 Greetings Beloved,For Black Americans today, we have a unique culture and experience. Our history binds us together, even if we live in different parts of the country. For this reason, you will see many of us call each other brothers and sisters, although we may not be related by blood. When I first began my political commentary “career,” one of the primary questions I received from White Conservatives was, “Why does everything have to be discussed through race and skin color?”When I first began my political career back in 2016, one of the primary questions I received from White Conservatives was, “Why does everything have to be discussed through race and skin color?” Other questions emerged like:
These nonsensical questions emerged from Conservatives’ inability to recognize how some Americans were treated differently in this country because of racist, systemic policies. Oh, Beloved Conservatives will attest to a point in American history when racism was much more overt. But they refuse to acknowledge the ongoing oppression that comes as a result of those foundational, historical racist policies. For Black Americans today, we have a unique culture and experience. Our history binds us together, even if we live in different parts of the country. For this reason, you will see many of us calling each other brothers and sisters, although we may not be related by blood. We define our collective selves as a community; and we have a general common sense that when each individual Black American prospers, so will our communities. My analysis is further proven by Pew Research’s latest study on Black Americans. In a report called “Race is Central to Identity for Black Americans and Affects How They Connect With Each Other,” researchers noted: No matter where they are from, who they are, their economic circumstances or educational backgrounds, significant majorities of Black Americans say being Black is extremely or very important to how they think about themselves, with about three-quarters (76%) overall saying so. This experience — the “Black Experience” — binds us together. For this reason, when we see Black Americans enduring hardships, especially at the hands of the state, the collective goes to war against the system.
I feel the ever-present need to reemphasize that point. The collective goes after the system. We do this because our history demanded it from us. We do this because if we let up, we will continue giving place to oppressive policies. Yet, despite our common history and experience, we are not a monolith. Black Americans do not think the same way or believe in the same ideological concepts. Many within our communities are die-hard Marxists. Most are socially and morally conservative. Many are politically moderate. Our diverse thinking and ingenuity make for a dynamic community, one capable of extraordinary wonders when we aren’t confronted with oppressive systems. We are workers, doctors, teachers, lawyers, content creators, visionaries, ministers, and more. Like Conservatives, we are building stones within our great American country. But our experience in this country is also riddled with extreme tragedy and controversy. We have first-hand experience dealing with local, statewide, and federal oppression in a country that espouses freedom for all Americans. Our ability to “check our country at the door” should never suggest we hate America. No, we love her enough to say, “We want you to hold fast to the liberty ideals you profess globally.” The principles of freedom ought to work for EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN. If a Black man travels to California, he should be treated with the same respect and dignity he would receive in Atlanta, GA. If Black Americans live in the freest country in the world, they should not have to deal with oppressive local governments without the rest of the country fighting alongside them to secure their rights. These principles are not hard to understand. Even more, it is not impossible to apply them equally to all Americans, especially Black Americans suffering from Progressive policies. This question then begs an answer: Why do I focus on Black History and Black Americans so much within a predominantly White Conservative space? The answer: Because if Conservatives do not make allies with this demographic right now, our collective experience in dealing with government oppression and overreach will quickly become your experience. And we all know I am 100% accurate in this assessment. Today, White Conservatives are targets of a government that has no problem snatching their rights. Beloved Conservatives have now become the "Other," a term often used against Black Americans or other minorities. Let’s take something as simple as masks mandates during the 2020-2021 pandemic. Imagine Black Americans’ surprise when we observed Becky and Tom comparing mask mandates to Jim Crow oppression. Imagine our surprise watching White Conservatives espouse the “systemic racism” narrative when White men became the new villains. (Don’t believe me? Go check out Matt Walsh’s tweets.) You see, government oppression and overreach hit differently when Conservatives are the targets. That’s when their Republican leaders urge them not to comply, only after telling Black Americans to “submit and obey” to their local oppression and government overreach for decades. The irony is laughable. The hypocrisy, unnerving. And yet, I have never witnessed the Law of Sowing and Reaping repay an entire people group (White Conservatives) in the way She has done this last round. Today, Republican leaders continue their futile efforts to protect “whiteness” and to guard against anything that “threatens” them (i.e. the misplaced rage against CRT). Today, Republican and Conservative pundits are doing everything in their power to maintain relevancy and control, despite losing influence in the Culture. Today, rather than doing what is right and in the best interest of the Conservative Movement, the base chooses the losing strategies time and time again … … when all it has to do is make allies with Black Americans, who KNOW how to fight systemic oppression. Today, Conservatives have one choice when it comes to winning: make allies with fellow Americans who know exactly what it’s like to go through centuries of systemic, racial targeting. That means recognizing there is another force worthy of our attention and battle cry. Progressivism, as Beloveds will come to understand more fully in my book, Progressivism is NOT Charity, is the enemy to Black Americans and Conservatives alike. When Progressives aren’t making Black men the villains, they are promoting White Conservative men as the enemies. When Progressives aren’t selling death, poverty, and destruction to Black communities, they are convincing suburban White women to reject White men and abort their White male babies. Progressives are unhinged in their efforts to eradicate what we deem traditional and useful to society. And yet, for some reason, White Conservatives never thought their cousins would turn on them, using the full weight of the government to make them the new "terrorists," thus destroying their progress. But Black Americans know this experience all too well. And Conscious Black Conservatives were the ONLY group bold enough to tell the base, "Make allies with Black voters against this oppressive ideology." White Conservatives rejected our warning; and now the tables have turned in such a way, they have no clue what to do. In truth, Conservatives are not equipped for this next fight. Observe their fruit for yourself. They resort to weak tactics like banning knowledge as a solution. They turn to Republican politicians as government saviors who will protect them from IDEAS instead of aggressively competing on the battlefield of ideas. Conservatives will ENLARGE government’s power, displaying their entire statism under the guise of “small government.” Yet, in the end, they have only broadened the gap between themselves and fellow Americans, who HATE Progressivism. Conservatives do not know how to battle an entire system, because they have not been fortified in the struggle. For the first time in centuries, the base has felt a small weight of government oppression on their necks. Yet, they will reject the people group (Black Americans) who have had systemic racism on their necks for centuries. Is it any wonder why I tell Beloveds to make allies in this next round? For one moment, Beloved, remove your colorblind barriers. See America’s history for what she produced. Observe how an entire ethnic group endured the most destructive moments in this country, and still managed to survive and subsequently thrive. In this next fight, Progressivism and not colorism is the#1 enemy. During this era of integration and “voluntary association” (as Sonnie Johnson calls it), Conservatives have an opportunity to multiply their political power by partnering with Black Americans, who are conservative in their core values. Beloved Conservatives have a chance to make right the wrongs of their Republican ancestors, who pushed Black Americans out of the Party decades ago. They have the opportunity to shed the racist branding they’ve submitted to for years. Our battle is not with each other based on skin color anymore; but we are waging an ideological war against government leadership that seeks to use policies as a measure for objectifying people. Will you make the choice to build the alliance this time around? Until next time, Beloved, be blessed. And as always, let's grow together! - Coach Felecia Killings
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