All skinfolk ain’t kinfolk
The Republican National Convention is underway in Milwaukee, and we’re getting a strong reminder that all skinfolk ain’t kinfolk. Let me be clear. I’m all for varied thought processes. Black people are not monolithic. There are several issues for both parties, so I get Black folks deciding to be Republican or Independent. What I don’t get are the Black GOPers who peddle white supremacist rhetoric as a way of being accepted into the Republican fold.
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Case in point, some of the Black speakers at the convention. There was Amber Rose, the influencer, model, video vixen, and former girlfriend of Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa. Saying she felt “protected by Donald Trump,” Rose said she’s a proud Republican. It was obvious organizers touted her to reach a young, Black demographic. The problem with that is Rose will tell anyone who will listen how “she isn’t Black.” So if you’re going after Black culture, it might seem more fitting to choose someone proud of their Black culture. But hey, that’s just me. Or not. Before Rose, John James, Michigan’s first Black Republican congressman, had me wanting to throw something at my TV. James once compared abortion to genocide and in 2023 voted against congressional efforts to codify abortion rights into law. He also called the Republican Party the party of “emancipation” and “the Civil Rights movement.” Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt and South Carolina’s Tim Scott talked about how racism doesn’t exist, eliciting applause from the 90% white crowd (that’s my unofficial tally). My issue is where are the regular Black folks? The ones who don’t have to remind the crowd how they’re the descendants of slaves, how they’ve “overcome” and since their life is great, all Black lives are great. The ones who may agree with Republican policies but don’t have to spew anti-Black talking points??? The conference is almost over and we’ve yet to see it.
Project 2025
While attention is being placed on the RNC, Donald Trump’s Vice-Presidential pick of JD Vance (Trump’s Mini-Me), let’s not lose sight of Project 2025, which is Trump’s blueprint for how to make the conservative culture wars a permanent part of the federal government. Officially, Trump has nothing to do with the 900-plus page document. Technically, the “Conservative Promise” is the brainchild of the Heritage Foundation, a 50-year-old think tank led by a pro-Trump culture warrior whose only goal is “institutionalizing Trumpism.” To achieve his objective, he assembled policymakers and MAGA extremists from the first Trump administration. Look, you may not read the full 900 pages but watch some videos, read the highlights, and check out the Defender’s ongoing coverage of this issue. Black people CANNOT afford to dismiss this life-changing plan. If we do, in the words of the great Black columnist Michael Harriot, we will definitely “F-around and find out.”
Missouri City Lawsuit
Well, we knew this was coming. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a man found in the back of a Missouri City police cruiser hours after a crash last month. While responding to a robbery, officer Blademir Viveros crashed into a 2005 Toyota Corolla, killing its driver, 16-year-old Mason Stewart, and his mother, Angela Stewart. Missouri City resident Michael Hawkins was in the backseat of the police cruiser when the crash took place. According to the lawsuit, Hawkins has been partially paralyzed as a result of the crash. He is reportedly still in the hospital. The lawsuit, which was filed last week, names Missouri City and its police department as defendants. It is seeking more than $1 million in damages.
Viveros was driving on Cartwright Road in Missouri City around 8:45 p.m. on June 20 when he crashed into the Toyota Corolla. The Texas Department of Public Safety said that Stewart did not yield the right-of-way when pulling out of a parking lot. However, DPS also found that Viveros had not activated his emergency lights and was driving above the speed limit. Not to mention that officers are not supposed to respond to calls when someone is in the back of their vehicles. Viveros has been relieved of his duties. As he should be.
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