How Should Black Conservatives Address Issues of Importance to Black Americans?

Greeting Beloved,

And welcome to the 7th episode of The Conscious Conservative Podcast where our mission is to teach fellow Beloveds how to evangelize our God-focused message effectively.

I am your host and Twitter Professor, Felecia Killings. And I’m excited to share with you a powerful new lesson that will ignite your resolve as a conscious conservative.

Whether you have been with my platform for years or you are just joining our Beloved Tribe, I welcome you! Stay tuned until the end of today’s show to learn more about how you, too, can transform the world using the written and spoken word.

Today’s episode is brought to you by LiyahAmore University, the only online training program that helps you build a business, ministry, or movement around your authorship. No matter what you have gone through, YahWeh desires to see you manifest your greatness; but you must learn how to apply spiritual and practical teachings that will ensure your success. LiyahAmore University will make that happen.

Today's lesson pulls from The Conscious Black Conservative teaching. You can purchase the entire Conscious Conservative Collection at our Bookstore. Get the knowledge you need so you stay aware of what's happening within authentic Black Conservatism.

During today's podcast, I want to ask you, Beloveds, how Black Conservatives should tackle issues of importance to Black Americans. This past week, one of the Blexit babies went viral for a video she posted that stated "You can't be pro-Black if you're also pro-choice."

Needless to say, Black people ripped into her. The discourse carried on for a couple days. I didn't engage with the discussions because ... well, the Blexit babies have made it a point to reject sound advice from their Conservative elders.

About a day or so afterwards, I published a couple of polls on my TimeLine, asking Beloveds their thoughts about who is more effective at persuading women to avoid abortions. I'll share the results of that poll later in this show.

​What I hope to push through today's teaching is how vital it is to be cognizant of our online content.

... to be intentional with our messages.

... to consider whether or not the materials we produce online are materials we will look back on and be proud of.

Today's teaching is simply a reflective one. As you think about your own desires for launching your conservative platform, it's important you develop a clear message so people come to respect your voice.

Now, I'm not talking about people always loving what you have to say.

​I'm talking about people RESPECTING your vocal power. Even if they hate your message, they will still respect what you do because your message empowers others.

So, as we get into this teaching, keep that point in mind. I don't know the message YahWeh wants you to deliver. But I know there is a way to speak your mind so people will listen and be influenced. That's what I want to teach you right now.

So, let's get straight into the lesson.

Listen to Episode 7 of The Conscious Conservative Podcast

The Moral High Ground in Conservatism

For more than four years, I have been on the front lines of the Black Conservative social media movement. Before that, I had always been a Republican voter. Conservatism is all I know; and over the years, I have watched as my value system empowered me to conquer the insurmountable.

Conservatism is built upon the idea of the individual. 

We seek to preserve the individual rights above the collective; and at times, this individualism translates into individual thinking.

Among the most prominent talking points within the Black Conservative Movement is the idea that Black Conservatives are the true "free thinkers." The other 90% are locked in mental bondage simply because they vote Democrat.

In this space, this is the moral high ground. And any Black Conservative who ascribes to conservative politics is seemingly superior in intellect than other Black Americans.

Now, perhaps it's because I've spent so many years in the public space, but I have never ascribed to such beliefs. In fact, such thinking would have prevented me from helping hundreds of scholars graduate from high school. If I believed Black people were intellectually inferior to me because of our political differences, my scholars would not have loved me as they did.

So, at times, when I see the Blexit babies use their platforms to suggest certain Black people are "less than," I worry that their words will come back to haunt them. This leads me into the recent discourse that took place on Twitter.

Can't Be Pro-Black and Pro-Choice.

Before I dive into this main topic, I want to address one question here: What does it mean to be pro-Black?

​Often, you will hear me speak about this topic from my own platform. 

I am pro-Black. I love Black people. I love the Black family. I love Black businesses. I love Black entertainment.

I love Black culture, but not the kind mainstream White Americans push.

​Felecia Killings is pro-Black because I believe in the richness of our heritage, the magnitude of our struggle in this country, and the ways we've overcome challenges because of our conscious conservatism.

To me, this is the essence of pro-Blackness. And it has nothing to do with hating White people. (Somehow, White people like to interject themselves in Black people's lives all the time ... but I digress.)

​To be pro-Black is to essentially support initiatives that empower other Black Americans. And it seems fitting that if a person is "pro-Black," then how can she also be "pro-choice"?

Now, let's examine this other portion: What does it mean to be pro-choice?

For the most part, Conservatives equate "pro-choice" with being anti-abortion. So, instead of simply saying, "I hate abortion," they say, "I'm against a woman's right to choose what is done to her body and the fetus."

​Now, today's lesson isn't a discussion about the merits (or demerits) of the abortion topic. Instead, I want to challenge us to consider how our message conflicts with our message. In other words, if I am pro-Black, why would I also be in favor of the government mandating what people do with their bodies? If I am Conservative who believes in small government, why am I advocating for stricter laws that restrict what women do to themselves?

Do you see what I mean when I say, "Our message conflicts with our message"?

The Polls

A couple days ago, I asked Beloveds to give me their opinion about what is the most effective method for helping women who are contemplating abortion. 

​More specifically, the first poll read:

In this first poll, I wanted Conservatives to get into the mind of a religious woman who is contemplating abortion. According to the poll, 90% said they would keep the baby and face social isolation.

I can't tell you how surprising that was to me, simply because it showed how much these voters were lying.

And I know they're lying because the data prove otherwise.

Among the abortion rates in our country, more than half of them are committed by religious women.

You know I always bring receipts to the table, so let's examine them here.

According to one study, "Many abortion patients reported a religious affiliation—24% were Catholic, 17% were mainline Protestant, 13% were evangelical Protestant, and 8% identified with some other religion. Thirty-eight percent of patients had no religious affiliation" (Source).

Catholics are among the most prominent advocates of the pro-life movement; yet Catholic women constitute almost a fourth of the abortions performed in this country.

The reasons for this are exactly the reasons I posted in my poll: because religious women fear social isolation.

​Let's look at my other poll.

​I asked my Beloveds the following question:

An overwhelming number of voters said the best person to convince a woman to avoid abortion is the woman who had one and regretted it.

Surprisingly, voters felt a man was more "effective" at convincing a woman than a woman who has never been pregnant!

When I examined the comments in the thread, each Beloved shared that experience and compassion were key factors when they selected "C."

Now, let's look at the final poll.

​In the third poll, I wanted Beloveds to consider whether or not people who have never experienced certain events should speak on those events, especially to fellow Americans.

Overwhelmingly, 70% said "Yes" because they felt everyone should be able to express their opinion on controversial topics.

What do these data sets reveal about Conservatives?

When we look at the overall responses, I am brought back to my initial argument that our message often conflicts with our message.

If Conservatives claim to be about that pro-life movement, then why are more than half the abortions in this country committed by religious (Conservative) women?

If Conservatives know that the best person to convince another mother out of abortion is by hearing from a mother who regretted it, then why push women away from the pro-life movement with their judgmental opinions?

I could careless about "they have a right to speak their mind." That's not what this lesson is about.

I'm asking, "Is what we are doing from our platforms effective?" 

I'm asking, "If we can't even refrain from having abortions, Conservatives, how do we expect the rest of our country to stop?"

These are common sense questions that require common sense answers. We must learn how to approach certain matters from a common sense perspective so we see our communities thrive.

These experiences are my experiences.

When I framed those questions for my Beloveds, those ideas came from my own experience.

​Before giving birth to Aaliyah, I aborted my first child. 

Now, my abortion wasn't the gruesome one you see plastered on the pro-life posters.

I was a couple weeks pregnant, and decided to take the abortion pill. My doctor couldn't even see the seed on the ultrasound. She wasn't even sure I was truly pregnant. That's how tiny it was.

Nevertheless, that seed contained life. And I know this because years later, the Holy Spirit gave Aaliyah a dream. In the dream, she saw her older sister. When she woke from the dream, she asked me if she had a sister, and that's when I told her about my abortion. (I shared this story on Facebook, and it went viral.)

I chose abortion at that time because I was heavily involved with the church. I was one of the youth leaders. So, the threat of social isolation was real for me.

At the same time, I had been in a committed relationship. But I feared the social stigma I would experience, because I remember seeing my younger sister go through it. (The church is extremely volatile towards unwed mothers.)

It wasn't until after I had that abortion that I realized I could careless about what the church thought of me. So, when my ex- and I became pregnant again, I kept my daughter. She has been the inspiration behind this entire virtual empire I have built.

​When asked if a pregnant mother should keep her child, I can tell her "Most definitely!" When a mother becomes worried about how she will support the baby, I can point her to the exact resources I used to build my economic empire. 

Today, I am well-equipped to give pregnant mothers an answer because I have lived the experience. My connection and compassion minister to each woman. And I am confident that it's only because I know what they are going through.

​The purpose of conservatism is not to preach our values from our high horse. We aren't to use our platforms to push people away from our empowering message. When we are trying to save people, we don't pull them up with sharp knives. We use the tools that will get them out of their rut while also preserving their personhood.

​Some would argue, "Well, Felecia, you're really mean to Conservatives." And I would say to them, "Of course, I am!" I am not pro-Conservatives. I am pro-Black. So, when I see Conservatives using the ideology I love to dismiss Black people, I'm coming for blood!

But to the Conservatives who see themselves (and the world) through the eyes of the Spirit, I consider them my brothers and sisters. And I want these individuals to be empowered to evangelize our conservative message effectively.

So, as you approach another week on Twitter or whatever social media platform you love, think about messaging. Think about presentation. Consider experience and storytelling above the talking points. Add substance to your message, and people will listen.

I guarantee it, and I will continue to preach this my platform until YahWeh says, "That's enough, Felecia."

​Announcing Our Fundraising Initiative for The Conscious Black Conservative TV Series. 

What would you give to see the Conscious Black Conservative message become mainstream in America? What would you give to see the faces of your empowering Black Conservatives on television? What would you give to hear more messages that break down the racial barriers between Black voters and Conservatives?

Hold that number in mind as I share this amazing journey we are about to take.

Over the last few months, I and other authentic Black Conservatives have used our voices to preach a message that empowers Black voters. You've watched as we taught social, political, and economic conservatism. You observed as we tore down the racial stereotypes pushed by mainstream conservative pundits. And you listened as we urged fellow Conservatives to adopt a new method for effective outreach.
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Now that we have made significant strides in changing the conservative political landscape on behalf of Black voters (via social media), we are ready to take our message to mainstream Black audiences. We want to see our message openly discussed through a new television show focused on Conscious Black Conservatism. And our target network for broadcasting this show is the newly launched Black News Channel.

The mission of the Black News Channel is to:
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• Give voice to an underserved community.
• Build bridges to connect the many diverse cultures in our nation.
• Facilitate a more informed national conversation about challenges facing our urban communities.
• Engage African American viewers in our nation’s social, economic and political discussions and debates.
• Create a platform for African American newsmakers and policymakers to reach their constituents.
• Showcase African American achievers creating positive role models for black youth.
• Produce educational programming that is culturally relevant to empower African American viewers.
• Inspire African American viewers with uplifting and spiritual messages produced daily.
• Preserve a proud African American heritage.
• Recruit and train aspiring African American journalists. (Source)

And we are confident that such a network will fully embrace our idea.

But we need your help.

Over the next few months, we are launching an aggressive campaign to raise $25,000 to kickstart this venture. The funds we raise will be used to:
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1. Hire a professional scriptwriter who can effectively capture the show's vision and construct the work;
2. Hire the agent who can effectively pitch our show to Black News Channel;
3. Hire a public-relations specialist who can effectively connect our message with additional media channels;
4. And cover other expenses that will help us manifest this vision.

Every month, we will set a financial milestone that will help us reach our overall goal. And as each week goes by, we will immediately put the funds to work while keeping you aware of our progress (via email and Twitter Class).
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Our television series will specifically target Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation X. We will not use our newfound mainstream platform to shame Generation Black Boomers for their allegiance to the Democratic Party. We recognize what our ancestors and family members did to ensure our generation had the opportunities we experience today. We bless them, and we honor them for their fight.

But now a new generation is prepared to "bring home that check" by delivering a message of Conscious Black Conservatism to the masses. A new generation is here, one with a growing desire to see something more than Civil Rights Era politics.

This new breed is focused on creating social, political, and economic empires for the next 100 years.
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And with your help and ongoing contributions, we will make this happen!

We will see a shift in the way Black voters engage in the political discourse. And we will normalize the conscious conservative message within our communities via mainstream black media.
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So, I ask again, Beloveds,

• What would you give to see the Conscious Black Conservative message become mainstream in America?
• What would you give to see the faces of your empowering Black Conservatives on television?
• What would you give to hear more messages that break down the racial barriers between Black voters and Conservatives?

Click the DONATE NOW button, type that amount in the giving section, and be a part of the movement that's sweeping the nation.

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