Race Cards as an Umbrella

Ran across the stranger.com and, to be expected, read too many asinine comments by the slog users to get involved with. The GOP seems to be changing up their tactics. Perhaps out of the genuineness of their heart, perhaps simply because they are vicious opportunists. Representative Franks of AZ remarks about how the black community is worse off today because of abortion than they were during the era of slavery…you know, since Kunta Kinte just had to saunter around the corner and slip his name into the U.S. non-profit slave registry.

"It seems like humanity is very gifted at hiding from something
that's obviously true. I mean in this country we had slavery for God knows how
long. And now we look back on it and we say, 'Well how blind were they, what was
the matter with them, you know, I can't believe, I mean four million, this is
incredible,'" said Franks. "And we're right. We're right, we should look back on
that with criticism. It is a crushing mark on America's soul. And yet today,
half of all black children are aborted. Half of all black children are aborted.
Far more black children, far more of the African-American community is being
devastated by the policies of today, than were being devastated by the policies
of slavery.
"And I think, what does it take to get us to wake up? Sometimes
we're a little bit emphatic and sometimes we get angry and say things that we
shouldn't say. And I apologize right here in front of everybody by saying
things, especially if they're not true, that are intemperate. But I don't want
to hide from the truth, I don't want to hide from being able to speak the truth
intensely, with the hope that somehow it will resonate in the hearts of people
who have the power to make a difference for the suffering of the innocent that
are the victims of these bad policies."

A couple of things for all political organizers, democrat or republican: appealing to the black community by referencing and contrasting EVERYTHING to slavery will get you know where. It reeks of opportunism, and your target audience (minorities) aren’t as easily duped and beguiled as you would have America believe.

Abortion is NOT what is devastating and oppressing black communities. The education systems, the unemployment spikes, the property values dropping and endless number of homes being foreclosed, the rate minorities are likely to be incarcerated compared to those who are white. Among any of the issues mentioned and not mentioned above, abortion is of least concern to me. In fact, it can be said the disproportionate likelihood of the above effecting blacks over whites is the cause for the disparity in abortion rates? If we were to go into causation, into the points of classism, which class has the least access to contraceptives?

This is NOT sincere, Rep. Frank. It is seething with personal interests, and seeks to peddle a movement with an analogue that LARGELY misses the mark and does nothing to impress me or show me your understanding of our culture, or our afflictions.

Instead, Rep. Frank, let’s try this on for size. Let’s compare a similarity that slavery and your prolife movement share: the dispossession of choice. A woman would have less of a choice over her own body than if masta’ decided to force himself on her with or without consent. Now THAT is what devistates the black community.

The irony of a conservative republican caring about all those cute little black babies and their mothers is endearing but where’s the discourse about women of ALL races and abortion, congressman? Someone has to lookout for the opression of white America too! You are duly commended for your selflessness!