A new organization has been formed that aims to be a counter-weight and alternative to the NAACP. Formed by Kevin Jackson and Chris Arps of Move-on-Up.org in early May, they have an ambitious aim to take on the black establishment at their own game. Its called the The Black Conservative Coalition.
“Our intention is to show just how large the black Conservative population is in America,” Chris Arps, founder of Move-On-Up.org notes, “which is a much more powerful political voice than the media estimates. Black Conservatives are not usually a vocal group, but by bringing them together in a safe landing zone, we can become as powerful a political voice as the NAACP.”
Then again with the NAACP using its power to bully huge threats to African Community like Hallmark the card company it’s no wonder Jackson and others feel the need to speak out. It seems the last affront to African Americans is a matter of pronunciation.
“A space-themed, talking Hall graduation card is being pulled from store shelves because of the card’s reference to a black hole. But members of the Los Angeles NAACP say the message sounds like "black #" in the card's audio recording. That's how they hear it, and they say it's racist, KABC-TV in Los Angeles reported.”
I am sure the black conservatives that Jackson and Arps are targeting with their new group will be able to find more pressing issues of concern than an argument over the pronunciation of the word “black hole”. Or rather as Jackson clearly states.
"The NAACP continues to showcase their race-baiting, when they accuse a company as amazing as Hallmark of being racist. The idea that the NAACP would make a scientific term, "black hole" appear as a racial slur against black women, goes to show you why a group like the BCC is so needed. America is tired of such blatant attempts to make America appear racist."
Kevin Jackson is the author of the book the Big Black Lie and not one to mince words. I had the following to say about the book in my review of it for Blogcritics (Marty Dodge is my nom de plum).
“The entire book is an attempt to explain why he came to this conclusion in contrast to what many of those in a similar situation conclude. He details the good, bad and the ugly in his life, letting the reader know in detail how they shaped the man he has become. Whether or not you agree with where he has ended up politically you will be hard placed to fault his tale. His conclusions are blunt and not for the faint, but its clear he has had a lifetime to think them over.”
Kevin Jackson’s site The Blacksphere is the center of his burgeoning media presence. Whether its taking on left-wing commentators blackballing the tea party movement for alleged racism or merely standing up for fellow black conservatives he does not suffer fools. He appears frequently on media and is one of the leading lights of black conservatism.
Move On Up.org is a social media site where people of color can get together to discuss issues in a way not necessarily accepted by the media.
“An electronic community for politically discerning AA's to build personal profiles; network; start discussions; blog; upload videos & events.”
So it would seem the Black Conservative Coalition is the next logical step for the two conservative African American activists. Kevin Jackson explains the goals of the organization.
“The Black Conservative Coalition will be highlighting the many Black Conservative groups such the National Black Republican Association, African-American Conservatives, the Frederick Douglass Foundation, and the many other organizations that serve the Black Conservative Community,"…“By bringing the hundreds of Black Conservative groups together, we will be developing the many leaders in the community which will become available for interviews by the media to give voice to the Black Conservative viewpoint on many racial issues that constantly arise due mainly to demagogues on the Left.”
Currently they are working on something called The Black Conservative Census.
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“In celebration of 2010 census, The Black Sphere has teamed with Move-On-Up.org to take a census of our own. The Left believes there are only six black Conservatives who are passed around from plantation to plantation. All blacks do not think alike. And we are certainly not all represented by Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and so on. Black Conservatives needs proper representation, and this group, the Black Conservative Coalition will offer an alternative to the NAACP.”
It will be interesting to see how the pair get on with their monumental project. They are a sign like the Project 21 black leadership organization that there are things afoot is all ilks of conservative thought. The fact that media outlets on both the left and right are seeking representatives out instead of only relying on the usual suspects is a good sign. It demonstrates that the mainstream media might realize that there are as diverse ideas in minority communities as there are in any other community.
It is clear that thanks to the tea party movement more ethnic conservatives are finding their public voices. For all our sakes long may it continue.
Andrew Ian Dodge is a 40 something writer, consultant and rocker. He married Kim in 2007 and is busy working on writing projects with her including several novels, lyrics/singing for Growing Old Disgracefully. He is author of the political techno thriller “And Glory”. He writes for The Examiner, PJM, his own blog and other online outlets frequently. Andrew can be reached at: lagwolf@mac.com
