TheBlackMarket.com (The Other Side Express)

If there is one thing I wasn’t born, it’s a Democrat. Don’t get me wrong. I wasn’t born Republican, Independent, Libertarian or anything else for that matter. But it seems for African Americans, there’s an unwritten rule that you are the sole property (no offense) of one particular party. Let’s just be blunt. It’s as if it were explicitly written somewhere in the 1st Chapter in the Great Book of Black Ideology that if you’re Black, you’re a Democrat. And don’t dare go thinking outside the Democratic box or you will feel the wrath of the Demagogue. You will then be forever banished from the Black circle of influence and live amongst other leprous Uncle Toms and the utterly brainwashed. Really, now?

The Short Story. I grew up in an all Black area in Shreveport, Louisiana, called the Cooper Road. It had a reputation of being one of the worst areas in the city. I lived in the projects and considered a 2,000 square-foot house a mansion. During my twelve years of education, there was only one White girl to ever attend class with me. (I can still remember Nancy.) I was never exposed first hand to anything outside of school, church and music. My favorite T-V shows were Good Times, The Jeffersons, Bewitched and Wonder Woman. My favorite sport was golf, but I only watched it on T-V because no one I knew played it.

When it came to politics, I knew only two things: Democrats were for the Blacks and Republicans were for the rich, which sent a signal to me that there was no such thing as a rich Black. “The Man” wouldn’t allow that. As a teenager I even enjoyed the privilege of being kicked out, and as an adult, I’ve fallen on such hard times that I’ve lived in my car. But I can honestly say that I have truly enjoyed life and the valuable lessons it’s taught me. And I thank God I had a role model in my grandmother. So, my question is, “Who brainwashed me?”.

Anyone who would seriously consider me brainwashed is admittedly denying my right to a point of view. No one brainwashed me. After years of being exposed to one point of view and calling anyone who didn’t agree with that point of view a “sell-out” or a “wanna-be”, I started paying objective attention. I simply watched and listened to other views and began to draw my own conclusions. Then one day I had an epiphany. So, like a popular bumper sticker reads, “I think. Therefore, I am a Republican.”

I think man was created. I think the family unit is one of society’s most important institutions. I think marriage is between a man and woman and that homosexuality is a perversion. I think people should be held accountable for their actions and the press should lay of Bill Cosby for saying so. I think it’s better to teach a man how to fish than to just give him a fish. I think people have the right to bear arms and children should be afforded the best education. I think our Christian heritage should be protected from revisionist historians. I think abortion is systematic genocide of the Black race and the welfare system is a system of mental-enslavement perpetuated by fork-tongued liberals who play on our grievances while making every effort to keep us comfortable in those grievances. I think you shouldn’t complain about what you allow. Having worked in the media, I know it’s a well oiled liberal machine. I think most Blacks are Democrats and couldn’t give you three good reason’s why outside of the rhetoric that Black psuedo-leaders have used to keep us feeling victimized instead of victorious. I think most Blacks don’t know their history because if they did, they’d stop this nonsensical talk of Republicans trying to take us back to slavery, since the Republican Party was founded on an anti-slavery and civil rights platform and was the original party of Black Americans until the government starting giving hand-outs. I think it’s important to respect your fellowman. I think freedom is worth fighting and dying for as many of my ancestors did for me. I think liberalism will be the death of America. I think B.E.T. should stand for Black Extermination Technique. (or, to borrow from my mentor, Reginald Jones, Black Exploitation T-V). You know what? I think that I am perfectly capable of thinking for myself.

Most of all, I think political affiliation should be based on one’s personal convictions, and NOT the color of a one’s skin. How shallow. Think about it.

Angel Roberson is a former newsreporter/anchor and now editor and publisher of the quarterly newsletter The Other Side: The Voice of Conservative Minorities which circulates throughout Arkansas. She is also founder of The Angel Project Outreach, Inc. which was set up to tackle issues plaguing our nation's youth through spiritual growth and the performing arts.

Angel Roberson writes on a gamut of issues giving a voice to the often muted or criticized voices of African-American conservative Republicans, Libertarians and independents who are fed up with the ridiculous, yet pervasive, notion of Black Group Think.

You may contact her at othersidespeaks@yahoo.com.