We Won't Be Fooled Again
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Monday, November 26 2007, 1:32PM
A few years ago, I shared a stage with Rev. Jesse Jackson at Tavis Smiley's annual State of the Black Union event. The forum took place in Lithonia, Georgia at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by the controversial Rev. Eddie Long, who had marched against gay marriage in Atlanta. At one point during the discussion, Rev. Jackson rose from his seat on the stage and engaged the audience directly in an informal survey.
"How many of you or someone you know have lost a job?" he asked. Lots of hands shot up in the air. "Now how many of you or someone in your family have lost health insurance?" he continued. Even more hands rose up. "How many of you, or someone from your family, married somebody of the same sex?" Jackson continued. Not a single person raised a hand. "Then how did that issue get in the middle of our agenda?" Jackson asked.
It was a classic Jesse Jackson moment. "If your issues are cancer and Medicare and education and jobs and Social Security and decent housing, then how did someone else put their agenda on us?" he asked.
As I understood it, Jackson wasn't saying that equal marriage rights are unimportant. Rather he was saying that black people should know better than to be distracted by right-wing attempts to hijack our community's agenda with conservative fear tactics. It was an appeal to the politics of hope rather than the politics of fear.
That's why I was encouraged to read a Washington Post article today that quoted African-American minister Harry Jackson Jr. finally taking on the Republican Party.
Jackson is known for his conservative positions against abortion and gay marriage, and tells his followers at Hope Christian Church in Prince George's County, Maryland that they are "on the battlefield in a culture war."
He leads a group of socially conservative black pastors called the High Impact Leadership Coalition, and he has worked closely with the Bush White House and the Republican Party for years. But with the GOP poised to nominate socially liberal candidates like Rudy Giuliani or Mitt Romney as the 2008 presidential nominee, Jackson is starting to wonder what the party is all about. "They are not reliable enough," he complains.
I think Jackson may finally be realizing that the Republican Party has used him and many other black pastors for their own political agenda instead of their supposedly common social agenda. The Republicans had hoped that ministers like Jackson could help to deliver a higher percentage of the black vote to Republican candidates in close state races, but so far that pipe dream has yet to materialize. At the very least, I think the GOP had hoped to suppress black voters by discouraging them from showing up to the polls at all. That strategy also looks to have failed for now.
The Washington Post story notes that blacks are more likely to identify as religious than whites and are less supportive of gay rights. That's not entirely true. First, although blacks may be more religious than whites, we don't necessarily practice religion in the same way that whites do. That's why Sunday morning church services are said to be the most segregated public spaces in America. Christianity for blacks has always focused more on liberation than in the white church.
It's also important to understand that black people are politically progressive but socially conservative. Many of us may identify with parts of the evangelical social agenda, but we also identify with the mission and the legacy of the civil rights movement that many of today's conservatives completely missed. That's why those same black evangelicals vote overwhelmingly Democrat in each election.
"Morality is different in terms of the way we see it and white evangelicals see it," Rev. Lyle Dukes told the Post. Dukes, the pastor of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge, Virginia, explained: "What we think is moral is not only the defense of marriage, but we also think equal education is a moral issue. We think discrimination is immoral."
That leads us to the second point. It's not entirely true that blacks are less supportive of gay rights, as the Washington Post reports. Although most polls show blacks are more likely than whites to oppose gay marriage, other polls show blacks have been more likely than whites to support more basic measures to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. When it's framed as a moral issue, blacks are more conservative. When it's framed as a political fairness issue, blacks are more liberal.
And, just as Rev. Jesse Jackson noted in 2004, most black voters won't be pulling the lever next year based on the issue of marriage. We're more likely to focus on bread-and-butter issues and everyday concerns that affect us. As the Post reported, only 5 percent of blacks in the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll said that abortion or moral or family-values issues were their top concerns for the upcoming presidential election. By contrast, more than four in 10 cited the war in Iraq, 38 percent health care and 33 percent said the economy and jobs were their top concerns.
One black churchgoer interviewed in the story personified the challenge for Republicans. He said he believes that abortion and same-sex marriage are wrong, but that's not what will determine his vote come election day. He's looking for candidates to deal with the high incarceration rates of black men and underperforming inner-city schools, he said.
That's what the Republicans don't seem to get, yet. Black evangelicals may share the white evangelical social agenda, but at the end of the day they're still black. They still get profiled on the highway, followed in the department store and targeted for predatory lending in the housing market.
When it comes time to vote, most black people know that gays and lesbians are not a threat to black America. And even those conservative blacks who do feel threatened by the gay community have not forgotten about other issues like Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, and the high unemployment rates for African Americans. Eventually the anti-gay conservatives may realize that Jesse Jackson was right. The gay community is not nearly as threatening to black people as George W. Bush is.
Comments conceal
Adam
November 26 2007, 1:42PM
"Morality is different in terms of the way we see it and white evangelicals see it," Rev. Lyle Dukes told the Post. Dukes, the pastor of Harvest Life Changers Church in Woodbridge, Virginia, explained that blacks see morality differently from whites. "What we think is moral is not only the defense of marriage, but we also think equal education is a moral issue. We think discrimination is immoral."
Help me understand something. I'm a white gay male and jewish. It has always saddened and disturbed me when those who have been oppressed and thus know what it is like to be unjustly discriminated against, such as jews and african americans, turn around and oppress others. If (some) african american evangelicals think discrimination is immoral, then why is it okay to discriminate against gay people? Jesus didn't say boo about homosexuality but had alot to say about judging other people.
Michele
November 26 2007, 2:07PM
Adam, I think it's a difference of how people were oppressed. Blacks were/ are oppressed because of their deemed "inferiority", gay people are oppressed because of their "immorality."
Derrick from Philly
November 26 2007, 2:08PM
Well, Adam, most Black & Jewish folk (that I've come across) simply do not believe that homosexuality is an orientation. They believe it's a choice. Even the Blacks who are liberal about Gays on a personal level believe, "you don't have to tell anybody you're Gay, but they can see my skin color and discriminate against me no matter what". The issue is not whether the black homo tells anybody he's Gay, the issue is if "they" find out that he is Gay/homosexual and the discrimination & harassment that follows.
But you know what, Adam, speaking about a persecuted minority turning around to persecute someone else? Don't Gay men (both black & white) do the same thing to transgendered people?
Sometimes it seems like almost all of us aint worth poop--'cept Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton--I'll always love Jesse & Al. They don't have to support Gay people, but they do.
Ron Lee
November 26 2007, 2:11PM
I wish you were right on this,Keith but if Hillary or Obama is the democratic nominee. There will be two Repuglicans in the White house in 08'. Blacks & Hispanics-America have already been hood-winked in believing either one of them have a chance; they are both just what the Repuglicans need to win the white house in 08'. Their strategy were also hoping to divide the Black&Hispanic community on the issue of immigration hoping they would increase their black support on that issue alone. Just look at whats going on in New Orleans they are systemmaticly taking over every seat of office and the white gay community is apart of it, I don't hate them I just don't trust them. Yes we are sheep just following our masters to our deaths. Our issues Black murder,uneployment and Aids are no concern of theirs.
Billy
November 26 2007, 2:21PM
Great article Keith. This is one of the elements I am going to miss when the site closes.
Adam-Jesus did not say anything about homesexuality but his apostles did who he gave charge over the church. These men namely Paul spoke out against this-unfortunately many christians don't understand the historical content surrounding these texts,African Americans included.Most African-American people believe that our faith is what helped us endure the struggle of segregation and since we adopted (some forced it) christanity when we hit the U.S. If you have been taught that a lifestlye is wrong and it goes against the God of your faith-who are you gonna believe? I agree it's sad but it's our reality. Like Keith said this pastor may be smelling the coffee and seeing that LGBT people are not the enemy.
KBJr.
November 26 2007, 2:24PM
It's an interesting point you've stumbled upon, Adam. bell hooks once wrote that although all women were victims of sexism, there was a prevelant atmosphere of white racism from white women on back women within the feminist movement. Victims creating their own victims. She also mentioned the sort-of pecking order of oppression. Women were made victims by men, but women would then turn around and victimize their children. She makes a lot fo sense, because social structure is just like the food chain, at some point you're the hunted and the hunter. White racism against blacks moves to homophobia, homophobia moves to transgender prejudice and the wheels of hatred go around and around.
I'm not even going to touch Keith's tomfoolery.
Luther
November 26 2007, 2:43PM
Great post today, and, one of the reasons I'm going to miss this site.
ajin
November 26 2007, 2:49PM
I feel that as minorities, we have a duty to help protect other minority issues. I think that we should fight for each other. Not that we must agree with every minority issue, I just think that at times, blacks forget that all minorities (latinos, gays, women) are targeted in some ways and we should try to band together.
cheesegrtis
November 26 2007, 3:13PM
Adam, I am not even trying to hear you. You know what disturbs me more? White gays who freely discriminate against gays of color. Please get off the guilt trip. I am almost at the point where I enjoy seeing white gays get verbally abused.
chicagoangel
November 26 2007, 3:27PM
I thought the bible was the word of God? So he didnt' call homosexuality an abominiation? if he didn't who did and where is the proof?
J
November 26 2007, 3:31PM
The world just doesn't work that way. You can't do everything at once, and no one group can effectively address the needs of so many drastically different people. No group really wants to, that crap just looks good and sounds good and helps some groups get more support, so they can progress and then ditch those people. That white man that spends all his free time in clubs rocking stilettos and lace fronts only to tuck them in the back of his closet is the same man that will deny your black gay ass employment when he's in his suit. If laws say he can switch into the office in his DK don't think things will be any different.
Anonymous
November 26 2007, 4:30PM
Dear Adam,
Every cultural group can be bigoted, regardless of their oppression.
In your comment you assume that blacks are monolithic and gays are monolithic. Not even black gays are monolithic. These groups don't all think alike.
The question you asked about oppressed blacks can be asked of many oppressed groups, including Israeli Jews. For example:
(A)
Given Jews' historical oppression, why would not Israeli Jews work to SHARE the land in Israel with the Palestinians who were displaced when Israel was founded after WWII?
(B)
Given Jews' horrible experience of genocide, why did Israel recently turn away hundreds if not thousands of Sudanese refugees fleeing to Israel for shelter while only accepting a handful?! Isn't that a similar kind of rejection that countries did to fleeing Jews in WWII?
So, you see: your question can be imposed on many oppressed groups.
The reality is that some bigots will never change despite our best educational efforts.
Ostend Street
November 26 2007, 4:31PM
Since the bible has been interpreted by so many, with different languages, over different generations and thousands of years, good luck in finding the proof from an instrument that has been used to oppress, enslave and keep many ignorant.
Liquid Fonts
November 26 2007, 5:56PM
Adam it’s not that your question isn’t important. The issue of the oppressed becoming the oppressor is discussed by many black heterosexual and gay writers, try reading Maya Angelou’s Heart of a Woman. However, I don’t feel black people or any group should ever be coerced into blindly supporting any agenda. The context in which you raised this question makes me think about the psychological terrorism embedded in it that you perhaps cannot see which says: Black people ought to live in fear of losing society’s sympathy/support for historical endurance of great oppression. To me, those types of immoral/unethical political mind games are the source of so much unnecessary confusion, pain and frustration and I believe as Keith does that it gives the false perception that white gays and blacks hets are at such great odds when Adam is less likely to experience homophobia by black folks and more likely to find it within the white heterosexual world.
Adam
November 26 2007, 6:02PM
I'm not being monolithic in my comments - I did say that SOME black evangelicals, not all, discriminate against gays. Just as SOME jews, not all, are discriminatory. I have people in my family who survived the holocaust who are bigoted against other groups. It does seem to be the older generations who hold onto the fear and bigotry and are afraid to challenge their cultural and religious mindsets. The younger generations coming up seem generally to be much more accepting of other's differences and see beauty in the diversity of humanity. Maybe there's hope yet.
Gordon
November 26 2007, 11:24PM
The Jewish community has oppressed the black community in Chicago and other cities for years. What do you all think about that?
lordman
November 26 2007, 11:45PM
There are two words that never take a break here and they engender perpetual discourses: black, white.
J
November 27 2007, 1:03AM
An SGL's experience tends to be all about their wallet and what's being labeled as homophobia(by racist whites and confused black folk)in our community is just evidence of our real problems.
Ron Lee
November 27 2007, 11:51AM
Adam you have several issues. Number one many people don't think of jews as white, they are by origin middle eastern some would even argue with you that jews were african as they were slaves in the heart of Africa for hundreds of years. Secondly your fight should be with the jewish faith. And third the Black church dose not want discriminate against anyone they just don't approve of the gay life style.
Derrick from Philly
November 27 2007, 12:47PM
"The Jewish Community has oppressed the Black Communitty..."
Yeah, but they never committed wide spread killing of blacks like the Irish, Italians, Polish, etc., And, of course, let's not forget the Saturday night lynchings of black folks as practiced by the WASPs.
The exploitation of Black folks by Jewish businessmen & landlords is well known now (there were even Jewish slave owners--but also, there were black slave owners).
What I also choose to remember is that American Jews were the only white ethnic group that did not commit bloody atrocities against Black Americans, and that many young Jews (in the 60s) felt it was their obligation to take part in the Civil Rights Movement.
In Philly in the 1970s, if I got lost in a white neighborhood that was Italian or Irish--my life would be in danger. If I wandered into a neighborhood and saw a Star of David in a window, the worse I would experience would be, "Can somebody tell the shwartze how to get home."
lovejones
November 27 2007, 4:52PM
1st let me say that the black church does discriminate against people and they encourage it. They discriminate against each other (denominational differences) whites, asian, hispanics, middle eastern, jews, and blacks discriminate against blacks, and ya better not even think about being openly gay. Until christians realize that the bible is a tool to help us understand God and not limit Him, and that the bible was written by men, filtered through their culture, personal convictions, and their personal expereinces, the bible will always be used to oppress rather than liberate. The bible is only a note pad of man's perception of who God was to them. The bible isn't the very word of God, naw, it's a compilation of voices of how they perceived God speaking to them at that time. Did God stop speaking after the 66th book? We must become the change so needed for this nation. If you're waiting for the church or government to become the change, then you wait in vain!
MLee
November 27 2007, 6:03PM
Like I said in a previous posting, religion was created by man to control man. Period. The most violent wars and conflicts in world history have religious connections, all while trying to impose ones religious beliefs on others under the name of God.
brucito
November 28 2007, 4:42AM
Mlee you hit the nail on the head. That is what it is and that is all it is. Black folks didn't know anything about Christianity until Mr. White Man brought it to them and look where it has taken them. God is nothing but a belief. There is no physical proof that one ever existed and never will be.
Ron Lee
November 28 2007, 1:23PM
Brucito,man you are wrong on the white man introducing christianity to Blacks we were christian during the time they were feeding them to the lions,what people for get is that North Africa and the Middle East were colonies of Rome, there were 3 Black popes in Rome after the Romans accepted christianity.What is greatly misunderstood here is that during this Roman period,the North Africans & Middleastern people and all who resided there were in the same boat sort a speak. The middleast and Africa has some of the oldest Christian churches in the world. During the Roman period Africans,Middleasterns& even Slavs from which the term slave arose were all captives of Rome. The Romans called the Middleast Palestine which is Latin FOR SLAVES,the Europeans documented that some of these slave entered their lands in 333A.D.,they never accepted them as europeans,they were never though of as white until they came to America. Most of the world still think of them as middleastern as I do. PEACE...Our Jewish brothers are lost
Justin
November 28 2007, 4:36PM
Keith, great topic as always. You're right, Blacks have important issues too deal with then with gay issues.
Speaking of which, What's the deal with Alexander Robinson, Director of NBJ coming out in support of Hilary Clinton? For this reason who ever wins the 08 election, nothing will get better.
brucito
November 28 2007, 8:25PM
Ron Lee I stand by what I said. Can you tell us the names of these three black popes and what time in history they served and what type of power they could have possibly have had and over whom? What you have said really takes me back to the Million Man march of 1995 and the faces of many of those brothers who came dressed in Moorish clothing even though they were clearly American. At first I chuckled but then I began to see just how bad they wanted to identify with something. I left feeling sorry for many of them. Keep in mind that just because a person has dark skin does not make them Negro. Also never forget that God is still nothing but a belief.
CorelP
November 29 2007, 1:33AM
It is amazing how the "wedge" issue of gay marriage is supposedly being used by Republicans to stray attention from the "more important issues" in the Black community. What is more disturbing is that the majority of Americans had already decided, wisely, that marriage should be between a man and woman. It wasn't until gay activists came up and said "we want equal rights to marriage as everyone else," that the peace over the issue was destroyed. After that, it became a social hot-button issue. Now, had not the gay activist tried to force everyone to validate a style of partnership/living that most of America had already agreed as a "no-go." Then the "wedge" issue would not exist. Now who's to blame? Not G. W Bush.
M
December 1 2007, 6:37PM
CorelP,
Majority of Americans decided that a marriage should be only between a man and a woman is about as "wisely" decided as the majority of Americans deciding that marriage should only be between whites (slaves should not be allowed to marry, form families, be human etc.), or the "wise" decision that society should be separated by "race" with Whites Only this and Colored that. These things were conscious, deliberated and enforece choices/experiences in this great and "wise" land of Americans.
Ron Lee
December 3 2007, 2:12PM
Brucito,
1. The first African Pope: Saint Victor I,the 14th.pope who served from 186A.D.until 197A.D. Victor's lasting contribution was designating Sunday as the day to celebrate Easter,he is a Saint his feast day is in July. He changed the official Language of the church from Greek to Latin.
2. Miltiades I, who served from 311A.D. until 314A.D.the 32th.pope of Rome.It was during his reign that christian persecution ended; Emperor Constantine converted to christianity under his reign. Maltiades I,was responsible for securing the very buildings for which the vatican resides he was also made a Saint;his feast day is held Dec.10
3. Pope Galesius I,the 49th.pope 492A.D.until 496A.D. he was responsible for lands returning to the church,which was taken by the govt.,forming lands for the poor during a great famine,He also promoted the separation of church & state. He declared a day in honor of St.Valentine;he was made a Saint and his feast day is held Nov.21.
brucito
December 11 2007, 10:37PM
The birth places are listed as African. That does not mean that they were Negro.
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