"Slavery is a blight on our history, and racism is still with us... The party of Lincoln has not always worn Gov. George W. Bush, Texas. (excerpt from NAACP speech.
July I0) With the pleas of half a dozen brave protestors showend about the "legal lynching" of the late Texas death row mantle?" inmate Gary Graham (Shaka Sankafa) ringing in the Baltimore air, the nation's Repub can orosidential cancidate appeared before the NAACP national convention in an attempt to demonstrate the ways of a "compassionate conM VAUV In his 20-minute speech that invoked the names of NAACP founder WE.B. DuBois. US. President Abraham Lincoln. and other historical figures. Governor Bush demonstrated if not great oratorical ability. that indispensable political skill of talking without saying much of anything For who but the dimmest among us doesn't know that slavery was a blight on our his" or that Lincoln's party has not always worn Lincoln's Bush, speaking before a Black group, did not mention "affirconfederate fag. "Amadou Diallo. Gary Grahem." sor tima Ats-Jamal the "death penalty." He did code for public tax support for vouchers. The national memberthip save busn polte anc tepid applause. Despite an invitation issued in The Negro's Ovl Wol opering remarks by NAACP (1965/1991), notes the idea of President Kweisi Miume. the Republican Party as antiGovernor Bush did not define savery and Lincoln a5 thie sup the often-touted term, "com- porter of equal rights were passionate conservative." seen as nonsense at the time:
One wonders, how- -ihe Mepupican parry, nomilever what s k? A nally anti-slavery, was officialy reasonable opposed only to the extension racist? Al of slavery into the new territo"friendly fas- ries. No major poltical party cist? A "doe proposed to take action against ing despor" it slavery where it already existed. "compassionDemocrats changed that if the Republicans won the election. servative who they would abolish slavery and smiles whie say- grant civil equalty to Negroe: T8 по. With regard to the Horace Greeley, an influential "mandle of Lincoln" Republican spokesman. Never on earth did the Republicar Lincoln," it appears that neither arty proposé to abolish slay the mantle nor the party of ry les object with respect to slavery is simply, nakedly. to think of as Lincoln. Consider aowedly, its restriction to the existing states. McPherson, who, in his book Lincoln himself had repeatdy voiced his opposition te qual rights for free Negroes The "party of Lincoln?" "Compassionate conservative?"
The brillant Frederick Douglass, although a Republican "field hand" (his own words), bitterty attacked President Lincoln Curing tre height of the Civil War: now to the policy of President Lincoln in reference to slavery. .I do not hesitate to say, that incentions, the action of President Lincoln has been caldecided way to sheld and protect it from the very blows loudly and persistently invited. He has steadly refused to proclaim...complete emancipation to all the slaves of rebels who lines of our army.
"He has repeatedly interfered ery policy of some of his most (McPherson, p.47)
Frederick Douglass was speaking in 1862, several years before the war ended. While Te was an uDA Vr mary Blacks of that period) he was not reluctant to strongy *1 come President —in wartime! Can African-Americans today do any less!
Both major American political parties exist to serve corpo: rate interests, above al else, not the interests of workers, or Instead of the sickening sycophancy that today passes for black support of polloca part ties that dont support Black Interests, we should learn from the bola, outspoken Lou aus Criticize! Viable, radical and revolutionary parties should also be organized and energized to provide real, meaning:
Outlook