Greetings all,
Please pardon the wholesale mailing of attachments but this one really
floored me. My husband and I attended the annual Kwanzaa Fest in Durham,
NC -- a real favorite of ours. The event is put on by the venerable
African American Dance Ensemble led by Dr. Chuck Davis who, as many of
you know, is a real treasure and institution to not only Durham but to
people everywhere who care about black culture.
Imagine my surprise when I opened the program to find an ad titled, "The
Republican Philosophy incorporates the values of Kwanzaa as expressed by
Dr. Maulana Karenga's seven principles." I've scanned the ad in both
JPEG and Word formats [dj: N/A] so you can see it for yourself. Here's a preview:
"Nia (Purpose) - That government is responsible for national defense and
that only a strong America can remain a free America."
Somehow, I don't remember that from the book (sigh). Please share this
with others as we should all know as much about the Republicans' "new
black strategy."
As a disclaimer, let me say that I'm no great Democratic booster. Those
who know me know my politics are quite a bit left of that (smile). Yet,
I'm still angry about Bush stealing the election and the blatant
disfranchisement of so many African Americans. Perhaps you caught the
New York Times' piece as well as articles in The Nation that documented
the use of police and other forms of intimidation in Florida to keep
blacks from voting (no news to us Southerners). This ad (and it's
complete insensitivity to the meaning of Kwanzaa) felt like yet another
blow. But I didn't get long to recover: Bush has recently announced that
he is pulling together new leadership for Black folk -- a group of "black
conservatives" that will provide guidance on "concerns related to the
black community ".
Perhaps you think Bush's plan is a bit far fetched. I wish I could agree
but after spending time writing and researching the relationship of media
to "black leadership" for my piece in the new "State of the Race"
anthology (Diaspora Press 2001), I'm not so sure.
Much to do this year and beyond. Maybe I'll see you at the many
inauguration actions planned for January 20th. In the words of George
Clinton (as my sister Jennifer Logan reminds me) : Think. Think. It
ain't illegal yet.
peace (at least)
makani
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