A ndrew Gillum ‘s concession this weekend in the Florida gubernatorial election followed Stacey Abrams ‘ one day earlier in Georgia, leaving their political ambitions unfulfilled … for now, that is. While their midterm election losses by the narrowest of margins were a major letdown for their campaigns and supporters, both races also showed how perhaps with more support from the Democratic establishment and less voter suppression — a major factor in each election — they could, or, at least, should emerge victorious with another run. The question is, do they have any more campaign runs left in them? For Abrams, the answer was clear: A resounding yes. “I’m going to spend the next year as a private citizen, but I do indeed intend to run for office again,” Abrams told said during an interview on CNN Sunday morning. “I’m not sure for what, and I am not exactly certain when. I need to take a nap. But once I do, I’m planning to get back into the ring.” Stacey Abrams: “I do indeed intend to run for office again, I'm not sure for what and I am not exactly certain when. I need to take a nap, but once I do, I'm planning to get back into the ring.” (via CNN) pic.twitter.com/qK5ypZE3LF — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 18, 2018 Abrams fought the good fight in the face of clear racial voter suppression by an opponent who was also the sitting secretary of state who seemed to orchestrate a series of “ dirty tricks ” on Election Day, including not supplying power cords for voting machines in polling places with mostly Black residents. Considering how much effort Republicans put into stopping Democratic and Black voters, some might consider her loss by fewer than 55,000 votes a victory. It certainly shouldn’t take any wind out of her sail even if the Blue Wave didn’t prevail in Georgia’s governor race. Gillum’s future was a different story, though. The person who was trying to become Florida’s first Black governor remained the mayor of Tallahassee after he conceded on Saturday night. He was expected to remain in office in the state capital through the end of his term next year. But after that, it was anybody’s guess. A tweet Saturday may have provided a glimpse into what’s next for him, but it was certainly open to interpretation. “We are going to keep fighting. We will keep working,” he said in a post to Twitter that was accompanied by a photo with his wife, both of them clad in orange, the school colors of their alma mater Florida A&M University. “And in the end, I believe that we will win.” We are going to keep fighting. We will keep working. And in the end, I believe that we will win. I am so thankful to each and every one of you. pic.twitter.com/fWCKQysGmZ — Andrew Gillum (@AndrewGillum) November 17, 2018 SEE ALSO: GOP Adviser Rips Into Brian Kemp For Stealing The Georgia Election Wake-Up Call To Democrats: ‘Black Women Get Things Done’ [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3837133″ overlay=”true”]
B lack candidates were instrumental in helping the Democrats win the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, enabling Democrats to end one-party rule and turn up the heat on President Donald Trump . But it was a mixed result, with disappointments in places like Florida where Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum lost in a close race for governor. At the same time, several Black candidates made history, like Ayanna Pressley who become Massachusetts’ first Black woman in Congress . Some of the elections were plagued with a number of instances of attempts to suppress the Black vote, including a concerted effort in Georgia ahead of Election Day that continued on Tuesday . See Also: ‘Dirty Tricks’: Stacey Abrams Voters Won’t Be Denied As Brian Kemp Rigs Voting Machines Here are five takeaways from the 2018 midterm elections: Black women candidates are winners While some African-American female candidates like Jahana Hayes were victorious and others such as Vangie Williams came up short, they are all winners. Some of these women made history by winning competitive primary elections, as they overcame racism, gender bias and obstacles within the Democratic Party. Congratulations to Jahana Hayes, the former national teacher of the year who just became the first Black women ever elected to Congress in Connecticut. #ElectionNight #Midterms2018 #RepresentTheVote https://t.co/BFuTdEpje8 — NewsOne (@newsone) November 7, 2018 Racism was an effective GOP tool The Republican base responded to racist dog whistles in several elections. Ron DeSantis infamously warned Florida voters not to “ monkey this up ” by electing his rival Andrew Gillum, who is African American. Within days, Florida residents began to receive racist robocalls that mocked Gillum. Stacey Abrams was also targeted with racist robocalls in Georgia shortly after Trump called her unqualified to be governor of Georgia before holding a rally for her GOP rival Brian Kemp . “I heard people were making racist robocalls in my name against Stacey Abrams, who I am one hundred percent for, in Georgia,” Oprah said on Instagram. “I just want to say: Jesus don’t like ugly … And we know what to do about that: vote. Tomorrow show up and show out, and vote.” pic.twitter.com/CvK5VP60Az — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) November 6, 2018 Triumph for anti-Trump activism “This was a remarkable wave of grassroots activism that swept across the country — with women and people of color leading the way. From a U.S. House of Representatives that reflects the will of the people to the passage of Amendment 4 in Florida, which restored voting rights to convicted felons, this election was an overwhelming rebuke of Trump and Trumpism, and a show of support for candidates who look like America and campaigned on a bold, forward-looking and inclusive vision,” said NAACP President Derrick Johnson . Vigilance needed to combat voter suppression Fighting against voter suppression is an ongoing struggle that requires tenacity. Georgia emerged as the epicenter for voting rights, where activists filed lawsuits against Kemp to ensure the votes of African Americans were counted. Kemp desperately used every trick in the book to win his election. “Voter suppression played a huge role in the silencing of the political voices of the Black community and all people of color,” the NAACP president said. “As we saw in Georgia and Tennessee, Republicans engaged in a massive voter suppression strategy that has included further rolling back the Voting Rights Act.” GA Secretary of State Brian Kemp stooped to new low in his ongoing efforts to keep black people from voting for @staceyabrams . Voting machines, which fall under his responsibility, were delivered to majority black precincts without any power cords. https://t.co/IxvD4Usoo5 — Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) November 6, 2018 Black folks will turn out for midterm elections Black voter turnout was high in 2008 and 2012 when President Barack Obama was running. The numbers tumbled in 2016 . It was unclear what would happen in 2018. Early exit polls suggested that African-Americans showed up in strong numbers for the midterms, according to ABC News . SEE ALSO: Andrew Gillum Barely Loses Florida Governor Race By The Slimmest of Margins Bakari Sellers Shuts Down Trump Worshiper Who Tries To Act Like Race Doesn’t Exist [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835026″ overlay=”true”]
W ith such widespread reports of failing voting machines across the country, it took a civil rights icon to steward what could become an iconic civil rights moment during the highly consequential midterm elections on Tuesday. As voting suppression was seemingly being realized in real-time, a video posted to social media showed two men bringing five voting machines into a polling place in Georgia, with the Rev. Jesse Jackson bringing up the rear, looking like he was overseeing the entire process. People could be seen standing around (read: not voting) in the Pittman Park Recreation Center in South Atlanta before the new machines were brought in to a welcoming round of applause that may as well have doubled as a collective sigh of relief. It could become a defining moment in the fight against the very real voter suppression efforts Georgians have seen in the weeks ahead of Election Day. Watch it below. @RevJJackson walking in with 5 new voting machines #gapol #MidtermElections2018 pic.twitter.com/eeD5jUnvNL — Kathleen Quillian (@QuillianK) November 6, 2018 According to Kathleen Quillian, the news producer who tweeted the footage, voters who arrived at Pittman Park Recreation Center were greeted by just three voting machines, forcing people to have to wait for up to four hours. @RevJJackson is at the Pittman Park Recreation center in South Atlanta. Supporting those voters who have waited in line for 4 hours due to only having 3 voting machines. pic.twitter.com/ax2Ba8mQFV — Kathleen Quillian (@QuillianK) November 6, 2018 With such anticipation surrounding the election, it was up to the officials overseeing the election to plan ahead for what was expected to be a high voter turnout. So it was no wonder that the Republican candidate running for governor, Brian Kemp , also happened to be Georgia’s secretary of state. His opponent, Stacey Abrams , could become the first African-American woman in U.S. history to be governor. While voters were reportedly experiencing the entire gamut of issues at the polls — voter intimidation, voter suppression, poll worker apathy, and more — it seemed to be more pronounced in Georgia. In many instances, the issues were resolved quickly, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Election officials provided spare voting machines. But, then, that still begs the question why all of the voting machines were not made available to voters in the first place, what with all of the complaints about lines that routinely come with elections. Follow NewsOne’s coverage of the midterm elections here . SEE ALSO: Coincidence? Black People In Georgia Typically Get The Oldest Voting Machines, Increasing Chances Of Error Brian Kemp Pops A Blood Vessel After Stacey Abrams Was ‘Endorsed’ By The ‘New Black Panther Party’ [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3835313″ overlay=”true”]
Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for MoveOn.org Alicia Keys, America Ferrera And Liza Koshy Girls Trip To Dallas To Campaign We love seeing all these celebs getting out the word about the importance of voting. Alicia Keys , America Ferrera, and Liza Koshy just finished a girls trip to Dallas, Texas where they visited high schools, community colleges, and campaign field offices to celebrate the enthusiasm for Democrats running for office this cycle and encourage young people to vote in this election. Watch the video below: They are also encouraging excited voters to make their own trip and volunteer with a campaign ahead of November 6th. While not everyone lives in a district with a close congressional race, anyone can travel to a targeted district and knock on doors and make phone calls to ensure every last voter casts their ballot. Whether it’s volunteering for Katie Hill in California or Claire McCaskill in Missouri, everyone can organize their own girls trip on votetrip.org. Hit the flip for more photos from the trip
Source: Manners aren’t going to make America great for the first time–seriously. / Getty F irst Lady Michelle Obama’s “When they go low, we go high” line at the 2016 Democratic Convention gave me chills– albeit for different reasons than it did the many liberals who have quoted it like sacred scripture over the past two years. Though my feelings about her husband may be as complex as a DNA strand, my love for Mrs. Obama has always been a much easier thing to grasp and, at times, defend, but knowing how that particular remark would be used to silence necessary rancor made the political differences between the two of us difficult to ignore. Today, her statement feels like a gut punch—especially when it’s quoted to call for the fool’s game that is “civility.” Set against the backdrop of the latest xenophobic nightmare to come from the Trump White House, the decision of a Virginia restaurant to deny service to it’s Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been denounced not only by members of her own party, but by members of the press , as well as pundits and politicians from the other side of the aisle who are uncomfortable with the idea of violating Mrs. Obama’s famed mantra. Though both of the country’s major political parties have been shaped by rampant scandals, dishonesty and prejudice (via the behavior of individuals and pieces of legislation) alike, “going high” has been a consistent and useless liberal talking point for many years. While the GOP has seized ground to claim moral authority via it’s relationship to Evangelical Christianity, the Democrats have taken great pride in the notion that they aren’t as bigoted as the opposition. Considering that’s a pathetically low bar to clear, think of this as the equivalent as awarding themselves a participant ribbon. The idea that unapologetic bigotry and White ethnocentrism can be defeated by congeniality or lukewarm messages of tolerance is not only frightening in terms of naiveté, it’s a dangerous misrepresentation of who the Democratic Party has been for decades: both a safe haven for liberal racism and a mirror into the soul of the dangerous “white moderate” that refuses to be uncomfortable enough to recognize this country’s ills. A tweet from former Education Secretary Arne Duncan perfectly encapsulates both of those things: My personal opinion: No matter how much we dislike or disagree with someone, we should not deny them the chance to have a meal. The history in our country of denying people access to restaurants, to water fountains and even bathrooms is too raw, too real. We can’t keep dividing. — Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) June 24, 2018 Duncan actually dares to draw an analogy between the actions of the Red Hen staff and the sort of race-based oppression that Huckabee Sanders currently works to uphold and reinvigorate. If the one-time Chicago Public Schools’ Superintendent better understood just how the legacy of Jim Crow impacted the majority of the students who were once subject to his leadership, perhaps he wouldn’t compare a minor inconvenience for a privileged woman to a code of law that found African-Americans imprisoned, assaulted or worse for daring to use public restrooms and water fountains. Reactions like this, as well that cringe worthy piece from the Washington Post’s editorial board and comments from Representative Elijah Cummings (D-MD) are a master class in misplaced priorities at best, and craven indifference in the face of actual suffering at worst. The Huckabee Sanders snub came days after First Lady Melania Trump created a minor (by Trumpian standards) scandal after wearing a jacket that read, “ I don’t really care, do u” to go meet with children in Texas. I watched in horror as folks that most certainly should know better struggled to accept the likelihood that Mrs. Trump was commenting on the most recent immigration news, by swapping her typical pricey designer duds for a $40 Zara coat to go meet with children . Like the fuss over late night host Samantha Bee’s explicit word choice in a bit about Ivanka Trump, the reaction to these incidents speaks to how we have been trained to believe in the innocence of white women and to protect them accordingly. Many people fail fully connect someone who married Donald Trump, his dutiful First Daughter, nor his most visible mouthpiece with the values that each of them uphold on a daily basis—as if Mrs. Trump’s lack of palpable romantic chemistry with her husband means that she’s a damsel in distress. While it is entirely possible that she does suffer at the hands of her deplorable partner, it is absurd to assume that she doesn’t share any of his beliefs and no reason the believe she’s opposed to the suffering of anyone harmed by his antics. Huckabee Sanders and the women of the First Family aren’t child soldiers to be pitied, they are chief among those who uphold systems of disenfranchisement. Their gender does not absolve them of guilt and their behavior runs contrary the widely held belief that women are inherently more empathetic or, well, civil . Absent social and political consequences, there is little hope that those who work for and in willful alignment with President Trump’s agenda will ever simply come around to the superior-by-a-low-standard values of the other party. Pictures of babies stripped from immigrant parents will hold little sway with those who voted with the hope that such a thing would happen. I’ve said as much countless times over the years and I’ll continue to do so: while there is little to be admired about the GOP, there is something to be said for their willingness to speak with their chests. They rarely stand down when critiqued for racism, sexism, homophobia or any other form of bigotry. Meanwhile, too many voices from the political left would sooner apologize for stepping on ants than do the actual work of upholding their own so-called values. A rare exception is Congresswoman Maxine Waters, who has earned the honorarium “Auntie Maxine” for being one of the few unapologetic, consistent and clear voices of conviction speaking out against the president and his acolytes. Civility serves our current political climate as much as using the proper fork at dinner helps to eradicate global hunger. Manners and hospitality may be effective in building a bridge between neighbors squabbling over a parking spot, but mean less than nothing when it comes to holding members of the Trump administration accountable for their wrongdoing. To demand civility from people of color is particularly despicable, considering that our experiences in the United States are defined largely by the extent to which we have been denied anything resembling kindness or understanding. Where do Black people go to be treated with civility when they step outside of the confines of their own communities? For those of us who are female, queer, trans, non-Christian, non-binary…it can be elusive even there. What is the value of civility to a Mexican woman who has had her infant daughter or teenaged son stripped from her hands because she is beholden to a broken system of immigrant labor/abuse that the United States relies upon and shuns all at once? The average person in this country knows very little about the impact of racism on our physical and emotional health–and that’s before you factor in how gender, sexual orientation and class can both exacerbate that trauma and deliver additional ones at home and beyond. The fact that most of us who suffer from these factors can’t explain exactly how this stuff penetrates our bones and spirits makes it easier for those who dare force civility down our throats to make light of that suffering and these same people are rarely moved when they are presented with facts and figures. As such, people of color have a particular responsibility to reject civility so as to not provide comfort to those who have made our lives uncomfortable from the point of birth. Any white so-called “ally” worth their salt will do the same. Those who claim to oppose the misdeeds of the current White House ( and the last one ) do great harm by asking that the most disenfranchised among us continue to turn the other cheek so that we can bear the lash from another angle, again and again. This is what the United States has consistently demanded of people who have been marginalized on the basis of gender, race, national origin, sexual orientation, income, etc.: articulate your concerns in tones and at times deemed appropriate by those who benefit most from your oppression. That’s not civility, that’s abuse. To “go high” is to go towards progress, towards justice and towards freedom. If it makes the enemy comfortable, then you’re heading in the wrong direction.
F or months, Ben Carson has proven to be a failure as secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He was accused in a lawsuit by Helen Foster of demoting her for not approving extravagant office renovations. There are accusations of his family being too involved at HUD, emails proving he has lied and even reports of Carson using taxpayer money for private planes . However, there is good news (finally) coming out of HUD—but Carson isn’t the one to thank. According to the New York Daily News , “For decades the city Housing Authority has experienced cuts in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This year the Trump administration proposed more of the same, with NYCHA bracing for a huge 66% cut to big-ticket capital projects and an 11% trim to day-to-day operations funds.” Sounds terrible, right? But, reports the newspaper, “Congress rejected that approach and appropriated millions more for housing programs nationwide. Trump complained but signed it March 23.” Consequently, for the first time in years, New York City Housing Authority and other city affordable housing programs will get a big boost in funds from the feds. The numbers still need to be approved but preliminary reports expect, “NYCHA will get $160 million more for capital projects, a 46% spike to $506 million. It also adds $30 million more for operations for a total of $919 million, a modest 3% bump.” The NYCHA released a statement, which read, “For the first time in decades, Congress has significantly increased the federal resources available for affordable and public housing, recognizing the critical role that housing play in our lives, our communities and our economy.” Finally, some good work done at HUD! And Ben Carson gets none of the credit! In addition, he continues to struggle: Carson has now asked his employees to write their own mission statement, after his completely missed the mark of why the Department of Housing and Urban Development was created. See below: Ben Carson has now asked HUD staff to write their own mission statement, after his version was sharply criticised. Carson email: “If inspiration strikes, please consider writing your own … We promise to read each one we receive.” — Jon Swaine (@jonswaine) March 29, 2018 Ben, why do you still have a job? SEE ALSO: One Step Forward, 10 Steps Back: San Francisco’s First Black Woman Mayor Unseated By Rich White Man Jada Speaks Out For Mo’Nique And The Comedian Has More Thoughts On Amy Schumer’s Success Rihanna Just Singlehandedly Snatched Snapchat’s Wig… And Its Stock Is Going Down
W e have been saying for months that Ben Carson is seriously unqualified to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). His track record speaks for itself. He has been protested for trying to take away fair housing. He has been accused of using taxpayer dollars for private planes . He is being investigated for his family’s involvement at HUD. He is accused of using taxpayer dollars to pay for his extravagant office renovations. This is just a handful of the messiness he created. Now, in an interview with The New York Times , Carson appears to know he is a disaster. In one of his most bizarre comments ever, Carson told the NYT about HUD, “There are more complexities here than in brain surgery.” Really? Well, then maybe you need to go back to brain surgery — the lives of low-income people are in your un-gifted hands. This sounds like he is admitting that he doesn’t know what he is doing. To make matters worse, Carson doesn’t know how to secure funds, which HUD seriously needs to help low-income people — but the rich, privileged doctor “hates” asking for money, “Mr. Carson, people close to him say, hates asking anybody for money — and has told advisers that he feels acutely uncomfortable asking the president for anything that could be construed as a favor. When the White House budget director, Mick Mulvaney, proposed an 18 percent cut to HUD late last year, Mr. Carson reluctantly reached out to the president. Mr. Trump expressed sympathy. Then he told him to ‘talk to Mick’ about the details.” HUD was cut by 14 percent cut, which resulted in millions of dollar of funding being slashed for the elderly, poor and homeless. However, according to NYT sources, “He often simply seems out of the loop—telling senior staff members at a gathering last spring that the president had given him assurances that HUD’s budget would not be cut at all.” As far as those ethics violations (stemming from his wife and son being too involved at HUD), he claims they just wanted to “help.” He believes Ben Carson Jr is “integrally important” but they are “ethically pure.” Clearly, if Lil’ Ben is “integrally important” than he is too involved at HUD. Was his son “integrally important”while he was performing brain surgery? If his son wasn’t and brain surgery is easier than running HUD, then obviously Ben Carson Jr. should not be involved. We also can’t forget the team at HUD is a mess. Raffi Williams , the incompetent HUD spokesman, has time to attack people on social media and lies to major news outlets like The Guardian. Other HUD employees, like Lynne Patton , called April Ryan “Miss Piggy” on social media. The whole operation is slop. If Ben Carson had any respect for his country, he would resign immediately or at least let someone who knows what they are doing take the reigns. SEE ALSO: One Step Forward, 10 Steps Back: San Francisco’s First Black Woman Mayor Unseated By Rich White Man Jada Speaks Out For Mo’Nique And The Comedian Has More Thoughts On Amy Schumer’s Success
W e have been saying for months that Ben Carson is seriously unqualified to be secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). His track record speaks for itself. He has been protested for trying to take away fair housing. He has been accused of using taxpayer dollars for private planes . He is being investigated for his family’s involvement at HUD. He is accused of using taxpayer dollars to pay for his extravagant office renovations. This is just a handful of the messiness he created. Now, in an interview with The New York Times , Carson appears to know he is a disaster. In one of his most bizarre comments ever, Carson told the NYT about HUD, “There are more complexities here than in brain surgery.” Really? Well, then maybe you need to go back to brain surgery — the lives of low-income people are in your un-gifted hands. This sounds like he is admitting that he doesn’t know what he is doing. To make matters worse, Carson doesn’t know how to secure funds, which HUD seriously needs to help low-income people — but the rich, privileged doctor “hates” asking for money, “Mr. Carson, people close to him say, hates asking anybody for money — and has told advisers that he feels acutely uncomfortable asking the president for anything that could be construed as a favor. When the White House budget director, Mick Mulvaney, proposed an 18 percent cut to HUD late last year, Mr. Carson reluctantly reached out to the president. Mr. Trump expressed sympathy. Then he told him to ‘talk to Mick’ about the details.” HUD was cut by 14 percent cut, which resulted in millions of dollar of funding being slashed for the elderly, poor and homeless. However, according to NYT sources, “He often simply seems out of the loop—telling senior staff members at a gathering last spring that the president had given him assurances that HUD’s budget would not be cut at all.” As far as those ethics violations (stemming from his wife and son being too involved at HUD), he claims they just wanted to “help.” He believes Ben Carson Jr is “integrally important” but they are “ethically pure.” Clearly, if Lil’ Ben is “integrally important” than he is too involved at HUD. Was his son “integrally important”while he was performing brain surgery? If his son wasn’t and brain surgery is easier than running HUD, then obviously Ben Carson Jr. should not be involved. We also can’t forget the team at HUD is a mess. Raffi Williams , the incompetent HUD spokesman, has time to attack people on social media and lies to major news outlets like The Guardian. Other HUD employees, like Lynne Patton , called April Ryan “Miss Piggy” on social media. The whole operation is slop. If Ben Carson had any respect for his country, he would resign immediately or at least let someone who knows what they are doing take the reigns. SEE ALSO: One Step Forward, 10 Steps Back: San Francisco’s First Black Woman Mayor Unseated By Rich White Man Jada Speaks Out For Mo’Nique And The Comedian Has More Thoughts On Amy Schumer’s Success
B en Carson is the seriously unqualified secretary of Department of Housing and Urban Development. The former doctor has been a complete disaster in the role — he has been protested for attempting to take away fair housing from low-income people and he’s been accused of ethic violations for his family’s involvement at HUD. Not to mention, his staff has time to attack NewsOne and even April Ryan . That said, according to conservative commentator Armstrong Williams on The Daily Signal podcast , Ben Carson is having a “positive influence” on President Trump . Here is our response: Williams went on a delusional rant about the “remarkable” job Ben Carson is doing at HUD. And even had the nerve to say if Jesus were among us today, “Dr. Carson would be one of his disciples.” However, Williams hit a new low in the sunken place when he claims he told Carson, “‘I need you in the President’s ear talking about morality, talking about goodness’ — because he and the President have a very good relationship. I think that whether people see it or not, Dr. Carson has a very calming effect on the president. I think it’s very impactful. I think of all the things that will be said when Trump is no longer in the White House, I think the story will be told about the impact Dr. Carson’s relationship had on the President’s character, on his morality.” In what ways has Carson been a positive influence? When Trump said “shithole” countries about Haiti and the entire continent of Africa? When he attacked Jay Z , Jemele Hill , Oprah , Maxine Waters , Colin Kaepernick and countless others? When Trump blamed the Parkland shooting on mental health when survivors are screaming for gun control? Even outside of his rhetoric, which is far from Christ-like, how about giving tax breaks to the rich, potentially cutting food stamps to a box of rations, dismantling healthcare for millions of Americans? Furthermore, how can a so-called Christian co-sign a man who has been accused of sexual misconduct by over a dozen women and reportedly paid off porn stars? If this is what Williams considers impactful or positive, then maybe Carson is working for the man downstairs, not the man upstairs. SOURCE: The Daily Signal SEE ALSO: One Step Forward, 10 Steps Back: San Francisco’s First Black Woman Mayor Unseated By Rich White Man Jada Speaks Out For Mo’Nique And The Comedian Has More Thoughts On Amy Schumer’s Success
W e need Black folks on both sides of the aisle — Democrat and Republican. However, being a Republican in the age of Trump is a whole other level of Republician-ism. Our current POTUS has sympathized with neo-Nazis, disrespected gold star families of color, thought Frederick Douglas was still alive, known for language like “That’s my African-American over there!” and is advocating for policy that will damage Black and brown communities. Nonetheless, there are Black Republicans who will defend him at any cost. Here are the ones who mortified us in 2017. Pastor Darrell Scott Pastor Scott is ride-or-die for Trump and is known to scream on television at anyone who disagrees that Trump is presidential perfection. Here is just one disturbing moment from one of his many television rants. He is actually defending Trump defending Nazis. Fix it, Jesus! Joy Villa The singer is a passionate Trump supporter who is constantly on Fox News defending his madness. However, the tide has changed a bit. Now that she accused his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of sexually assaulting her, Fox News is dragging her . Nonetheless, we can’t forget this classic sunken moment, when Villa wore a “Make America Great Again” dress to this year’s Grammys. Dr. Ben Carson Social media lovingly calls him Uncle Ben. Mr. Carson loves him some Trump and his loyalty got him the bizarre position of the decretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Yep, this is the title for a former neurosurgeon. There are so many sunken moments to choose from for Ben, but this moment, which shows Carson thanking God for Trump after the despicable tax bill was passed, is disgustingly unforgettable. Ray Lewis Ray Lewis is an NFL legend. He is a 10-time Associated Press All-Pro and one of the few players in history to play in a Pro Bowl in three different decades. However, he is tainting his legacy by being Trump’s BFF and slamming NFL players who knelled during the National Anthem. Yet, when he knelled, he claimed, “I wasn’t protesting, I was praising God,” which was when Shannon Sharpe destroyed him on ESPN. Watch Ray’s sunken response below. Jim Brown If Ray Lewis is an NFL legend, Jim Brown is an NFL icon. In 2002, Sporting News named him the greatest football player of all time and now he appears to have been swallowed by the sunken place. The 81-year-old shocked us all by defending Trump to anyone who would listen, especially when he voted for Hillary Clinton . He believes Trump can magically give the Black community jobs, which is ludicrous — he can’t even hire a Black person for the White House senior staff, unless it’s Omarosa. Watch Jim Brown defend his king below: Paris Dennard A few times a week you can catch Paris Dennard getting dragged all over CNN. It’s as if his brain has been lobotomized of all logic because Paris is convinced 45 is the messiah for the Black community. One of his best suken moments of the year was when Keith Boykin said he was “ashamed” that Paris as a Black man would defend Trump sympathizing with Nazis. The madness starts at the five-minute mark. Omarosa Manigault The reality star turned Trump’s side-kick is the arguably the ruler of the sunken place. She called for America to “bow down” to Trump, she attacked April Ryan and had a complete breakdown at the National Association for Black Journalists conference. Watch Omarosa in the widely parodied clip below, bawling because she lost her Black friends over supporting Trump. Oh — and honorable mention to Stacey Dash , who was the queen of the sunken place in 2016, but vanished from television when Fox News fired her. We’ll be in a new year in a few days, maybe some of these folks can escape the sunken place in 2018. We’ll get the prayer warriors out for all of you! SEE ALSO: Charlottesville Hero Pushed Fiancée Out Of The Way Of Deranged Terrorist WATCH: White Supremacist Charlottesville Rally Organizer Flees From Counterprotesters
