March 20, 2017

From the Cold War to the Culture War
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - “…culture and demographics are our destiny. We can't restore our civilization with somebody else's babies.” - Steven King (R-Iowa) March 12. 2017

“Individuals will contribute differently, not equally to this civilization and society. Certain groups of people will do more from a productive side than other groups of people will.” - Steven King (R-Iowa) March 13, 2017

Recently I had a conversation with the brilliant, insightful, activist and human rights soldier Ms. Ruby Sales during which she said, “My son, White supremacy has moved us from the Cold War to the culture war. I want you to write about that.”  Being the good “son” that I am, when Ms. Sales tells me to do something I try my best to follow her directions.

It is as though she saw this coming.  Ms. Sales was able to synthesize her lifetime of commitment to the struggle of Black people, Dr. King’s “Where Do We go From Here Chaos or Community?”, Dr. Ronald Walter’s “White Nationalism Black Interests”, the election of our 45^th President and predict Congressman King’s clear articulation of his xenophobic, racist and White supremacist world view.  Ms. Sales has seen it all and while disappointed, is not surprised (we had our discussion before King made his indefensible remarks).

At the end of WWII the relationship between former allies, the United States and Soviet Union reverted back to the clash of ideologies that had existed before the war. Differing economic, political and social structures based upon Capitalism vs. Communism brought the two military powers into a state of political hostility called the Cold War. It lasted from 1945 until the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Many of the international conflicts such as the battle over Cuba, Vietnam, and the struggle for independence of many countries in Africa were proxy cultural wars being fought by white colonial/imperialist powers in countries inhabited by people of color.

On the domestic front, the fear of Communism led the American government into periods of panic such as the Red Scare during the 1920’s and the Second Red Scare of the 1950’s.  During the Second Red Scare, Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) engaged in the politics of “Red-Baiting”, a witch-hunt designed to identify and ferret out any suspected Communist or Communist sympathizer within the US government and American society. It’s interesting to note at this juncture Trump’s mentor, Roy Cohn was a top-aide and henchman for McCarthy. At the age of 23 Cohn was chief counsel to McCarthy during the infamous McCarthy Hearings.

Taking his cue from the Second Red Scare FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover used “Red-Baiting” to undermine and subvert the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders. Hoover created the Counter Intelligence Program or COINTELPRO to “prevent the rise of a Black Messiah” that could “unify, and electrify, the militant black nationalist movement.”  Hoover used the fear of the “Red-Menace” and alleged Communist influence to attack Malcolm X, The Black Panther’s, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, SCLC, SNCC, Dr. King and his advisors such as Bayard Rustin and Hunter Pitts “Jack” O’Dell.

Now that the Soviet Union has collapsed and the Cold War has ended, America, the sole remaining superpower faces a new foe. That foe is the “browning of America”. According to the Milken Institute, “Between 2015 and 2030 there will be an absolute decline in the size of the white population under age 65. And even among seniors, racial minorities will begin to gain.” As Dr. Ron Walters wrote in White Nationalism Black Interests, “…a dominant sector of the White majority seems to have lost confidence in the promise of America as a liberal democratic state and has been recoiling from this vision…the White majority is proceeding to concentrate economic and social power within its own group, using its control over the political institutions of the state to punish presumptive enemies. The targets of this punishment have been Black, Hispanic, and other non-White communities.”

It’s not a coincidence that Congressman King tried to justify or rationalize his White nationalist comments by saying  on CNN, “I've been to Europe and spoken on this issue and I've said the same thing as far as ten years ago to the German people and any population of people that is a declining population that isn't willing to have enough babies to reproduce themselves.”  The concept of nationalism finds its genesis in Western Europe.  Again Walters, “…the idea that the racial/ethnic majority would dominate the state was an integral part of the context from which European ethnicities emerged to establish control over America.” Once in America, these White ethnicities coalesced and “established a privileged social status which has expressed its dominance over non-White groups and over the major institutions of American society.”  This Trump and King White nationalist politics is also playing itself out with Deerk Wilders in Denmark, Marine Le Pen in France, Dirk Driesang in Germany to name a few.

It’s also important to note here the reluctance if not inability of modern-day Black Republicans to call Congressman King out for the White Supremacist that he is.  Their collective silence is deafening.  This is in no way intended to question their “blackness”; that’s ridiculous. There’s another point that needs to be made. There are two controlling principles in Republican ideology; smaller government and individual freedom, liberty and self-actualization.  Any success in the struggle of Black people to be recognized as human and to be afforded human rights has always been based on the success and hard work of the collective, not the individual. Furthermore, the defense and validation of those rights has always required the three branches of the government to legislate, validate and defend those rights. Most Black Republicans are not going to risk alienating themselves from their benefactors and placing their personal positions in jeopardy by advocating positions that benefit the collective. Asking those who subscribe to a small government individualistic ideology to defend the collective, for as nice as it would be and should be, is asking a bit much.

So, from Trent Lott (R-MS) waxing nostalgic about Dixiecrat and late Senator Strom Thurmon, ''I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it…” to Trump’s "You have people come in and I'm not just saying Mexicans, I'm talking about people that are from all over, that are killers and rapists and they're coming to this country," …to Congressman King’s “You cannot rebuild your civilization with somebody else’s babies…” we see what Dr.’s King and Walters warned us about, “White Backlash” or the “politics of resentment”. It is exactly what Ms. Ruby Sales asked me to write about, a shift in focus, ideology and rhetoric away from the Cold War to the White Supremacist, xenophobic culture war.

Producer/ Host of the nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program “Inside the Issues with Wilmer Leon,” on SiriusXM Satellite radio channel 126. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. www.twitter.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook.com

 March 19, 2017

Editor's Note: Editors and Publishers: The following is the second in a series of three articles discussing the modern day role of the Black Press in celebration of the 190th anniversary of the founding of Freedom's Journal, the first Black newspaper March 16, 1827.

The Black Press Was Most Powerful as it Fought Charges of Sedition 
By A. Peter Bailey

Special Commentary

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - In a 1977 book celebrating the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Black press on March 16, 1827, Dr. Lionel Barrow, then executive director of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, noted that the Black Press had four basic functions. Those functions were and still are to act as a watchdog, to answer attacks, to preserve Black culture and to present a different viewpoint from those in the White press.

When carrying out those functions during World War II, the Black Press was closely monitored by numerous federal government agencies, including J. Edgar Hoover’s FBI, the Post Office, the Department of war, the Office of Facts and Figures, the Office of War Information and military intelligence, among others. They basically wanted the Black Press to either ignore the persistent atrocities inflicted on Black folks by White supremacists and racists or at least bury such coverage deep inside the papers rather than highlight them on the front pages or in editorials and columns. Fighting against America's hypocrisy, the Black Press was at its best, providing a model of unity and determination that would greatly benefit the 21st Century Black Press.

Some Black publications were effectively intimidated by the FBI and others. But a significant number continued to cover the racist activities, especially in the South. According to Patrick S. Washburn in his book, A Question of Sedition: The Federal Government's Investigation of the Black Press During World War II, the Black Press was considered “biased and unreliable” and “having an insatiable appetite for writing about discrimination” by government agencies.

A 1943 FBI survey on “Racial conditions in the United States” was done “To determine why particular Negroes or groups of Negroes or Negro organizations have evidenced sentiments for other ‘dark races’ (mainly Japanese) or by whatever forces they were influenced by to adopt in certain instances unAmerican ideologies.” Furthermore, it continued, “Sources of information have volunteered the opinion that the Negro press is a strong provocator of discontent among Negroes…”

A classic example of what messed with the nerves of Hoover and his cohorts was included in a Pittsburg Courier column written by journalist/historian J.A. Rogers: “Even the boldest Negro writers cannot say all that’s in their hearts at a time like this. There are always underhanded Gestapo methods of cracking down on Negro publications… Don’t think that the Nazis have a monopoly on high-handed tactics.”

The Courier also published a letter-to-the-editor from a Black soldier, which stated that “I doubt if the Japs are as bad as we are led to believe. I doubt if they would treat loyal, patriotic citizens as badly as the Negro is treated in America.”

It was another letter to the Courier that probably most angered Hoover and his fellow supporters who wanted the Black press to make a see no evil, hear no evil, nor write about the evil White supremacists/racists who were brutalizing and often killing Black folks throughout World War II. The letter, according to Washburn, was written by James G. Thompson, a 26-year-old cafeteria worker with the Cessna Aircraft Corporation. It read as follows:

“Like all true Americans, my greatest desire at this time…Is for a complete victory over the forces of evil which threatens our existence today. Behind that desire is also a desire to serve this, my country, in the most advantageous way.

“Most of our leaders are suggesting that we sacrifice every other ambition to the paramount one, victory. With this I agree; but I also wonder if another victory could not be achieved at the same time…Being an American of dark complexion… these questions flash through my mind:

‘Should I sacrifice my life to live half American?’

‘Will things be better for the next generation in the peace to follow?’

‘Would it be demanding too much to demand full citizenship rights in exchange for the sacrificing of my life?’

‘Is this kind of America I know worth defending?’

‘Will America be a true and pure democracy after this war?’

‘Will colored Americans suffer still the indignities that have been heaped upon them in the past?’

“I suggest that - while we keep defense and victory in the forefront - that we don’t lose sight of our fight for true democracy at home. The V for victory sign is being displayed prominently in all so-called democratic countries which are fighting for victory over aggression, slavery and tyranny. If this V sign means that to those now engaged in this great conflict, then let us colored Americans adopt the double V for a double victory. The first V for victory over our enemies from without, the second V for victory over our enemies from within. For surely those who perpetrate these ugly prejudices here are seeking to destroy our democratic form of government just as surely as the Axis forces.”

The Double V campaign, spread throughout the country by the Black Press, became a symbol of pride for most Black folks who began setting up Double V gardens, Double V clubs, Double V songs, Double V beauty pageants, Double V fashion, Double V bands, pictures of Double V girls and a Double V hairstyle called the Doubler.

It is unfortunate that the Black Press in 2017 has no such unifying, productive symbol to promote at this time.

A. Peter Bailey, a bi-weekly columnist for the Trice Edney News Wire, teaches the History of the Black Press at the University of the District of Columbia.

March 18, 2017

President's Month's Long Hospitalization Abroad Spurs a Rumor Deluge

(TriceEdneyWire.com/GIN) – There seems to be little agreement in Nigeria as to why President Muhammadu Buhari  extended his stay in a British hospital reportedly for an ear infection – especially when Nigeria has well-trained doctors at specialized hospitals at home.

According to a presidential media aide speaking to Naij.com, the president has an infected ear and a loss of hearing which followed treatment by a Nigerian doctor. Another source revealed that the President was prescribed a chest X-ray for his continual cough.

The independent Sahara Reporters news media mentions intestinal maladies that “have seen him lose weight progressively” and that he is unable to eat well.

In an earlier report, SaharaReporters suggested that President Buhari had prostate flares in addition to intestinal maladies that have seen him lose weight progressively and unable to eat well.

A presidential jet – “Airforce 001” - flown to London was unable to bring him back to Nigeria prior to the closing for repairs of the major Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, which could require a 3 ½ hour detour for the President to the next working airport in Kano state.

The latest statement issued by the government said there was "no cause for worry" about the president's health although his medical leave was being extended. The President began treatment in the UK in January. It was his second visit to see British doctors since taking office.

Nigerians are acutely sensitive to leaders travelling abroad for medical reasons after President Umaru Yar'Adua died while in office in 2010.

For months, the public was kept in the dark while he received treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, vice president Yemi Osinbajo is preparing to launch an economic recovery plan.

He also led a high-profile delegation to the Niger Delta to voice support for a government agreement with local militants groups that have seriously disrupted the region's oil production. 

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