Black Conservatism - An Oxymoron?

A few nights ago, a young man stood up at an election rally and begged GOP candidate John McCain to "take it to Obama." Now, normally this would hardly raise an eyebrow and would be seen as a person expressing their opinion or simply politics as usual. However, the comment apparently set off a firestorm of outrage in the black community. Why? Because the person making the desperate plea, James T. Harris, is black. Mr. Harris says that since making his nationally televised comments, he has received an outcry of “threats” and insults from black folk who just can‘t understand how a black man could make such comments.

So, who is James Harris? A visit to his web page proved interesting:

• He is Republican and self-proclaimed “conservative."
• He hosts his own radio show, the National Conversation, WTMJ 620 in Milwaukee.
• He taught history at Brown Deer High School.
• He has traveled abroad--Western and Eastern Europe, India and West Africa.
• He graduated from Cardinal Stritch University, studied history and sociology at the University of Nottingham.
• He is a national motivational speaker and owner of the company IllumiNation.
  

From the looks of it Mr. Harris is doing alright, he has a college education, a good job, and owns his own business. So what’s so wrong with him being conservative?

I looked up the definition of “conservative” and found this one most applicable, “favoring traditional views and values, tending to oppose change.” Let’s break it down.

Hmm…“favoring traditional views.” So, what “traditional” views does Mr. Harris favor? Those that oppose blacks even going to college, yet alone going to school with whites? What about segregated schools? Maybe its the "old boy" network that still prevents many minorities from having a high paying job or owning their own business? Could be being able to travel, period, or having to ride in the back or eating in a “blacks only” area. Surely, being a black man, Mr. Harris does not favor these viewpoints, yet many conservative whites do. So why would any black man be conservative?

And what change does Mr. Harris oppose? Does he not want to change the fact that a black man, no matter how rich, well spoken, educated, well-dressed, or morally conservative can’t catch a cab in most cities? Or, does he object to the fact that many whites don’t want to live in the same community as a person of color? Perhaps he feels it appropriate that many whites feel blacks are inferior and are spreading negative stereotypes abroad? Indeed, does he support the negative stereotypes of blacks in the media? Could it be that he considers it fair policy that we spend more money on prisons than schools? Or that the sentence for drug crimes are horribly unequal? Is he comfortable that white women cross the street when they see a black man, including him? Or doesn’t he want people to stop beating up other people just because they are not white, or are gay? Perhaps its women wanting equal pay for equal work that bothers him. Maybe its the fact that because of Barack Obama, voter registration among people of color is the highest in history. Is he unnerved by the fact that a black man is so close the Presidency? And should the practice of racial profiling not change? And how could anyone not support changing the predatory lending practices that have ruined the lives of so many? Changing these negative policies would not only help people of color, they would help America--and him. So how could he not want change?

Which begs the question: Can a black person truly be conservative in America?

Mr. Harris has obviously carved out a niche for himself and I praise him. He has found a life that eludes many people of color: a good education, a good job, business ownership, and a political voice. I submit what he really does not want to change is his life. But brother, if that’s the case, he's on the wrong side!

Your thoughts?