Last weekend I watched the documentary
Runaway Slave, by Rev. C.L. Bryant on
Hulu. I admit, I didn't read the synopsis before watching it; I thought that it was simply a documentary that addressed modern racism and how social programs such as welfare and affirmative action exacerbate it. But this was just the tip of the iceberg. The synopsis on IMDB states the following (emphasis mine):
"Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we're free at last!" Nearly a half-century after these words were spoken, has Dr. Martin Luther King's dream somehow become more elusive? In RUNAWAY SLAVE, Rev. C.L. Bryant journeys across America to find the answer. Using leading black conservatives as "conductors," this one-time NAACP local chapter president blazes a new Underground Railroad to help liberate all Americans from the Government plantation that through entitlements has created a new form of slavery. Celebrate freedom!
So basically, this documentary focuses on Rev. Bryant's reasons for becoming a political conservative (a Tea Partier at that) and he goes around the country talking to other African-Americans who feel like the Democratic party and the liberal agenda has failed them.
In spite of being on the other side of the fence politically, I really did enjoy this film. In fact, I was shocked at how much I could appreciate the sentiments of not only Rev. Bryant, but of many other people who were featured such as Star Parker and Herman Cain (I won't go as far to give any credence to Allen West, who was also in the film). Note that I said that I "appreciate" them, and not that I agree with them. I think one of the main reasons why I liked this film is that it showed that African-Americans are not as homogeneous as we are made out to be. And these Black conservatives presented their views and political opinions with a great deal of thoroughness, sociological knowledge and valuable life experiences. So in short, they didn't come off like crackpots.
However if Rev. Bryant had the goal to win the political sentiments of Black viewers to come over to the 'enlightened' side....a.k.a. "conservatism', then he fell short. This happened in many ways, but here are the big ones:
The Blanket Demonizing of Social Issues Such As Welfare and Abortion
As someone who has collected welfare benefits several times in their life, I will be the first person to say that the welfare system in the United States is broken big time. The eligibility requirements basically reward you for being uneducated, single with out-of-wedlock children in tow, and saps your desire to want to try to better yourself. However these issues mean that reform is needed...not removal. If it wasn't for welfare, you would have millions of innocent children in this country going hungry, going without adequate health care, and living in unsafe homes or shelters.
I've heard conservatives lament that welfare should be privatized. That the fact that their hard earned tax money is being doled out to the poor is the biggest shanda. But guess what? I have yet to see any private charity match the efficiency, reach and scope that the welfare system does. That has the funding, and the reliability to help each person in need that approaches them. I've gone to many nonprofits, including my local Jewish Federation and Catholic Charities. In just about every case, I was denied or told to reapply later because they don't have the funding to help me. I can't say that the welfare office has ever said that!
Similarly, I can understand the gripes people have with abortion. I had one of those too. And it's a huge pain. And I'm not talking about the procedure. I'm talking about trying to even find a doctor who will perform one. Which makes me wonder if some of these conservatives have ever really known someone who has been poor, in need of an abortion, under-educated through no fault of their own, etc. Anyway, yes it is a shame that Black women comprise such a high percentage of abortion candidates in comparison to their proportion of the population. But that's a social esteem problem...you can't blame the availability of legal, safe abortion services for that.
Trying (Very Hard) To Convince Us That Today's Republican Party is the "Party of Lincoln"
One of the most interesting aspects of the film is how it historically delineated how African-Americans went from being huge supporters of the Republican Party, to become huge supporters of the Democratic Party. It also talked about how Republican politicians supported civil rights legislation, sometimes under threats and duress, up until the 1960s. There was also a good chunk of time talking about Frederick Douglas, the patron saint of every Black Republican (so this movie would make it seem). Welp nice try, but sorry no cigar. What the film completely left out and failed to mention is that support for civil rights legislation was tied closer to geography than party affiliation. While the Republican Party may have been founded as an abolitionist party 150 years ago, their priorities have since changed.
This would make a nice cover for the brochure of the next Republican convention
So please, it's really time to put this argument to rest now. Republicans can no longer hold up a picture of Abraham Lincoln and feel that this puts a guilt trip on Black people for them to join their ranks!
Don't Assume That Black People Will Be Quick To Jump On The American Xenophobe Bandwagon!
Conservatives just love to paint themselves as these die hard American patriots. So you had a lot of statements said along the lines of, "I love America. This is the best country in the world!"; "Only in America can a Black [man] achieve what I have."; "I'm so blessed to be an American." Etc., etc. Look there is nothing wrong with being patriotic, and being proud of where you come from. But your patriotism shouldn't preclude knowledgeable, factual statements. I'm really not trying to bust anyone's bubble here, but the United States ranks 24th in literacy globally; 26th in life expectancy; 4th in income inequality. I could go on, but I think you get the point. So here's the thing: we don't have to be 'the best' in the world....but we do need to be better. If you feel like America is the Land of Milk & Honey, then how can you begin to see the problems that we have, much less fix them.
Rev. Bryant opened the film talking about himself. He lives on land that has been in his family for generations and he's very proud to own his own little piece of America. Ok,ok...let's stop right there. That's fantastic for you Rev. Bryant; but guess what? I, and millions of other Black Americans, don't have any land that was gifted to us by our ancestors. So already, you have distanced yourself and put yourself into a completely different economic category than I'm in. Now, there's nothing wrong with that. But with that, you must accept that my opinion of how easy life in America is, and how gracious our bounty is here is going to be quite different from yours. It just is what it is.
Now For the Good...
Like I mentioned previously, I really did enjoy this documentary, in spite of whatever gripes I may have with conservative politics in general. It really opened my eyes to the damages suffered from the 'brainwashed lemming effect' that comes from mindlessly supporting a political party simply based on your ethnicity. For Black Americans, it's especially detrimental in that our political ignorance has made us prime candidates for disregard and even abuse from political leaders. We have lost our clout in the voting booth, Democratic politicians have completely lost their sense of accountability towards us.
There were a couple of things that I totally agreed with Rev. Bryant on and felt that he presented them in the film well. They are:
Showing How So-Called "Black Leadership", Such As Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, and the NAACP are Complete and Total Clowns
I used to be a member of the NAACP for several years. I believe I joined in college. Seemed like the right thing to do. Until I realized that here I am giving money to an organization, and they cannot (or do not) provide any concrete benefits or initiatives for me or my community. They also did or said nothing to engage me to become active in causes that they believed to be important. Instead they make media appearances, and blow around a lot of smoke. The same can be said for Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson. These men have shown time and time again that they are out for themselves first and foremost, and are quick to speak and slow to take time and properly assess whatever situation they feel the need to get in front of a camera about. It's an embarrassment; both them and they way that the Black community hasn't taken these folks to task yet.
Getting Past Affirmative Action and Pulling Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps
Affirmative action is a wonderful concept; when it is applied properly and smartly. Unfortunately, that is not the case in the United States. And in all honesty, I'm tired of dealing with the "magical angel of affirmative action", because in all of my life, I have yet to see how affirmative action has benefited me; a Black female. And that's saying something!
I grew up poor, went to crappy public schools. Even so, I scored in the top 10% nationally on both the PSATs and the SATs. I didn't have a computer until I was junior in high school (it took me two years to save up for one). Yet I was a straight A student, graduating with a 97% grade average and in the top 5% of my class in a school that had White students in the majority (I estimate it was about 30% Black). Now my college career was not as stellar...in that I sometimes worked three jobs at one time to make ends meet. But I did manage to edge out a 3.42 GPA and then to on to graduate school to get my MBA. So long story short....not to toot my own horn, but I feel that I can compete with individuals from all races and backgrounds just fine on my own...without any help or apologies for my skin color.
Like I mentioned before, affirmative action has not helped me in my life in the least. It never helped me gain admission into an elite college, or give me first dibs at an amazing career. What is has done is called people to question my abilities and my rights to be where I am. I regularly encounter people who think I had an easier path to get to where I am. They are surprised when they find out that I actually have more education and experience than the norm, not less. Which is pretty much the exact opposite goal of what affirmative action is supposed to be accomplishing, right? Hmmm.....figure that one out!
So at this point, I'm so over it. Wipe affirmative action off the books if its going to be this mythical concept that I have to constantly defend, but can say little in regards to its real benefit to people. Because let's look at the real world here folks. The government can create diversity recruitment programs to their heart's desire. The private sector doesn't have to play along. And plenty more HR managers are tossing out the resumes of candidates with 'Black sounding names' than are looking to diversify their companies.
Gen. Colin Powell; a Black conservative I've always had a lot of respect for
So overall I definitely wouldn't say that Rev. Bryant's effort here was fruitless. If anything, it helped to show that the GOP and even the Tea Party are not chock full of extremists spewing ridiculous rhetoric just for their health. In fact, I really wish that more Republicans could see this film. Perhaps it would show them how important it is to try to make efforts to reach out to Black American voters..and not just take us for granted. Also it would be nice to have more people, of any race, in the Republican Party who are thinking and concerned about the state of the American Black community. If this were to happen, it would be better for all of us. We wouldn't be so polarized. So we aren't there yet. And Rev. Bryant would benefit from knowing that freedom is not a one size fits all deal. And it's something that all Americans should be striving towards....conservative and progressives alike.