take the time to research the percentages for themselves. Whichever of these is true, it is clear that it is a well orchestrated plan to get the votes of White fiscal conservatives. Aside from this, what is clear is that there is something that is causing Republican presidential hopefuls like Santorum and Gingrich to feel very comfortable in making such false assertions.
The answer is simple.
We have not dealt adequately with the issue of racial insensitivity within the Republican Party. Why we have not done this is because anytime you mention anything that may be remotely racial, you risk earning yourself a scarlet letter which reads "troublemaker" or you get accused of being "overly sensitive" or "race baiting" - all of which leads to political blackballing. So regardless of whether you are Black or White, there is the tendency to just keep quiet - going along to get along.
As National Chair of the National Republican African American Caucus, a part of my responsibilities is to address any issue which impacts our membership as Republicans or in general. This is not a glamorous role. It puts me at the forefront to deal with what others do not have to address. I am also a candidate for the Third District Congress in Tennessee, which puts me between a rock and a hard place in balancing the two. While I am certain to also run the risk of turning some voters off, I cannot sacrifice what is right and in the best interest of the party for votes. So win, lose or draw, I have to step into the national chair's role and try to help my beloved party to see that there is a very serious problem that is underlying in all of this. That problem is not going away - it cannot be ignored - it has to be addressed. Racial insensitivity is an issue within the Republican Party. This is nothing new. Back in 2004, I wrote the book Black Eyes Shut-White Lips Sealed, which in part dealt with this dilemma. What we are seeing and hearing on the Republican presidential trail is as a result of this not being dealt with, and the fear of most African American Republicans who still align with the core values of the party to dare touch it, even with a ten foot pole. So what has happened is that there is a level of comfort within the party for some to say or make whatever assertions they wish because they know there are no real internal forces within the GOP which dare chasten them - even when they are wrong to the detriment of the party. Make no doubt about it, racial insensitivity is detrimental to the Republican Party because it can be misinterpreted as racism. You do not necessarily have to be a racist to be racially insensitive. You don't have to hate Blacks or call someone the "N" word - you don't have to own slaves, nor do you have to demand separate but equal accommodations. Racial insensitivity is about false assumptions that ignore facts. It is a perception that is assumed to be true of all Blacks. It is a clustering of all Blacks or any other race, into one idea of who they are as people. But it also is a failure to get to know those of other races and ethnicities - the failure to understand and appreciate cultural differences and even the failure to realize just how hurtful and demeaning words and actions can be. And if we are not mindful of how deadly it can be, it will soon become the new form of racism in America. So how do we resolve all of this? We sit down at the national, state and local table of brotherhood and sisterhood, and without pointing fingers we have a heart-to-heart discussion. Over the next few weeks, my organization is taking the first step in extending the olive branch, in anticipation of sitting down with RNC Chair Reince Priebus, as well as those in each of the presidential candidates camps to begin a discussion of how we all can become more sensitive to each other and build a party that truly embraces our original core values. It has to begin at the helm of the GOP, and then trickle down to the state and local level. This is the only way to preserve the validity of our party, as one that is not racially insensitive, but is embracing of anyone who also shares the same or common core values. The year 2012 no doubt will be an interesting one - one of change. It also is a time for the Republican Party to become stronger and more unified. As African American Republicans, we also have a part to play in this. The National Republican African American Caucus looks forward to extending the olive branch to the party and its leadership to create a more inviting political landscape for those of color - one racially inclusive party undivided - unified to bring about positive change in America.
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