Black pressure, black power, black values

Living in a major, ethnically diverse urban area, I as a white man am curious about many of the things that I observe in our nation's African American communities. Many of the most recognizable "Black American Icons" call my city (Chicago) home, and have used this media market to launch a number of ideas and discussions into the national spotlight.

In doing so, African Americans have drawn attention to legitimate issues that have bettered their lives and the lives of all Americans. It is my observation, however, that some adverse effects are starting to be felt by these so-called "black leaders."

TRENDING: GOP senator joins in the narrative twisting

The good news today is that African Americans and the communities they live in have become as diverse as the rest of the mainstream. There are "black conservatives" and "black liberals". There is also a huge mid-section that would fall into the "black moderate" category. Much of the voter base considers itself "moderate." This may be a fair assessment, but there are some intrinsically unfair things about the African American community as well.

Clarence Thomas, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Rod Paige are all prominent African Americans. They are some of the most educated, accomplished and talented human beings in America, but because they are associated with Republicans, all four are disparaged by the likes of Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Louis Farrakhan, and Carol Mosley-Braun. And if you will notice, it's always the Jackson, Sharpton and Braun camps that are the ones doing the disparaging. Thomas, Powell and Rice seem to be above getting into the personality "spitting contests" that the other ones constantly try to initiate.

But despite these polarizing extremes within black America, the vast majority of African Americans identify themselves with neither camp completely. Nor do they fully reject either group.

Inside the state of Illinois, there is another debate brewing amongst African Americans. Laura Washington, a noted liberal columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, wrote a column last week attempting to pound on Rev. James Meeks, state senator for the 15th district, for his lack of support for the "Preferential Gay Rights" bill – State Senate Bill 101. This bill attempts to add "sexual orientation" to the state Human Rights Act – thus trying to equate someone's "right" to choose to engage in any number of sexual activities to someone's skin being a certain color, or a person having a permanent disability.

The dilemma for Pastor Meeks is multifold. Pastor Meeks is a caring and devoted pastor to Salem Baptist Church, a church of nearly 25,000 members on Chicago's Southside. He is a devoted evangelical and believes and teaches traditionally accepted conservative evangelical Christian theology in his sermons. His associate pastor follows suit and is perhaps even more literal than Pastor Meeks when he is given the pulpit. Meeks is pro-life and teaches against the practice of abortion. Meeks has taken many public stands about dangerous behavior in his neighborhood – everything from drunkenness to drug dealing to unwed pregnancy and, yes, homosexual behavior.

The dilemma is deepened by his relationship as heir apparent to Jesse Jackson as the future leader of "Operation PUSH." Meeks is on the record a number of times saying that "he will be his own man" when he assumes the "PUSH" reins. But this last week, Jesse Jackson Sr. & Jr. were on media repeatedly vowing that Sen. Meeks "will be casting a vote in favor" of Senate Bill 101. The Jacksons, be they reverends or no, threw in the towel on moral issues decades ago. Jackson and son fight consistently for even more empowerment for the radical homosexual elements in America. Maybe this explains PUSH's declining numbers in membership and donations.

Why?

Because in overwhelming percentages, African Americans are still a group of voters who believe in the basic morality of the Bible. Blacks are a resounding majority – pro-life. And when I brought Laura Washington on my show to debate Sen. Meeks' dilemma on SB101, black callers overwhelmingly backed Meeks in his attempt to maintain a biblical position on the issue.

Throw into this mix the next "star" being groomed by "Black Leadership" – state Sen. Barak O'Bama. He is running for the open U.S. Senate seat being exited by U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. O'Bama is a "star" because he has achieved highly in his academic pursuits – he was former editor of the Harvard Law Review. But O'Bama is yet another example of someone that does not share the values of most black families. This was made evident by his outspoken support of SB101.

As I have spoken to increasing numbers of black clergy and leaders from across the country, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Jackson-Sharpton faction of black America is losing power on their ability to "whip" political will into place. If Jackson's own No. 2 man can't even vote in favor of the "gay favor" that Jackson owes to the radical homosexual left, it is apparent his grip is slipping.

This makes it interesting as to why Clarence Thomas uttered these words this week to a black high-school audience that he had been invited to address: "It is time," said the Supreme Court Justice, "for blacks to stop believing what they are 'told' to believe."

As Republicans continue to put more people back to work, as they continue to give African Americans more of their own money back, and as more African Americans break the cycle of poverty and gain additional educational opportunities, the cute little rhymes and sound-bite philosophy diminish in their effectiveness. As long as black leaders lead with the values that African Americans believe in, their credibility will remain intact.

If they do not, they feed the fire to find someone who will.

Hmmm ... Condi Rice vs. Hillary Clinton in 2008? Now that would be worth seeing!