Tag Archives: Ted Cruz

CRITICAL RACE THEORY, POLITICS, RACE

A Shameless Motley Crew: How the Absence of Morality is Fully Displayed Yet Again by Republican Senators

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Fifty-five years ago, Thurgood Marshall, a top General in Charles Hamilton Houston’s brigade of young Black civil rights attorney whose victories across the South reminds the historically literate of General Ulysses S. Grant’s scorched Earth policy throughout Confederate lands, sat through Senate confirmation hearings to become this nation’s first Black Supreme Court Justice.

During an extremely contentious hearing over fifty years ago, a group of White segregationist Senators did their best to stir up constituents’ fears by evoking the imagery of Black Civil Rights and Black Power activists battling White law enforcement officers seeking to prevent a violent revolutionary overthrow of America. Even the politically unsophisticated were capable of recognizing the insinuation that if Thurgood Marshall, a relatively Conservative Black man in his own right, were confirmed that anarchy would reign in American streets.

The unfair characterization of Marshall was not the subtle “dog whistle” that many term such moments. Public attacks on Marshall were unfair intentional mischaracterizations of a man who had served as one of Charles Hamilton Houston’s foremost “levers for social justice.” Over half of a century ago it was Thurgood Marshall being raked over the coals by ardent segregationists via an argument tailored to stoke White folks irrational fears, today it is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson being dragged over similar coals by a more sophisticated yet equally evil intentioned cadre of Republican Senators.

Yesteryear, White segregationist Senators argued that if Justice Marshall were confirmed, the White man would no longer stand a chance in a nation founded by their ancestors. Today, a slicker talking yet similarly intentioned cadre of White Senators are doing their best to evoke thoughts among their supporters that if Judge Jackson, the princess of Critical Race Theory and pedophilia according to the alluded Senators, is confirmed White society is doomed.

I am sure that you understand my refusal to rehash the demonically inspired intentions and words of U.S. Senators Cruz (R-Texas), Cotton (R-Arkansas), and Blackburn (R-Tennessee) in this brief space. Trust me when I say that volumes could be written about these individuals who are devoid of an ounce of logic, honesty, or credibility. I long ago decided that I would no longer participate in discussions that hold as much promise as talking to the wind.

Yet, I have tired of the lackadaisical manner that Democratic Party leaders respond to the never-ending attacks of a segment of the Republican Party that do not even seek to hide their racial bigotry. These Republican political leaders such as Rafael Edward Cruz aka ‘Ted’ Cruz are interested in nothing more than the continuation of far too lengthy political careers. Things have gotten so bad that in regards to the spineless Rafael Edward Cruz that it would be no stretch for one to hear the following conversation.

  • Person A: “Did you hear what Cruz believes?”
  • Person B: “No, I haven’t spoken to him in the last hour.”

Unfortunately, in America, the racism virus that breeds irrational thoughts and fears has infected a sizable portion of our White countrymen and caused them to consider any semblance of the sharing of politico-economic power to be a significant threat to their privileged status. Last year that threat was the Black Lives Matter Movement, this year it has been the ominous threat posed by Critical Race Theory, at the present moment it is the looming confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson; only the Lord knows what the next fabricated threat will be.

The time has come for Democratic Party leaders, yes, that means both members of the Congressional Black Caucus and their White colleagues to take a bold step forward with well-deserved counter-attacks against political opponents that highlight their devotion to racial bigotry. Such a pro-active strategy is bound to be more effective than the silence so many of our elected officials substitute for substantive political strategy and leadership.

Make no mistake about it, America is at war with itself, however, the lines of war are less about Race and more so about those who believe that the creeds of this nation should apply to all citizens versus those who do not.

Which side will our democratically elected political officials support?

James Thomas Jones III, Ph.D.

©Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2022

 

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POLITICS, RACE

Just Busy Doing Nothing: Why the NAACP’s Letter to Professional Athletes Speaks Volumes About Why Black America Continues to Lose in the Game of Politics

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You would hope that the frustration that Black politicians have experienced due to their historical political failings would lead them to the development of some semblance of political savvy. I long abandoned such hope for Civil Rights organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. My last dash of hope for this storied organization expired with their rather stupid decision to purchase a casket and open a grave to bury the “N-Word.” Although it is difficult to comprehend, the leadership of the NAACP wrote the word “Nigger” on a sheet of paper, placed it inside of a coffin, and then buried it before their naïve supporters.

The “N-Word” has risen from the grave to haunt Black America.

To comprehend my disapproval of NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson’s recent communication to the players’ association of five professional sports leagues, one must understand the above foolishness. Johnson contacted MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, and WNBA to request that their players not sign a contract with a Texas-based sports team. The catalyst behind this ridiculous communication is the series of laws recently passed in the Lone Star State.

The alluded legislation covers a wide swath from abortions through voting rights and the absence of mask mandates. A portion of Derrick Johnson’s communication reads as follows.

If you are considering signing in Texas, I ask you to ensure that owners are upholding their responsibility of protecting you, the athlete, and your family. I ask you to use your influence to help protect the constitutional rights of each individual at risk.

Over the past few months, legislators in Texas have passed archaic policies, disguised as laws, that directly violate privacy rights and a woman’s freedom to choose, restrict access to free and fair elections for Black and brown voters, and increase the risk of contracting coronavirus.

Now, I do not want you to believe that I support any of Greg Abbott’s measures. If Texans follow the NAACP’s lead, their inevitable suffering will be immense.

I am sure you will agree that professional athletes not signing with a Texas team will have no impact on White powerbrokers such as Governor Abbott or Ted Cruz. I am slightly ashamed by such a sophomoric response from one of America’s most storied Civil Rights organizations. The NAACP’s juvenile response is ill-conceived, ineffectual, and just plain stupid for many reasons.

If permitted to address the leadership of Civil Rights organizations and other progressives, I would tell them to get back to basics such as political education and voter registration drives that prepare their voting bloc for a treacherous political season. We know our opponents’ underhanded activities, such as denying access to the franchise by changing voter identification requirements.

It is disappointing that the NAACP’s foremost goal is not removing political evildoers via the ballot. Instead of developing political education campaigns that illuminate the undeniable realities facing working-class and poor Black, Latinx, Asian, and White Texans, the NAACP’s leadership seeks to convince professional athletes to abandon tried-and-true Capitalist principles in the name of moral righteousness and racial equality.

Any understanding of why Black folks are still on the bottom rung of this nation’s social and politico-economic hierarchy begins with their so-called political leadership. Derrick Johnson should know better.

It is frightening to think that he doesn’t.

James Thomas Jones III, Ph.D.

©Manhood, Race, and Culture, 2021