Where’s the Party?

Where’s the Party?

Who doesn’t like a good party? Great music, a nice vibe, and a comfortable venue all play a part in how much fun you can have at a festive gathering. But most importantly, the people are what help make a party a success or dud. Even if it’s a party we have no intention of attending, we still appreciate being invited. In politics, the democratic party for black people is the party we’ve been invited to, reluctantly. Which is the worst kind of invite. It’s the popular kid in school whose parents made them invite you as a nice gesture.

Black people are among the most religious Americans (87% of African Americans described themselves as belonging to a religious group according to a Pew Forum poll), yet the party barely places any focus on it. We readily recognize and call racism what it is and we aren’t afraid to be critical of every phase in our criminal justice system. Yet the party we support by nearly 90%, timidly speaks out against a prejudice justice system, and only calls something racist when the N-word or similar racial epithet is used by a conservative white man or woman. Yes, they can call Don Imus a racist, but no one led the charge against Donald Sterling BEFORE he spoke despairingly about Magic Johnson? Much like what our current president endured in the past, Sterling was known to racially discriminate against minorities seeking housing.

The party we’ve been invited to is continuously bullied by the right as they routinely fall for the, the democratic party is too far left for America narrative, resulting in a 1994 Crime Bill to try and prove they can be tough on crime. Going along with the repeal of Glass Stegall in 1999, which helped lead to the housing crisis a mere 9 years later. They couldn’t be seen as weak on terror so for reasons I’ve yet heard properly articulated, they went along with a war against a country that had nothing to do with September 11. With every mass shooting we get a little talk here and there, and then like a whimper, the debate to address guns dies out.

Where’s the party that fights for the men and women that have been incarcerated for marijuana possessions while municipalities all over the country legalize and decriminalize the drug? They’re calling for the abolition of ICE over immigration, while we’re being choked and shot to death on camera. Obama once said if he had a son, he’d look like Trayvon shortly after his murder. Conservatives attacked him for the comment and the party barely counter punched.

We’re still searching for the party that really wants us there? One that’s catered with seasoned food and the people know how to electric slide. A party that welcomes us just as much as everyone else in attendance. We don’t mind the Taylor Swift but play a little Nas, Black Thought, and Scarface in between the Techno and Top 40 Pop Hits for us. Trust me democratic party, you may ask, “Well, where else are you going to go?” Home, would be my reply. Because if you continue to make us feel unwelcomed, we’ll begin to stay home in larger and larger numbers each election. Black people have shown what their power can do as recently as December 2017 in Alabama. I’m imploring the democratic party to please do better. Fight for us boldly and with more than just lip service. Because the jig of pretending you share our interests in exchange for our votes is nearly up. Become the party that looks forward to our arrival at the venue, not just a party that’s the lesser of the two evils. Together, much can be accomplished!