That Sambo: Michael Steele
If anyone has ever studied systematic Black History, he or she will notice that there were always African Americans who were willing to sellout, their own people for the right price or no price at all. Such African Americans, always tried to convince the White Establishment, that they were good Negros. African Americans, who engaged in such actions, were usually referred, as “Uncle Toms”, especially in the black community. However, the word Uncle Tom, has been misused by many, including scholars and intellectuals. If one were to read, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1852), he or she would notice, that the character Uncle Tom, was both a protector, and, lover of his people. He was not a sellout, which has been projected, throughout, America’s political history. People, in America’s sociological society, have been, getting the perception of Uncle Tom mixed up with that of, ” Sambo”. Sambo, is the one who sole-out his own people, and not Uncle Tom. However, some scholars, argued that Sambo was a figment of the white man’s imagination, while others have argued that such a character, at one time did exist within the slave community. Nevertheless, the Black Sambo, was the one who had the tendency, to be disloyal, to his comrades in the slave community. From slavery to Reconstruction, from Reconstruction to the Harlem Renaissance, from the Harlem Renaissance to the New Deal Era, from the New Deal Era to the Civil Rights Movement, and finally, from the Civil Rights Movement to the post- Civil Rights Movement, there have been Sambos, who were willing to sellout those who looked like them, just for a few crumbs from the master’s table. One individual, who comes to mind, when discussing the “Sambo Mentality”, is The Republic Party, Chairman, Michale Steele. Now before I go any farther, let it be known that, I do not believe that just because an African American, happens to be a Republican, that he or she is automatically a Sambo, because the black community is as diverse, as any other community. The same analysis also applies to the Democratic Party, meaning, just because one happens to be an African American, does not, automatically mean that he or she has to vote in the Democratic Party. In fact, I sometimes think that the Democratic Party, take the black vote for granted, but, this is another topic for discussion. Michael Steele, is the first African American chairperson for the G.O.P., but, like most African Americans who are apart of the Republican Party, he is a soft mild mannered Negro, when dealing with whites, but, trys to be a monster when dealing with the general black population, who by the way, are still 97% Democratic. Black men like Michael Steele, just do not seem to get it. All that he has to do is, take time and read a little of Black History, and, he would notice, that there have always been African Americans, like himself, who tried to deny themselves or play down their blackness, in order to appease white folks, and in the end, they would turn around and get slapped in the face, by the same white folks who they were trying to please. Is Michael Steele, a Sambo, because, he is a member of the Republican Party? Quite, naturally the answer is no. Former Army General and Secretary of State, Collin Powell, is a Republican,(even though he publicly supported Obama for the U.S. Presidency) and he is not a Sambo. Alan Keyes, who on a few occasions, tried to get the Republican nomination for the U.S. Presidency, is truly a conservative intellectual, and he is not a Sambo. In fact, Alan Keyes, is the first black conservative, who I have seen, that can defend himself intellectually, against any political group, and, his logic appears to come out of a systematic design, when explaining political and economic realities,and, quite naturally, his analyses would be, since he has a Ph.D in Government and Public Policy, from Harvard University. Why do I believe that Michael Steele is a Sambo? First of all, it was not necessary for him to apologize to the bigot, Rush Libaugh. Who the hell is Rush Libaugh, that someone has to apologize to him, especially an African America? Rush practically hates people of color, and, he blasted Collin Powell, when Powell announced his support for Obama. Libaugh accused Powell of supporting Obama just because he was black. Michael Steele apologized to this racist, a man who has an unadulterated hatred for Sambo Steele, and, all those that look like him. Second, Michael Steele, has publicly supported the Tea Parties across the U.S., but, has Sambo Steele noticed, that these Tea Parties have very few folks, who attend them, that look like him? Third, Sambo Michael, wants limited and small government, failing to understand, that in many cases, the increase of the federal government, was due to the fact, that state and local governments were a terror on blacks and other people of color, but, with the increase of the federal government, through civil rights legislation and Supreme Court rulings, blacks and other people of color, including Sambo Michael, have been able to experience the ” American Dream”, and not the “American Nightmare”. Everyone in America’s political culture, have benefited from the federal government in someway, form or fashion. The railroad industry, the airline industry, the bus companies, and other major businesses and corporations, have gotten a boost from the federal government, and, I could go on and on. The final reason why I believe that Michael Steele is a Sambo, is because, his political philosophy, and worldview, if implemented,would take blacks back another 40-years, and, much of the civil rights legislation, would be nullified. Black men like Michael Steele, are not only a danger to people of color, but, he is also a danger to himself. I will close by saying, “Michael Steele, You Black Sambo”!
The Bowtie Professor Speaks!
Tags: African American Males, Prejudice Attitudes
This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010 at 7:56 am and is filed under African American Studies, Politics And Race Relations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.