“Welcome to CPAC 2013″ sign
I was only trying to help.
It was me, the so-called rabble rouser, the afro’ed distraction who attempted to solicit a little truth and candor from the “Trump the Race Card: Are You Tired of Being Called a Racist When You Know You’re Not One” panel that was presented on Friday at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Gauging by the title of the panel, it’s clear CPAC didn’t think their attendees had a problem with being actual racists. That’s silly. The problem, of course, is with others. We’ll get back to that.
Let me please state this for the record: I was slightly offended by the Confederate-flag wearing segregationists sitting directly in front of me. Yet, I was horrified by the black man who led the “panel” about how to “trump the race card.” It was akin to malpractice. However, to call it a panel would be disengenous. There was one guy, one “expert,” who was tapped with equipping white conservatives with the armor to protect them against being labeled a racist. His name is KCarl Smith. Not Karl with a ‘k’. Kay Carl Smith is how he prefers to be called. Okay then.
He started off good. “Here’s a problem we face as conservatives. If we cannot find an answer on how to inspire more blacks, more Latinos, more women, and more young people to join our ranks, we are toast. We’ll never win the White House again. And we may lose some seats in the Senate and House in 2014. We gotta find an answer to this diversity inclusion problem,” said Smith, the self-proclaimed “Conservative Messenger.” Sounds like he gets it, right?
He doesn’t. And he didn’t have really the answer. He had a book to sell. As he ramped up his “how to be a Frederick Douglass Republican” schpiel, Smith was sure to remind the audience to distinguish themselves away from being “Bull Connor Republicans.” On its face, a Frederick Douglass Republican would be for advancing economic and political equality for blacks, because that’s what Douglass himself stood for. A Bull Connor Republican would favor the opposite: the continual disenfranchisement of blacks. Do you think Smith was urging the audience to help advance complete equality for blacks? He was there to sling his book (and its companion guide), thus advancing his own economic prosperity at the expense of mis-educating a roomful of conservatives seeking answers on race and racism.
“Let’s get to the methodology because you’re gonna be empowered when you leave here.”
The only person Smith empowered was the white supremacist he later embraced. Whilst throwing me under the bus. That’s later, too.
“Frederick Douglass Republican is an oxymoron. It is powerful when I say it because that’s my ethnicity. But when someone that’s not an African-American says ‘I’m a Frederick Douglass Republican,’ you’re not seen as a racist.” Really? Is black America aware of this rule of absolution? The presentation further devolved into romantic notions that Douglass traveled the country freely, spreading a message of freedom endowed by the Founding Fathers. What was conspicuously absent from Smith’s interpretation of what Douglass stood for was the empowerment of African-Americans. You can’t let Douglass’ name escape your lips without acknowledging that was the principle pillar for which he stood.
So where did my so-called “unruly” behavior enter the fray?
I shot roughly 28 minutes worth of Smith’s presentation. At about the 20 minute mark, Smith began to explain how Douglass appealed to women, as he spoke at the Seneca Falls convention of 1848. A convention in which no women of color were invited to attend. I spoke up and asked, “How many black women were there? I’m curious. Probably zero.”
“Sojourner Truth was there,” Smith retorted. I countered that Truth was dead by then. She was not (my bad), but she also was not in attendance at Seneca Falls. A push.
For the duration of the video that I shot, there were no more interruptions by me. The reports that I was a continual disruption during Smith’s panel are false. Fabrications. Exaggerations.
Then the trolls emerged. I paid little attention to the man wearing the Confederate flag shirt in front of me. Here’s the Think Progress video:
Notice the murmurs. And lack of audible outrage.
After other attendees stood up to ask their questions, it was my turn. “I’m not a conservative, ” I began. The room erupted in a raucous chorus of boos and jeers. My voice was completely drowned out. I remained standing, amused by the deafening vitriolic reaction. I tried again. “This man [Smith] is being disengenous…” BOOOOO! HISSS! YOU’RE NOT WELCOME HERE!!! AHHHH!!!
At that point, I was not allowed to finish my question. Yells of “shut up” and “no one wants to hear your question” were directed my way. Okay. Mind you, the room’s reaction to the segregationist was decidedly muted.
But there were some redeeming humans in the room. As the Q-and-A session wound around the small room, at least two persons stood and said they wanted to hear my question. One of those was a British journalist.
“Why is it when racist/sexist statements and ads come from the right, there is no condemnation from that side of the aisle?” I gave the example of the political ad ran by the Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, Pete Hoekstra.
If you need explanation as to WHY this ad is racist, you’re already lost and likely beyond salvation.
“When the leadership on the Right fails to repudiate such statements, it sounds to minority voters that the entire conservative movement is okay with this kind of speech, ” I exclaimed breathlessly. My nerves were slightly on edge by that time lol.
Smith’s response was, “Well, when there were Mammy cartoons drawn about Condeleeza Rice, I didn’t hear Jesse Jackson say anything.” Jesse Jackson doesn’t hold elected office. So there’s that.
When the panel concluded, I was beseiged by people. A group of high school students in attendance immediately came up to me and said it was the most awesome thing ever. One of them emailed me.
To think that these openly racist and sexist men were barely booed while you were openly vilified sickens me. I’ve always known these people exist, but in a very abstract way, and I’ve certainly never been in a situation where I’m surrounded by people of these opinions, feeling like at any moment I could be exposed for the liberal I am. You had no allies in that room, but you didn’t back down because of it; that takes a special kind of courage. I’m relieved to see that most people out there condemn Terry and his companion now, even though few did in that room
I told ya’ll there were some humans in the room. One of the more poignant conversations I had was with Bill Norton. He’s with the National Support Team of the Tea Party Patriots and he works as their Constitutional Coordinator. We spoke for over 30 minutes. While I won’t get into specifics, our exchange was positive. It is because of this friendly dialogue that I’m calling on him to release the un-editied video from the panel, including the portion where I was repeatedly shouted down. If the Right is serious about any type of racial reconciliation, then the release of this video is imperative. His group needs to assess why the segregationist was allowed to voice his extremist views, without consequence, and I was demeaned.
Also, of note: the reaction I received from black conservatives.
This white man said he feels like he’s enemy of GOP. So what. He’s honest. Let’s discuss it. nymag.com/daily/intellig…
— Crystal Wright (@GOPBlackChick) March 17, 2013
No @kimbrowntalks I’m asking the right questions. U went searching 4 racism at CPAC. Search for racism among Dems. U will find it.
— Crystal Wright (@GOPBlackChick) March 17, 2013
U went there looking to push a racist agenda @kimbrowntalks and u did. U reduced CPAC to something it wasn’t.
— Crystal Wright (@GOPBlackChick) March 17, 2013
@iambrandonbrice she tried to disrupt K Carl Smith and his #TeaPartyPatriots session using her Voice of Russia credentials #CPAC2013
— Wayne Dupree ✌✊ (@NewsNinja2012) March 17, 2013
@iambrandonbrice u know the woman that jumped n2 our discussion on Thurs night went to #TeaPartyPartiots session and acted a fool #cpac2013
— Wayne Dupree ✌✊ (@NewsNinja2012) March 17, 2013
@texasman2008 The Voice of Russia card sorta opened our eyes. She was bad news from the start, there for a purpose
— Wayne Dupree ✌✊ (@NewsNinja2012) March 17, 2013
And then there’s KCarl Smith’s statement:
I was invited by the Tea Party Patriots to conduct a breakout session entitled: “Trump The Race Card” and share the Frederick Douglass Republican Message. In the middle of my delivery, while discussing the 1848 “Women’s Rights Convention,” I was rudely interrupted by a woman working for the Voice of Russia. She abruptly asked me: “How many black women were there?” This question was intentionally disruptive and coercive with no way of creating a positive dialogue.
In addition, a young man who wasn’t a Tea Party Patriot, made some racially insensitive comments, he said: “Blacks should be happy that the slave master gave them shelter, clothing, and food.” At the conclusion of the breakout session, I further explained to him the Frederick Douglass Republican Message which he embraced, bought a book, and we left as friends.
Yes, KCarl shook the hand of the white supremacist and afterwards, the white supremacist promptly washed his hands. Or so I heard. The reaction of the black conservatives was not at all shocking. They chose to side with a man and a movement who would like to see them permanently subservient to whites. Crystal Wright said that I came to CPAC to push a “racist agenda”. As if I gave the segregationists a ride to the event and told them to wear their confederate flag shirts. The racism was already seated at CPAC when I got there.
Let’s be real. There’s a market for conservatives of color, who deny racism still exists, who believe Obama is Dr. Evil. How far did those messages get the Republican ticket with minority voters in 2012?
The diversity failure of CPAC was evident. It was on display more clearly last year. During CPAC 2012, I attended a panel, titled “The Failure of Multiculturalism: How the Pursuit of Diversity is Weakening the American Identity. It featured two prominent white nationalsists, John Derbyshire and Peter Brimelow. They were invited guests. Even Congressman Steve King (R-IA) came and spoke. Excuse me, but I brought the racism to CPAC?
There is a lot of political and social common ground between black voters and conservatives. Blacks want jobs, better education opportunities for their families, etc. But blacks also want the government off of OUR backs (read: Stop and Frisk). Isn’t that a conservative principle? The blaring silence from the Right on THIS issue, in which they seemingly agree with philosophically, yet they refuse to advocate on behalf of people of color.
What Smith and CPAC flagrantly missed, is that they CAN’T sell Fredrick Douglass to communities of color. We already know who he is, his accomplishments, and the depth of his courage in the face of fatal racism. The selling point lies with conservatives and Republicans, addressing issues pertinent to communities of color, not what conservatives think is important to us. It’s hard for us to believe the Right is listening, when we are constantly being told to shut up.
