Black Conservative Principles to Live By - the Nguzo Saba and Ma'at

Research shows that Black conservatism relates more to traditional middle class values and morality than to any political affiliation. 

Black conservatism is best understood as a state of mind and a type of character - a way of looking at the social order.

It is not membership in a club or political party. Nor is it an ideology. It is, instead set of traditional principles and a philosophy centered on freedom and virtue.

I accept the view that conservatism is best used as an adjective and not a noun. 

Black conservatives just want to preserve the best of the past and make improvements. The word conservative, simply defined, is favoring traditional views or values. Black conservatives do not contemplate radical change unless the times demand it. And, if so will strongly pursue it.

Over a century ago Booker T. Washington described conservatism as follows: “The Negro should acquire property , own his own land, drive his old mule hitched to his own wagon, milk his own cow, raise his own crop and keep out of debt, and when he acquired a home became fit for a conservative citizen.”

Now consider the Nguzo Saba – The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa

Ujima. Unity. To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, race

Kujichagulia, Self-Determination. To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves. 

Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility. To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers and sisters problems ours and to solve them together.

Ujimaa,  Cooperative Economics  -To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and to profit from them together.

Nia, Purpose,To make our own collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness .

Kuumba, Creativity. To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial then when we inherited it.

Imani, Faith . To believe in all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness victory of our struggle.

These set of principles represent a state of mind emphasizing traditional principles and a philosophy centered on freedom and virtue as earlier stated.

Black people should acquire property, own their own  homes, build and maintain their own stores, shops, and other businesses, and most of all, strive  to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Is this unlike what Booker T. Washington would have stated in today’s terms? And, are these traditional, and conservative, views and values?

Now let’s consider the Seven Principles of Ma’at

Ma’at  is an ancient system of morals and values that guided thoughts and behavior in KEMET (Egypt). It is also found in many other cultures in Africa. In that conservatism is a philosophy centered upon freedom and virtue, consider that virtue itself is moral excellence, righteousness, and goodness.  

Following  is the Seven Principles of Ma’at :

Truth: based in fact with honesty and integrity

Justice: a state of fairness and lawful judgment

Righteousness: a state of consistent good conduct

Reciprocity: what goes around comes around

Balance: an equal distribution of weight

Order: the correct sequence of thought and action

Harmony: one accord; a pleasing arrangement

The world is equally divided between good and evil. Your next act will tilt the scale. (African proverb)

Both the Seven Principles of the Nguzo Saba  and Ma’at offer a solid foundation for personal, family, and for both societal development and preservation.

I find it puzzling that none of the Black conservatives who appear on various shows on the Fox News channels ever refer to Africa, the country of their ancestors, in any context. 

While they probably think that their African ancestry and these Principles are unimportant, the average white person don’t have any problems referring to their Jewish, Italian, British, or Greek ancestry.

According to a recent United Nations report, just one country in African, Nigeria, about the size of Texas, is expected to have a population of over 300 million by the year 2050. That's more than the entire population of the United States.

And, that by the end of this century 40% of the world's population will be African.  Many notable U.S. businesses are locating branches in different African countries because of the obvious potential there. China has certainly taken notice. 

What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.  

African-Americans are not a Minority Group

African-American Majority

It is rare to see or hear any Black conservative refer to the homeland of Africa in any context. 

Nevertheless, Africa is rising and beckons to it’s brothers and sisters in the Diaspora to take heed and to reconnect.

Although we refer to ourselves as Black Americans, our political ideology range from liberal to conservative and everywhere in between. 

But essentially, we are Americans of African descent and that must never be forgotten. 

Many Black conservatives are involved in interracial relationships and even marriages. Malcolm X had a very clear view regarding these types of relationships. In essence, he viewed this as being “destructive to the Black race”.

African Americans and Interracial Marriage 

In truth Black Americans, referred  here also as African Americans, who interracially marry are providing notice that they are willing to psychologically and often physically separate themselves from their African heritage, culture, and traditions and is living in denial of the historical and contemporary situation of African-Americans in this country. 

This African-American conservative has chosen not to do so.

It is my impression that white people whose parents or grandparents immigrated from Italy, Germany, Poland, or other European countries have no problems identifying with the country of their ancestors and in different ways, maintain their ethnic identity. 

Conservative blacks appear to have difficulty accepting their African ancestry and identity.

African Americans are not a Minority Group

Here’s some help for them. African Americans are not a minority group. If an African-American accept that designation, it is in fundamental ignorance of the fact that our homeland, Africa, is experiencing a population boom and by a UN estimate 40% of all humans will be African by the end of this century, creating huge economic opportunities.

Nigeria will Surpass the US in Population by 2050

The ancestors of African-Americans didn't immigrate here but, were brought here against their will in slave ships from Senegal, Gambia, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria all of which are in West Africa.
Now, according to the UN's new population forecast, the country of Nigeria itself, about the size of Texas, will surpass the entire US population by the year 2050. And, by 2100, it is expected to have an astonishing 1 billion people and be poised to overtake China. 

Remember, this is just one country in Africa and just one of the countries from which our ancestors were taken. In contrast, the Western European countries have a low fertility rate and are shrinking in population.

It’s rational, therefore, that Black conservatives should consider that they are really Africans living in the Diaspora and not only connect with their African history, culture, and traditions, but even to look to Africa for the economic opportunities being presented now and into the future.

I hope this will put this minority group nonsense to rest. White Europeans are really the minority group.

Black Conservative View on the NFL Players Protest

NFL Players Protesting

NFL players can choose to protest the police misconduct, social injustice, and racism experienced by Black Americans in any manner they choose. And the owners of the teams have the right to discipline the players according to their contract even to the point of releasing them. 

President Trump can voice his opinion until he’s hoarse, it is just hot air. This is a private matter that is to be resolved between the owners and the players who have an agreement between their association and the owners.

True NFL Fans will Continue to Watch
Those of us who are true NFL fans will continue to watch the games and enjoy doing so. It is an opportunity to relax and have fun – the politics, in this instance, can easily be ignored. 

The players are still playing hard and trying to win. The blocking and tackling is the same as when I started watching the game over 63 years ago.

My Experience as a Black Man
I am a Black man and an Army veteran who both served his country and experienced racism ever since birth. 

My parents were born in the Deep South under the vile and disgusting system of Jim Crow perpetrated by the southern Democrats, including being terrorized by the Klu Klux Klan, Knights of the White Camelia,  and other white supremacist terrorist groups. 

Then after moving to Chicago they experienced racism in the most segregated city in this country dominated by the white racist Democratic machine. This is the environment in which I was born and raised.

Again, I support the NFL players who desire to express their concerns about police misconduct, social injustice, and racism that is still a part of the social fabric of this country. And, I will continue to watch the NFL games as I always have.

I also hope that the NFL players will take the next step and support the organizations, financially and otherwise, that are fighting against police misconduct, social injustice, and racism.

Looking forward to the 2018 NFL season. 

Any Comments? Leave them below.

Black Conservative View on the Simplest and Quickest Way to Protect School Children

The simplest and quickest way to protect children from being murdered while in school is to discontinue having schools as a gun free zone. 

To attempt to eliminate certain types of firearms violates the Second Amendment even more than has already occurred.

Moreover, to do that to someone who has been diagnosed with a mental illness not only denies that person's Second Amendment right to self-defense, but also does not distinguish between the types of mental illnesses. 

All types of mental illnesses should not be associated with the type of person who may commit a mass murder.

Personality of a Mass Murderer
Both persons who committed the mass murder at the Parkland, Florida school and at the Santa Fe School appears to be a sociopath, a person who has a type of Antipersonality Disorder. This person tend to be deceptive and  can be and is often rational in the planning and follow-through of his terrible acts. 

This type of personality disorder is often difficult to diagnose and treat. In contrast, an individual who is experiencing depression or anxiety and is on a mood stabilizer for such conditions is unlikely to be acting to acquire a weapon and planning a mass murder.  

Let’s be clear, the safety of school children is the responsibility of state governments, local governments, and the school boards. Not the President of the United States nor Congress has this responsibility. For example, in Chicago those high schools in the inner-city neighborhoods with a high level of gang activity have uniformed Chicago police officers stationed where the youngsters enter and leave the schools. 

The Chicago Board of Education contracts with the Chicago Police Department to have officers stationed at the schools. The police cars are parked outside of the schools and near the school doors in full view of the public.

Positioning Police Officers
The police officers are stationed inside of the schools and at the doors where they can observe each student who comes into the school. This has been a successful standing policy of the Chicago Public School for decades. 

In addition to the police officers being stationed inside the schools, there are clearly identified civilian patrols in the blocks surrounding the schools who watch the comings and goings of the students. There is no need to be talking about having teachers, counselors, or any other school officials being armed.

I hope that other state and local officials as well as the school boards across the country will consider looking at the Chicago model and consider implementing this type of protection for the children under their care.  

Presidential Steps
Finally, the only benefit that the federal government can provide is for the President to issue an Executive Order for the Department of Education to redirect funds from useless and irrelevant programs and to make those funds available to the states for the sole purpose of improving the safety of the children for whom they have the responsibility.


What are your thoughts? Leave your comments below.