Juneteenth and Conservatism Should Go Hand and Hand

In the immortal words of music legend, Lionel Richie from his Commodore’s hit song, Zoom: “I may be just a foolish dreamer, but I don’t care, cause I know my happiness is waiting out there, somewhere; I’m searching for that silver lining, horizons that I’ve never seen, oh I’d like to take just a moment and dream my dreams, oooooh dream my dreams…”

Like the Commodores, I to0, may be a foolish dreamer when it comes to getting the Republican Party and the conservative movement to get serious about the Black vote.  I was once told: “Never try to explain your vision to anyone, but rather invite them to stand beside you and see for themselves.”

Some people will say dreams are for those who sleep; oh, but dreamers possess great powers untold, they build worlds others cannot see.

We, the people, don’t need the Republican National Committee (RNC) or Congressional leadership to solve our relationship with the Black community.

We, the people, will solve the problem and the establishment, as usual, will come in behind us.  They are supposed to be our leaders, but in reality, they are truly followers.

All the white establishment consultants that see absolutely no value in cultivating relations with the Black community must be exiled to oblivion.  They are only interested in their next paycheck.

You have political whores like The Lincoln Project and individuals like George Conway who claim to be for expanding the conservative movement but have shown they are only about making money.

Now I am a consultant and very much like money, but my earnings are based on me delivering results, not grandstanding!

As we celebrate the national holiday of Juneteenth, why is our party and conservatives so silent?

The holiday’s origin begins in Galveston, Texas, which was the western-most area of the Union in 1865. When enslaved people there were told of their emancipation on June 19, 1865, they had technically already been freed two-and-a-half years prior, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Slaveholders in Texas had kept the information to themselves, extending the period of violent exploitation of enslaved Blacks. The following year, in 1866, a celebration was had in Texas, the first Juneteenth observance to recognize freedom from slavery in the U.S.

I implored everyone who would listen to celebrate this holiday by speaking directly to the Black community with the theme of: “A Conservative Vision for Civil Rights in the 21^st Century.”

We do have some who understand what I am talking about.  They are not part of the establishment.

People like my good friend, Steve Bannon.

I will be co-hosting Bannon’s War Room on Monday from 10 a.m.-noon east coast time.  You can listen live at:  https://warroom.org/.  We will have “real” Black conservatives joining us on the show to celebrate Juneteenth.

You have Congressional candidates like Joe Budd in Florida’s congressional district twenty-three celebrating this holiday and Michigan attorney general candidate, Matt DePerno.  Go to their websites to find out more about them.

You have Georgia governor, Brian Kemp publicly paying homage to this holiday, as well as Black Music Month.

Where is our House and Senate leadership or the RNC?  Nowhere to be found.  At best they will issue some terse, perfunctory press release; but will have absolutely nothing of substance to say!

To the War Room Posse and other true conservatives, I am asking you to join me in this fight to take our conservative message to everyone.

As a student at Oral Roberts University, Oral would always tell me, “Go into everyman’s world and meet them at the point of their need.”

This has been my approach to my professional and personal life ever since.

True conservatives, when will you go with me into everyman’s world so we, together, can meet them at the point of their need?

I want to get back on the road to speak to conservative clubs and Republican organizations across the country.  I want to connect Black conservative entrepreneurs with conservative corporate leaders across the country.

But it must be substantive engagement, no more window dressing, no more minstrel shows, and no more buffoonery.

Black entrepreneurs need access to capital and they want help in growing their businesses through solid conservative policies coming from our elected officials.

Black females what to see a stronger fight for school choice and vouchers.

Black men want a hands-off approach to their second amendment rights.

They want to see conservatives engage with them to solve problems that they are concerned about.

They don’t want to continue to hear this BS about amnesty for illegals, more money for Ukraine, or homosexual entitlements.

They want to see conservatives put Americans first!

No more highlighting Blacks who have no connection to the Black community.  No more Blacks telling you what you want to hear at the expense of what you need to hear!

This effort will require money and time; but isn’t it worth it to save our country?

Yes, it’s true that close to a third of Black voters are disaffected with Joe Biden and the Democrat Party; but they don’t view conservatism or the Republican Party as a viable alternative.

We can never be viewed as a viable alternative by Blacks until our side speaks directly to Blacks with a clear and concise argument for Blacks to vote for and participate in our movement.

Blacks are far more conservative than the general population; but we don’t see us in the RNC or the conservative movement.

As I often say, what the eyes see, and the ears hear, the mind believes.

In the immortal words of the late soul crooner, Luther Vandross, “Make me a believer.”

Raynard Jackson is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and founder and chairman of Black Americans for a Better Future (BAFBF), a federally registered 527 Super PAC established to get more Blacks involved in the Republican Party. BAFBF focuses on the Black entrepreneur. For more information about BAFBF, visit www.bafbf.org. You can follow Raynard on Twitter @RealRaynardJ or Gettr @RaynardJackson.