April 30, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill

National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog
http://nraac.blogspot.com
http://www.nraacaucus.org


The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's
Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

Day 11: How most of the mean spirited rhetoric of the Republican Party is directly related to racism, ignorance and arrogance.

In order to make sense of this, one has to understand the detrimental effects of the connection of four deviant components:

Racism is an arrogance that suggests that the color of one's skin makes an individual superior or inferior.

Arrogance is a self-imposed ignorance of one's self that causes an individual to think they are superior to others and sometimes even superior to the God who created them.

Ignorance is the lack of knowledge and understanding that neither racism, nor arrogance makes sense or is a justifiable reason to feel superior or inferior.

Mean spirited rhetoric? Well, ...it is what spews out of the mouths of those who possess all three.

What more needs to be said?

It makes you feel really sad for those who take great pleasure in indulging in any of the four.

So, instead of hating those who do so, let's just keep them lifted up in prayer, love them in spite of, hoping one day that they can move away from all of the above.



To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill
423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus.

She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at:

http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and
http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.

April 29, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog

http://nraac.blogspot.com
http://www.nraacaucus.org

The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

Day 10: Why White Republicans who are inviting and who do want Blacks in the party, (including those who feel this way, but are afraid to speak up or welcome us), remain silent on the issue of racism, even when they see and know it exists within the Party.

The best way to understand Republican silence is to carefully study its root causes. There are three root causes that top the list! Money, power and fear.

Fear is the master demon which has its roots entangled with money and power. From this come the reasons why silence on the issue of racism exists. It has connections between what is in the heart and what is in the purse or pocket that precipitate a reason to fear the lose of power.

Each time I witness the unwillingness of a Republican to take a stand for what is right, I get on the Internet and research the connections that person has to the person who is doing the wrong. Without fail, each time I have done this, I have been amazed to find that there is a money or power connection.

The money trail runs in two directions - the donor and the recipient. And so does the fear. If it is the donor who does not want those of color within the party, they will give to have that directive carried out. Of course this is not something which is openly done. But the directive is done in private or coded. This is not to say every Republican donor does this, but we know that it is done. It is a well kept secret. Even those whites who have assured me it happens, they have pledged to deny it if I call them by name.

Trust me on this one, if the money donors within the Republican Party say, widen the tent, the tent will be widened! If they give the directive to narrow the tent and close the gate, then none to very few of us are getting in!

Then there are the recipients of the money. They normally are within elected or appointed leadership. They understand all too well that in order to get the money, they have to toe the line. But they are not all influenced by their money connections. Many have ample resources of their own and the choice to exclude is because of the darkness of their own hearts or simply because they want the black vote, but are unwilling to share the political landscape and the political power that goes with it.

If you have political aspirations of any sort, power is the root of silence. Therefore very few if any, are willing to jeopardize their political careers to side with blacks on the issue of inclusion. This is especially true, since as a race, within the Republican Party we have had very little to no voting capitol that can influence the outcome of an election. So who cares if we are excluded! With or without us, it does not amount to any significance at the polls. And until this is changed, it is a politically sound reason to encourage silence.

Where the influence of power and money is felt most is on a local and state level. Since my home state is also the state of birth for the National Republican African American Caucus, I can use it as an example. But by no means am I inferring that Tennessee is the only place where this kind of politics exists.

When the NRAAC began to have issues with exclusion at the local level in Tennessee, bearing an olive branch, in peace and love, I went to those on a local and state level. Nothing was done. When I realized that the opposition was spurred on by one of our Republican congressman who was not able to use our organization for his own political aspiration to ascend to the office of governor of the state of Tennessee, again I went with an olive branch first to him and them to others in power. Nothing was done. When we were told by our local party chair that unless we went through her or the good congressman, we would not be recognized or have any involvement in the party, I went back with an olive branch in the spirit of love. Nothing was done. When I saw how we were being blocked in every effort we made to integrate into the Republican Party, I tried again at the Tennessee State GOP level to get relief. Nothing was done. When I was personally investigated to see if I met the Republican litmus test by our Hamilton County local GOP chair, I went directly to her and the local party. Nothing was done. As I watched her follow me everywhere I went to recruit, and once I left, she made it her personal business to contact those whites who thought it was a great idea to have blacks in the party and welcomed our presence, to tell them that I was a "troublemaker" and did not have the blessings of the local party or the good congressman, I sought relief from every GOP level. Nothing was done. When I was required by her to get legal permission from the RNC legal counsel before she would recognize our organization on a local or state level, I went to the RNC with the same olive branch. Nothing was done. When things got so crazy that we were being ignored at events and racist rumors spread about our membership which were so ridiculous that anyone with common sense would know something more was at work, I tried to keep the faith and believe there was someone within the Republican Party at some level who would accept our olive branch and welcome us. Nothing was done. I carried this olive branch to so many, for so long, until finally I realized that no one was willing to do anything about what was happening to us.

There were those who listened and even remarked behind closed doors that what was happening to us they did not condone, but because those involved were well connected with power and to money, they were afraid to speak out against them. It was then that I realized the impact of power and money on issues of race within the party.

Speaking of ridiculous rumors, I cannot pass up an opportunity to at least share one or two good stories. There are three that come to mind that I wrote about in my book.

[Excerpts from Black Eyes Shut - White Lips Sealed, Chapter Twenty, Republican White Wall of Silence.]

When it came time for the 2001 Annual Republican Women's Picnic, our local caucus took several large covered dishes to the event. Our caucus secretary because it was on a Wednesday night, which was a church night for most "black folks", and because she and her husband pastored, was unable to stay. Being a member of the Women's Club and having brought food, with plenty of it for everyone, I asked her if she wanted to fix a plate and take it with her. She prepared one for her husband, and herself. I went over to the dessert table and continued to dish out the desserts. While she was preparing her plates, one of the Republican women, who happened to be the wife of one of the county elected officials came over to her, and in a very nasty tone of voice asked, "How many of those plates are 'you people' going to fix and take out of here?" A few days after this, rumors floated throughout headquarters, that the "black people" had come to the picnic and had fixed all of these plates and were slipping them out the door, and had to be stopped! Despite this we continued to show a substantial presence at Republican functions.

At the 2001 Annual Hamilton County Picnic, with about a crowd of 150, we brought 38 of our local caucus members. With only one to two blacks usually showing up at these events, now to have 38 was substantial. Knowing how they felt about us, I made sure all 38 of us brought the cleaning product they had asked those who were attending to bring. I also told them to make sure they mingled, and to avoid being in a group, because having this number of African-Americans show up, as opposed to their normal two to three, might cause fear and make the white racists within the party a little nervous. I carefully selected the 38 who were to attend and kept that number under 40 people because I knew by now that the greatest fear was not just of our "color", but it was a combination of both our "color" and our "numbers". Just as I predicted, it made some nervous. In fact, Congressman Wamp got so nervous that when he got up and tried to welcome us, he said he was so happy to see so much color or coloreds in the mix. No one, white or black was sure if he said "color" or "coloreds". They all just looked puzzled after his statement.

At Congressman Wamp's annual picnic, we again showed our presence. This time I decided to gradually increase the number to 65 people. We could have had as many as 250 of us who did not have anything better to do other than enjoy Congressman Wamp's barbeque on Labor Day, and would have been happy to come. But again, I was afraid to overwhelm the racists within the Party, in light of their present fears of having us there, and the possibility of having us take over. Also I was afraid that if we showed up in any larger numbers, this would cause the Republican Party to fight us even more. Therefore I only asked a few who I felt could deal with any possible hostility, which at this point had greatly increased to the point this time of Congressman Wamp not even acknowledging our presence! At the Hamilton County Republican picnic, local chair Robin Smith and Congressman Wamp did manage to welcome us, but at his picnic, he welcomed everyone else, his neighbors, his friends, his neighbor's neighbor, his friend's friends, and everyone else, and totally ignored us. It was hard to over look us because this time, fearing possible hostility, I asked everyone to sit together, and try to stay together this time, as opposed to having asked them to mingle at the last event.

We all sat together in the top to middle bleachers. It looked like a "colored only" section! When a few whites, sat next to us we wondered if they knew this was a segregated section. Except for Johnny Horne and his wife, and a couple we never saw before, this is where the "coloreds" sat. Because our presence was so obvious, this apparently made Congressman Wamp even more nervous. It certainly made a liar out of those who had said, we didn't have any members. But our increased presence didn't warrant a welcome, which led us to take that as an unwelcome. Rather than get upset, I joked and told the Caucus members, "That's okay if he ignores us! Let's just eat his food and be happy little colored Republicans". To that I added, "...And make sure this time, we all fix plates and sneak them out the door! Oh...and don't forget the Mayfield's ice cream!"

All during the picnic, we joked with each other about this. They were brave to have endured this, because I was brave. However nothing was funny about the insult, and the way in which we were being treated. But when you have to endure as much racism as we have had to endure as a race, you realize that sometimes you just have to laugh at racist ignorant white folks, rather than get upset about it. There certainly was plenty enough of them within the Wamp-Smith camp to deal with! For them, no matter what we did, or how many of us who showed up, we just were not going to be welcomed and accepted.

Because of what had happened at the Wamp Picnic, by the time the day came around for me to speak at Pachyderms, none of our caucus members wanted to come, and I didn't blame them. We only had seven or eight to show up. But even that was a crowd in comparison to the "one" they normally had.

I saw from these and many other stories like it, that fear is a very powerful weapon. It was the fear of people of color which caused both those who were racist as well as those who wanted to protect their political turfs, not to want us in the party. But also it was the fear of those who were in power or who had money connections that kept the good white Republicans from standing up, speaking out and saying this was wrong.

It was back in the early 2000s that I learned just how powerful fear is. So powerful that it can enslave, when there is a fear of what to do with us within the Republican Party as we grew in numbers. Powerful enough to build fortified Republican white walls of silence that excludes the very race from which the Republican Party was birthed, and claims it seeks to recruit.

Powerful enough to cause even good people to compromise their integrity and turn their heads to wrong, choosing to remain silent.

I guess that is why neither the membership of the NRAAC, nor I walk in this kind of silencing fear.

To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill 423-702-5622
NRAAC office nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus. She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at: http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.

Day 9: National Republican African American Caucus Has It’s Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

April 28, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair Dr. Jean Howard-Hill

National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog http://nraac.blogspot.com http://www.nraacaucus.org The National Republican African

American Caucus Has It's Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

Day 9: Why so many of us have hung in there despite not always being welcomed, treated fairly or allowed a place at the table or allowed to be among the elite elected white leadership.

So why don't we just pack our political bags and leave? Instead of wasting all of this time blogging about it, then leave! If the abuse is that bad, then this seems to be a simple solution to a bad situation. Unfortunately it is not that simple.

But as all pastors and clergy come to understand in pastoring and ministry, in order to help those who do not understand, you have to have patience. You also have to keep preaching and teaching the message over and over again until finally it is not just heard, but it is understood. Sometimes even you have to take a lesson from the Master. So for those who still are not getting this political message, let me see if I can make it a little clearer by using a parable like Jesus did when his disciples were too carnal minded to understand the deeper application of his message. So today's blog is in the form of a parable.

The Parable of the African American Birthright

There was a man and his household who longed to be free from the bondage of slavery. There also were the free, who longed to see him and all with him free. So the two joined together and they built a stairwell that led the enslaved man up out of the pit. It was not an easy journey because there were those who wanted the man and his household to remain in the southern most region of those pits of bondage. But determined that they would be set free, together his people and their people waged a war and they won. When the news of the battles came to the man, he greatly rejoiced that at last he and his entire household were free!

He joined himself to those who procured his freedom through the shedding of even their own blood. Together they stood as one. They looked well to each other's needs, even making leaders of those of the once enslaved man's household and allowing them the freedom to vote and to buy houses and plant their own fields. They ascended to the highest offices of the land. In Congress they sat in both houses, not as slaves, but as leaders of man.

But soon thereafter they who enslaved the man and his household, because they knew how powerful the reversal of the role of the slave becoming the master would be, their spirit arose from the bloody battlefields, determined to retake that which they claimed to be theirs. Among those possessions they sought to reclaim were the man, his household and even his political and economic birthright.

There also was a fear growing as freed men and women numbering in the millions were free to do as they pleased. Their numbers were so great that they could overpower those who once were their master in voting strength, and standing beside them to protect them were their allies in Republican political battle attire. Therefore, they moved swiftly riding on the winds of darkness, disguised, sheeted and robed in white, reeking terror by night, to prevent the man and his household from taking positions of political power and positions of leadership. By day, they enacted ordinances and laws, enforced within their own courts of injustice, designed to bring the man and his entire household back under the yoke of bondage. Seeing that these laws that separated and discriminated against him, still were not enough, and also seeing that the alliance with those who procured his freedom still remained, they sought yet another way to bring him back under bondage and to strip away the power of freedom

This time, rather than divide the nation and fight another war of the South against North, they very craftfully devised a plan. Indeed it was crafty, yet wicked and of long term consequences. So crafty, that even the once enslaved man himself and his household did not understand it fully.

While the descendants of the man were being beaten, hosed, bombed, lynched and terrorized, they took those from their own camp and planted them within the camp of the allies of those who once stood with the man. As Dixiecrats they took their place in a party where they found refuge from the laws and changing of times which dictated an end to their terror. At first, they did not appear to be troubling or treacherous, although one with a discerning eye and one who was an Issachar could see deeper into the waters of time. They saw even now, in the year 2010 that such an invasion of darkness, would one day change the very soul of the party of its allies.

They laid there dormant for a time and a season as they tightened their grip upon the party. But before long, they identified themselves by the paths their darkened hearts took them. Instead of being sheep as was thought, in reality they were wolves in sheep's clothing! Seeing now that there were wolves within his borders, the man and his household no longer felt safe or welcomed, so he fled with his household to the other side. The very side from which the wolves were born and bred, he took all who were with him, until there were very few left behind. Too few to have their presence make a difference. Too few to have their voices heard or to occupy a place at the political table.

As the descendants of the man once enslaved began to flee, blindly they fell into hands of the ones who once hated them. But seemingly they had a change of heart and now were willing to birth laws that secured their freedom. They called them laws of civil rights. Therefore, for a time and season, they felt this was where they belonged and they soon forgot about the birthright they had left behind.

Generations passed and their descendents forgot their history. They no longer remembered or knew the party of their birthright. But their elders and keepers of the archives of history held dear to them the memories of the party in which they joined with those of the white race and gave birth to freedom. Now they looked back and saw their birthright given to those who had not inherited it. They also saw the hearts of those who had stolen it and who stood as gatekeepers become even more hardened and determined never to allow them to return home. They mapped out their strategy to prevent their return, while also making false pretenses to wanting them there. Some made no such pretenses. They just openly displayed their displeasure with having the man and his household there.

When they tried to return home they found the gates locked and carefully guarded by the tare that now had almost overtaken the wheat. Only a remnant of those who once stood with them now occupied the helm. This made it harder for those at the grassroots to bring about a change which would welcome the man and his household back.

Even those few who were left behind were now reduced to meager roles of tokenism. Every now and then one or two were given the opportunity to sit at the table. They longed for the days of old when they held office and stood as leaders along side of those who truly believed they should be equal and free. They remembered the pains of birth and the joy that came when they gave birth to political freedom.

For many decades they lived outside of the gate, now realizing that it was not expedient or wise for the man and his entire household to all have left. But rather, some should have remained, while some crossed over. They came to understand that to have possessed both was the key to real political freedom and equality.

Finally a word was spoken and a decree was made by the Issachars among them, who knew both time and season, as well as what to do. They made the call that those of the man and his household should return to their party to repossess their political birthright. It was not an easy feat because now the same enemy which once hated them enough to enslave them and to even shed blood upon the battlefields of the South, now stood guarding the gate and occupying the very birthright that was theirs. So they too had to be crafty and wise to devise a plan - one which would retake what was rightfully theirs - their birthright. There arose among them those who were wise who understood time and season and history, and reminded them that they were not to make the same mistake of times past. Instead, they should move wisely not to take back with them all of their household, but as many as were needed to make their presence known.

As they returned, they sought not to overtake those who occupied their places and who had stolen their birthright, because they believed there was a place even for them within their dear party of birth. They also believed that both time and space would provide the Balm of Gilead that was needed for old wounds to be healed. They believed that the times also had provided a new day, where there was the reality that all people were created equal.

They came back not as takers, but as possessors. They came not as warriors, but as those who had beaten their swords into plow shears, intending to study war no more. They came with an olive branch in their hands, and hearts filled with love and the spirit of faith, hoping to find those who were receptive.

But they also saw that even in that, this had not touched the hearts of those who held them at bay, outside the gate. Instead of accepting the olive branch, they refused to welcome their return and fought to keep them out. They also saw that the remnant of those who once stood with them and birthed the party, were now silent and afraid to speak out or to welcome them. So determined to not be excluded or denied anymore, they purposed within their hearts to educate and integrate the political party of their birth.

Those who received them and welcomed them home were the noble and the good, and the remnant that were left, whose hearts were full of light. But those who resisted and held fast to keeping them out and stood as gatekeepers, they were the not so noble, whose hearts were full of darkness, so that their eyes could not see what was right from wrong, and what was good from bad. Those who stood by, not doing anything - silent to seeing them be excluded and ill treated, they are those whose hands also were just as stained. Not by the sins of the excluders and gatekeepers, but by their unwillingness to take a stand and to say, "Enough! Open the gates and let them in."

This is the parable of the African American birthright. Let those who want to understand, understand it.

To reach the NRAAC national chair:
Jean Howard-Hill
423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus. She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at: http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.

Day 8: The National Republican African American Caucus Has It’s Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

April 27, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill

National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog
http://nraac.blogspot.com
http://www.nraacaucus.org


The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival


Day 8: Why those African American Republicans who speak out or have the intelligence to think for themselves and form their own opinions are viewed as "troublemakers".

[Back to preaching to those whose hearts have yet to be filled with love and to know the power of love vs. the power of politics! This is hard to do, after the Weekend Special! But...I am still encouraged that there are many more out there like the elderly white audience I addressed on the weekend.]

I had one of my dear older white Republican friends tell me about being in a Republican Women's meeting where they were discussing me. "She's a troublemaker", someone alleged.

Very quickly she rose to my defense by asking, "Well if she is a troublemaker, tell me what has she done? I have known her since 1979 when she first came into this party, so tell me one thing that she has done?"

In answer to that question, no one in the meeting could point out one single thing I had done to earn the label.

At that time I walked in such political purity and innocence, which is another way of saying, I was extremely naïve to Republican politics. I had no clue what being a "troublemaker" meant. Back then, I took white Republicans at their word when they said they were God fearing people and that they wanted "us" in the party.

So after being told I was being labeled as a "troublemaker", I did what any hysterical woman who had been wrongly accused would do. I went home and had a good cry and threw myself a pity party, asking what did I do to deserve this. Why was I being misjudged, when all I wanted to do was heed the call of the GOP to recruit and bring African Americans into the Republican Party at all levels.

I could go into a city, where I knew no one, find a few preachers, and before long I was up before a group of African Americans giving an altar call to return to the GOP, and they heeded that call in masses! Before long, I had African Americans in the thousands all over the United States! I was good at doing this, and proudly reported in each time I added to those numbers. Talk about being I naïve! I did think all of this was somewhat strange, because NO ONE in the GOP or RNC seemed to share my excitement for the increasing numbers.

What I did not realize is that the more "colored folks" I added, the more I was shunned and viewed as a "troublemaker". Unbeknownst to me, I was seen as a threat to the local Republican women's group because I was about to bring in of the 1,276 African Americans I had recruited locally, over 420 African American women into its membership! This would have been enough to have voted in a black woman into every position of leadership within the organization! I did not get it at first! Reason being is that I was not thinking "powerbase". I was thinking "inclusion".

This one innocent move also would have upset the powerbase of those who were aspiring to run for elected office in the future and for other elected positions. At that time, I honestly had no clue that what I was about to do was seen as such a major threat! So I had to be stopped! The only way to do it was to label me as "troublemaker" and to make sure those recruited were made to feel unwelcomed, in hopes they would not stay! What a political revelation!

I guess I should have gotten it back in 1992, when there was a Republican Congressman who later became governor, who shortly after my husband's death said something to me which should have helped me to see the light.

I had just left Connecticut with Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and had been a part of a recruitment effort to bring African Americans into the party in Connecticut. I flew into Washington, D.C. to continue a day or two of recruiting and to meet with two board members. While there, I also met with this congressman. During that meeting, I shared with him my frustrations over the seemingly lack of interest and even support for those efforts to bring in African American women into the GOP in the masses. He looked me in the eye and asked, "Jean have you ever thought that maybe the Republican Party does not want Blacks in the party in masses"?

Then he encouraged me to return to Tennessee, and find a place and time for my child and me to properly mourn the death of my husband. I was so shocked to hear this coming from him. In fact, this caused me to have a very high regard for him because at least he was honest. He said to me what no one else would have dared say and I appreciated it.

What he said was true! Believe it or not! If you want to be labeled a "troublemaker" within the GOP, high on the requirement list is the successful recruitment of blacks into the party in large numbers! If you can meet this one criterion, then you get to wear the label.

Second on the list is to be educated. If you are stupid, appear to be stupid or conceal your intelligence, then this keeps you off the list. But if you understand issues because you can do the research and can form your own opinions, and you dare become a part of the discussion, you are seen as being intellectually dangerous!

Third on the list is to speak out when something is done that is wrong!

I did not have to satisfy the second or third requirement before I became labeled as a troublemaker. I only had to be good at what I do, which is recruit and galvanize people under the GOP's exclusive tent. In fact, it is as of late that I decided that since I have been given this distinguished label and that no matter how many olive branches I extend, I cannot seem to cast it off, I might as well take it to the next level and continue to even more vigorously recruit African Americans and boldly speak out!

So this is why during an interview with Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker, I said, "I wear the label very proudly". And so do the members of our organization".

We are proud to be labeled "troublemakers", now that we understand what this means.

I remember as a child hearing my mother say to my father, "we don't want no trouble." I always wondered what she meant by this. As I read America's history, I realized the meaning of this word from a racial connotation.

"Trouble" meant anything that would cause the white man to unleash terror upon blacks. Fear of trouble, made many African Americans within the South docile and afraid to stand up, fight back and to fight for their freedom. When and if this was done, they were labeled as "troublemakers", because their actions in seeking freedom, is what whites used as their excuse to burn crosses, bomb churches, lynch, beat and inhumanely treat blacks.

In slavery those slaves who talked about one day being free were labeled "troublemakers". To keep them from spreading this non-sense about having their freedom, they were beaten brutally and openly so that the rest of the slaves would perish even the thought of wanting to be free.

During the Civil Rights Movement if you talked about equal rights and wanted to become a part of America's patriotic tapestry as citizens who had the right to vote, to live where your money could afford, to eat at the same restaurants, to shop at the same stores, or to be educated equally, then you also were labeled as a "troublemaker".

But if it had not been for troublemakers, African Americans would still be slaves; there would have been no Civil Rights Movement; more Emmitt Tills would continue to be savagely killed; no blacks would be able to vote or be elected to office; and Jim Crow laws would still exist.

When you look back in history and realize there even was a time when there were laws that prohibited blacks from learning how to read and write, and if caught attempting to learn, they were brutally beaten, this helps you to appreciate "troublemakers" who defied laws and sought to be educated.

So to be labeled as a "troublemaker" is indeed an honor. It means that I am a part of something greater than myself. I am a part of a move of freedom and equality within a party which sees my presence, my intelligence, my fearlessness in speaking out against what is wrong, and my determination to have a place at the table as being "trouble". That being the case, I thank God each day for this distinguished honor, and I have promised God that I shall never fall short of deserving it!

For to be a troublemaker within the Republican Party, is to prepare and spread the banquet table, and to invite all who wish to come. To be a David who does not fear Republican Goliath(s). A Daniel who would rather face the lions than to compromise convictions and integrity. Or to be a Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednigo, who knowing there are fiery furnaces that await us, yet would rather be thrown in, than to bow to that which is contrary to what is right. It means never deny our worth as a human being.

As the national chair of the National Republican African American Caucus, yes, I wear this label honorably, so long as to be a "troublemaker", is to be one who has the courage to lead our membership to make right what is wrong, to integrate that which is segregated, to speak out when it is necessary, and to show up and present ourselves as proud African American Republicans.

So call me or our organization what you may, we are here to stay. Because unlike most African Americans within the Democratic Party, we are not here by default. We are Republicans by birthright and by choice, who like the prodigal son, are returning home to our fathers' house. You might as well get used to that and prepare a room.

Also, if you still think those who bring African Americans into the Republican Party in masses are "troublemakers", you can expect more "trouble", until those of integrity and true commitment to inclusion within the local, state and national party remove the barriers and the gatekeepers that prevent true inclusion within "our" Grand Ole Party.

Say Amen, if you can. If not? Say Oh my!



To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill
423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus.

She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at:

http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and
http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.

Weekend Special: National Republican African American Caucus Has It’s Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

April 26, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill

National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog
http://nraac.blogspot.com
http://www.nraacaucus.org

The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's
Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

Weekend Special: Greatly encouraged from the grass!

[In the black church, sometimes the preacher who is conducting the revival decides to stay for the weekend to do a Special Service. Although I don't blog on the weekend, something happened which has prompted me to share, so I decided to do this weekend special.]

When you run a revival of any sort, you preach about the wrong, but you also encourage the right. But when you see something is being done that is good or right, just like you call it out when it is wrong, you also must point it out when it is right. I had such an experience this weekend. Lest anyone should think that Tennessee is the most racist state on the face of the earth, I want to point out some of the good within it.

...And no, the encouragement I got this weekend was NOT from smoking grass!

I had the opportunity to venture into one of the most rural counties among the 95 counties in the great state of Tennessee to speak this weekend. I did not quite know how a black woman would be received by a white audience, especially since I had received an e-mail a few weeks before from a reporter from the local newspaper saying, "Don't send me any more of this stuff!" Relating to the content of our NRAAC blog. Because of this there was a little apprehension. Nevertheless, knowing I always have had hope and confidence in the good in people, I sought to find those of kindred spirit who nonetheless were white.

It took several hours to get there. On the drive up, I quietly sat praying. Knowing my weak spot was that I truly loved people, and loved to see people love each other, I knew that my heart was vulnerable to anything which expressed itself without love. Because of this, I asked God to give me the wisdom, the courage and the strength to face whatever may come my way, and above all to give me the opportunity to show love to those who perhaps may not be so loving.

Finally we got there. The open country air was rich with the sights, sounds and aromas of spring, as only can be seen in the foothills of the mountains of Tennessee. It was simply a gorgeous day!

After sitting outside in the car for a few minutes, it was time to go inside.

Seated at tables was my audience, all awaiting my arrival. The crowd was all elderly and all white. I was greeted warmly, but by then, I had decided to just be who I was and to offer to them the greatest gift I had, which was the gift of love. So at the door, I left ALL preconceived notions of what could happen and was only willing to embrace positive thoughts. I was determined that I would not prejudge as I had so often had done to me, nor would I take anything inside with me, other than LOVE!

I thought I would take advantage of the wisdom of the group by asking the ladies how to take nail polish out of my favorite skirt. I knew they had a solution and they did. We laughed and chatted about all the different ways to remove stains.

Interestingly, as I mingled with the audience before speaking, I found great comfort in just being me.

Then it was time to speak. I began by sharing my special love for the elderly. I had created a program called Eldercare years back where I matched youth with senior citizens during the summer. The youth would perform chores and the elderly would pay them, not in dollars and cents, but by sharing wisdom. It was a wonderful program which gave youth the opportunity to receive wise and rich counsel from those who had lived their lives and now were rich in counsel. From the elderly, as a child, I had received wisdom that has stuck with me throughout my life, so I wanted to make sure youth also were given this special treasure of wisdom that only comes from years and experience. During my legal services career, I also had created and set up the Senior Citizens Legal Project which specifically handled legal cases for the elderly through onsite locations. Competing only with children, the elderly are my favorite group of people, so to address this senior audience was more than comfortable - it was something from the heart.

The welcoming embrace and warmth flowed both ways. As I spoke and engaged the audience in dialogue, it touched a place inside of me which needed encouragement. I did not realize just how much I needed that. Sometimes when you see so much ugliness among your fellowman/woman, and you endure so much disparate treatment, you need to have your faith and confidence in humanity restored. I felt that way.

Upon ending, I did what I always do to my audience. I asked everyone to extend their arms real wide, and to bring them in to a hugging position. Then I said to them, "Just in case I don't get around to hugging everyone, this is my hug to you! I love you all!"

They all took such delight to get a group hug - especially the men!

One by one, they came up to greet me. The first person stuck out their hand for me to shake, but since I am not good with hand shaking, I gave them a big hug. After that, no one else extended their hands to shake instead they patiently waited to get a hug!

They asked me to stay and to have cornbread, pinto beans, turnip greens and potatoes with them for lunch. I needed to get back to Chattanooga, but I dared not refused the invitation. For me, the breaking of bread together is sacred and it is something in which you only do with those you count as friends.

I accepted the invitation, only if they would allow me to come back, and to fix my peach cobbler from scratch for them. They were delighted to have me return, with or without the peach cobbler, but especially with it!

After hearing I was a country girl who could seriously put a pot on (cook), an elderly gentleman wearing a big white Texas hat who set far off to the side came up to me. He hadn't said much up until them. As he approached me, he smiled and did what in the South we know is a sign of true love and acceptance, he gave me a jar of homemade apple butter which he and his wife had made.

He didn't know how much my daughter and I loved apple butter. But then again, perhaps he did. I found out he was a country preacher and a pastor. Now I knew why he stood afar off. He was discerning what was in me, so that he would know if what was within him, was worthy of sharing with me. From me came love, therefore what flowed from not only him but everyone else was love.

I was promised fresh vine tomatoes and okra from their gardens when I came back. I look forward to that return.

Without mentioning or prompting any discussion of race, several shared with me and those with me, that they did not see race, but only saw the person. One person poured his heart out to my daughter a situation from his youth where something happened which a black lady took offense, when he intended no offense. Very lovingly, my daughter assured him that he had done no wrong and that he needed not carry that with him any longer. He seemed relieved to hear this.

I knew in this group of elderly whites, I had found friends. But even more precious than that, I was encouraged to have found genuine love. Love that went beyond race and encouragement filled with hope and reassurances that good things flow from people who have good hearts, regardless of their race.

I realized even more now that racism is a condition of the heart. For when the heart is darkened by hate, racism is the manifestation of a sickened soul. But when the heart is filled with light, love is the evidence of a healthy soul which sees only through eyes of love. When we truly love from a deep place within the soul, racism and hate can no longer take residence within the heart.

That day, I saw the power not of politics, but the power of LOVE!

I even could believe that the reporter who didn't want any more of the "NRAAC's stuff", would one day come to know the power of love!

On the way back I savored the memories of my visit. The encouragement was just what I needed. I found hope in not just the younger generation, but encouragement that there are many at the grassroots level whose love had not waxed cold.

As I retired for the night, I gently closed my eyes and whispered, "Thank you Dear God for this time, encouraging the preacher."

I was thankful for this weekend special, where the message preached was the message of LOVE, and it was preached by everyone within the room! Indeed it was encouragement from the grass...the grassroots level.



To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill
423-702-5622 NRAAC office
nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus.

She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at:

http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and
http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.

Day 10: The National Republican African American Caucus Has It’s Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

April 29, 2010

NRAAC's National Chair Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
National Republican African American Caucus [NRAAC] Blog

http://nraac.blogspot.com
http://www.nraacaucus.org

The National Republican African American Caucus Has It's Say!: An 18 Day Political Revival

Day 10: Why White Republicans who are inviting and who do want Blacks in the party, (including those who feel this way, but are afraid to speak up or welcome us), remain silent on the issue of racism, even when they see and know it exists within the Party.

The best way to understand Republican silence is to carefully study its root causes. There are three root causes that top the list! Money, power and fear.

Fear is the master demon which has its roots entangled with money and power. From this come the reasons why silence on the issue of racism exists. It has connections between what is in the heart and what is in the purse or pocket that precipitate a reason to fear the lose of power.

Each time I witness the unwillingness of a Republican to take a stand for what is right, I get on the Internet and research the connections that person has to the person who is doing the wrong. Without fail, each time I have done this, I have been amazed to find that there is a money or power connection.

The money trail runs in two directions - the donor and the recipient. And so does the fear. If it is the donor who does not want those of color within the party, they will give to have that directive carried out. Of course this is not something which is openly done. But the directive is done in private or coded. This is not to say every Republican donor does this, but we know that it is done. It is a well kept secret. Even those whites who have assured me it happens, they have pledged to deny it if I call them by name.

Trust me on this one, if the money donors within the Republican Party say, widen the tent, the tent will be widened! If they give the directive to narrow the tent and close the gate, then none to very few of us are getting in!

Then there are the recipients of the money. They normally are within elected or appointed leadership. They understand all too well that in order to get the money, they have to toe the line. But they are not all influenced by their money connections. Many have ample resources of their own and the choice to exclude is because of the darkness of their own hearts or simply because they want the black vote, but are unwilling to share the political landscape and the political power that goes with it.

If you have political aspirations of any sort, power is the root of silence. Therefore very few if any, are willing to jeopardize their political careers to side with blacks on the issue of inclusion. This is especially true, since as a race, within the Republican Party we have had very little to no voting capitol that can influence the outcome of an election. So who cares if we are excluded! With or without us, it does not amount to any significance at the polls. And until this is changed, it is a politically sound reason to encourage silence.

Where the influence of power and money is felt most is on a local and state level. Since my home state is also the state of birth for the National Republican African American Caucus, I can use it as an example. But by no means am I inferring that Tennessee is the only place where this kind of politics exists.

When the NRAAC began to have issues with exclusion at the local level in Tennessee, bearing an olive branch, in peace and love, I went to those on a local and state level. Nothing was done. When I realized that the opposition was spurred on by one of our Republican congressman who was not able to use our organization for his own political aspiration to ascend to the office of governor of the state of Tennessee, again I went with an olive branch first to him and them to others in power. Nothing was done. When we were told by our local party chair that unless we went through her or the good congressman, we would not be recognized or have any involvement in the party, I went back with an olive branch in the spirit of love. Nothing was done. When I saw how we were being blocked in every effort we made to integrate into the Republican Party, I tried again at the Tennessee State GOP level to get relief. Nothing was done. When I was personally investigated to see if I met the Republican litmus test by our Hamilton County local GOP chair, I went directly to her and the local party. Nothing was done. As I watched her follow me everywhere I went to recruit, and once I left, she made it her personal business to contact those whites who thought it was a great idea to have blacks in the party and welcomed our presence, to tell them that I was a "troublemaker" and did not have the blessings of the local party or the good congressman, I sought relief from every GOP level. Nothing was done. When I was required by her to get legal permission from the RNC legal counsel before she would recognize our organization on a local or state level, I went to the RNC with the same olive branch. Nothing was done. When things got so crazy that we were being ignored at events and racist rumors spread about our membership which were so ridiculous that anyone with common sense would know something more was at work, I tried to keep the faith and believe there was someone within the Republican Party at some level who would accept our olive branch and welcome us. Nothing was done. I carried this olive branch to so many, for so long, until finally I realized that no one was willing to do anything about what was happening to us.

There were those who listened and even remarked behind closed doors that what was happening to us they did not condone, but because those involved were well connected with power and to money, they were afraid to speak out against them. It was then that I realized the impact of power and money on issues of race within the party.

Speaking of ridiculous rumors, I cannot pass up an opportunity to at least share one or two good stories. There are three that come to mind that I wrote about in my book.

[Excerpts from Black Eyes Shut - White Lips Sealed, Chapter Twenty, Republican White Wall of Silence.]

When it came time for the 2001 Annual Republican Women's Picnic, our local caucus took several large covered dishes to the event. Our caucus secretary because it was on a Wednesday night, which was a church night for most "black folks", and because she and her husband pastored, was unable to stay. Being a member of the Women's Club and having brought food, with plenty of it for everyone, I asked her if she wanted to fix a plate and take it with her. She prepared one for her husband, and herself. I went over to the dessert table and continued to dish out the desserts. While she was preparing her plates, one of the Republican women, who happened to be the wife of one of the county elected officials came over to her, and in a very nasty tone of voice asked, "How many of those plates are 'you people' going to fix and take out of here?" A few days after this, rumors floated throughout headquarters, that the "black people" had come to the picnic and had fixed all of these plates and were slipping them out the door, and had to be stopped! Despite this we continued to show a substantial presence at Republican functions.

At the 2001 Annual Hamilton County Picnic, with about a crowd of 150, we brought 38 of our local caucus members. With only one to two blacks usually showing up at these events, now to have 38 was substantial. Knowing how they felt about us, I made sure all 38 of us brought the cleaning product they had asked those who were attending to bring. I also told them to make sure they mingled, and to avoid being in a group, because having this number of African-Americans show up, as opposed to their normal two to three, might cause fear and make the white racists within the party a little nervous. I carefully selected the 38 who were to attend and kept that number under 40 people because I knew by now that the greatest fear was not just of our "color", but it was a combination of both our "color" and our "numbers". Just as I predicted, it made some nervous. In fact, Congressman Wamp got so nervous that when he got up and tried to welcome us, he said he was so happy to see so much color or coloreds in the mix. No one, white or black was sure if he said "color" or "coloreds". They all just looked puzzled after his statement.

At Congressman Wamp's annual picnic, we again showed our presence. This time I decided to gradually increase the number to 65 people. We could have had as many as 250 of us who did not have anything better to do other than enjoy Congressman Wamp's barbeque on Labor Day, and would have been happy to come. But again, I was afraid to overwhelm the racists within the Party, in light of their present fears of having us there, and the possibility of having us take over. Also I was afraid that if we showed up in any larger numbers, this would cause the Republican Party to fight us even more. Therefore I only asked a few who I felt could deal with any possible hostility, which at this point had greatly increased to the point this time of Congressman Wamp not even acknowledging our presence! At the Hamilton County Republican picnic, local chair Robin Smith and Congressman Wamp did manage to welcome us, but at his picnic, he welcomed everyone else, his neighbors, his friends, his neighbor's neighbor, his friend's friends, and everyone else, and totally ignored us. It was hard to over look us because this time, fearing possible hostility, I asked everyone to sit together, and try to stay together this time, as opposed to having asked them to mingle at the last event.

We all sat together in the top to middle bleachers. It looked like a "colored only" section! When a few whites, sat next to us we wondered if they knew this was a segregated section. Except for Johnny Horne and his wife, and a couple we never saw before, this is where the "coloreds" sat. Because our presence was so obvious, this apparently made Congressman Wamp even more nervous. It certainly made a liar out of those who had said, we didn't have any members. But our increased presence didn't warrant a welcome, which led us to take that as an unwelcome. Rather than get upset, I joked and told the Caucus members, "That's okay if he ignores us! Let's just eat his food and be happy little colored Republicans". To that I added, "...And make sure this time, we all fix plates and sneak them out the door! Oh...and don't forget the Mayfield's ice cream!"

All during the picnic, we joked with each other about this. They were brave to have endured this, because I was brave. However nothing was funny about the insult, and the way in which we were being treated. But when you have to endure as much racism as we have had to endure as a race, you realize that sometimes you just have to laugh at racist ignorant white folks, rather than get upset about it. There certainly was plenty enough of them within the Wamp-Smith camp to deal with! For them, no matter what we did, or how many of us who showed up, we just were not going to be welcomed and accepted.

Because of what had happened at the Wamp Picnic, by the time the day came around for me to speak at Pachyderms, none of our caucus members wanted to come, and I didn't blame them. We only had seven or eight to show up. But even that was a crowd in comparison to the "one" they normally had.

I saw from these and many other stories like it, that fear is a very powerful weapon. It was the fear of people of color which caused both those who were racist as well as those who wanted to protect their political turfs, not to want us in the party. But also it was the fear of those who were in power or who had money connections that kept the good white Republicans from standing up, speaking out and saying this was wrong.

It was back in the early 2000s that I learned just how powerful fear is. So powerful that it can enslave, when there is a fear of what to do with us within the Republican Party as we grew in numbers. Powerful enough to build fortified Republican white walls of silence that excludes the very race from which the Republican Party was birthed, and claims it seeks to recruit.

Powerful enough to cause even good people to compromise their integrity and turn their heads to wrong, choosing to remain silent.

I guess that is why neither the membership of the NRAAC, nor I walk in this kind of silencing fear.

To reach the NRAAC national chair:

Jean Howard-Hill 423-702-5622
NRAAC office nraachowardhill@gmail.com
Jean.howard.hill@gmail.com


[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the author of Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed. She has serves as the national chair for the National Black Republican Women with her late husband, Attorney Bobby Lee Hill serving as the head of the Black Republican Men for Change from 1987 to his death in 1991. After his death up until 1993, she remained head of the organization, and in 1999 combined the two groups to form the National Republican African American Caucus. She has taught full time and as an adjunct, American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics and Culture of Nonwestern Countries at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, and was voted 2006 Outstanding Professor of the year. Additionally, from 1976 to 1979, she designed and directed the "Democracy In Action" Program, which was a civics program taught in the local school systems. Howard-Hill also is a local political commentator and holds a law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Law. She also is ordained clergy and heads The Healing Place Ministries International, overseeing 47 ministries throughout Africa.

She also is a TN third district congressional candidate. If elected, she would be the first African American Republican and female to be elected from the third district. Her campaign website can be found at: http://ladyjforcongress.com and http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.com; http://jeanhowardhillcampaignnews.blogspot.com; http://blogwithladyjforcongress.blogspot.com; http://jeanhowardhillforcongress.ning.com; http://www.youtube.com/JHHCongress; http://twitter.com/ JHHCongress.]

The National Republican African-American Caucus is an organization that is comprised of Spirit filled people of faith within the African American community, that works in conjunction with local, state and national party efforts to embrace, and offer African-American Republicans opportunities for inclusion and involvement in the Republican Party, and builds bridges between the African-American community and the Republican Party. In doing so, it seeks to carry out the philosophy and mission set before President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas to build a stronger and more inclusive Republican Party, where those guiding principles are more important than politics.

More information on the NRAACcan be found at: http://www.nraacaucus.org; http://nraacaucus.ning.com [NRAAC] National Republican African American Caucus Social Issue Network (members only); http://nraac.blogspot.com [NRAAC Blog]; http://youthonthehorizons.blogspot.com [NRAAC Youth on the Horizons Blog]; http://the-twig.blogspot.com [NRAAC New Generation-New Direction Blog]; and http://theblackolivebranch.blogspot.com [NRAAC National Chair's Blog]. Each State Caucus can be accessed by state. See related links at http://www.nraacaucus.org/index_files/Page816.htm. Also can be found on the RNC group page at http://our.gop.com/Groups/National_Republican_African-American_Caucus_NRAAC.