Black and Brown sellouts

“Solidarity must never support an unjust cause.” Dr. BLR

The unity among Black and Brown communities has been deteriorating because Brown people believed it was better to align themselves with White people. Some Black individuals even sell their souls to be accepted by white people. Stop! I’m not trying to be divisive or racist. I’m calling a spade a spade. Wait! Aren’t spades Black? Okay, I digress.

By the end of 2024, President Trump was re-elected and resumed office with a clear agenda: to target non-white people. His supporters cheered his moves, especially his cabinet picks. However, only a few Black and Brown individuals managed to slip through. From my observations, it’s been one Black man and one Brown man. In a country once celebrated for embracing diversity, it’s now declining rapidly, with the only survivors being the non-minorities who colonized this land. Our actions have caused our diversity efforts to fall off a cliff.

Now, let’s examine the selected members of his cabinet. Kash Patel, whose full name is Kashyap Pramod Patel, is the son of Indian immigrants. Before joining Trump’s second term in office, he was an outspoken critic of many things he probably thought would earn him Trump’s favor. He authored a few books praising Trump’s efforts to eliminate the “Deep State” and appeared on numerous podcasts advocating for releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. Like many of Trump’s sycophants, Patel seemed to be auditioning for a role. His efforts paid off when he was confirmed as FBI Director after a contentious Senate vote. So far, his time in the role has raised questions. Using taxpayers’ money to fly his girlfriend to social events has annoyed his critics. Consequently, several news outlets are suggesting that Trump is displeased with some of Patel’s missteps and that a replacement might be imminent. 

Next up is Scott Turner, a Black former NFL player who played for the Washington (then) Redskins, the (then) San Diego Chargers, and the Buffalo Bills. Looking at his career, he was signed and cut several times, and his performance was average. After his playing days, he was offered a full-time role in the California office of Congressman Duncan Hunter. He later ran for Congress in a special election but was unsuccessful. He then moved to Texas and eventually won a seat in the Texas legislature. From there, he gained recognition in the Republican Party, which brought him notoriety as a rising Black Republican. At first glance, he resembles former NFL players, twin brothers Tiki and Ronde Barber. Usually, I am happy for Black men who succeed in politics until they open their mouths. I researched Turner, and once I learned that he backed Trump’s anti-DEI initiative, I immediately tuned him out. Also, while in the Texas legislature, he voted for bills that opposed efforts to help poor people. Trump appointed him during his first term as the Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, and he’s currently the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He’s in charge of programs targeting poor and minority communities. He was just the right token for the Trump administration. I hope that one day he realizes he was chosen not because he was the best candidate, but because he was a DEI hire. 

The behavior of these men shows what the white power establishment has taught some minorities in their effort for acceptance. To clarify, I think of two other Black men who arrived as Trojan Horses and completely deceived Black people. 

First, there's Senator Cory Booker. I remember his story about coming to Newark, NJ, as a community organizer, and I think it's nonsense. He had no real ties to the city but saw it as a chance to gain favor with the poor and oppressed. He moved into one of the city's poorest neighborhoods and lived in a dilapidated shack. On the surface, he seemed sincere because he was unknown to those who didn’t see through him. He went on to serve as a councilman, then mayor, and eventually as a senator. Recently, he got married, which has raised eyebrows about his future plans. I won’t spread any rumors, but many in the know believe it’s only for public image and appearance. You can think whatever you want. I'll leave it at that. Now, back to the main point: Booker is very appealing to the white establishment, and behind closed doors, he's reportedly accepting money from Israeli lobbyists. Nearly every politician is beholden to this group. But he’s a Black man, and he should know better than to betray the people who helped him rise in politics. My point is that he is bought and paid for.

The second Black man who disappointed many in the Black community is former President Barack Obama. For the record, I voted for him twice because he was the lesser of the politicians we could choose from. From all accounts, Obama learned the political game by working for a community-based organization to get his name and face known. He later ingratiated himself into the Black church to gain some authenticity he lacked because he wasn’t raised around Black people. Both are red flags, but we didn’t see that back then. I think that because he looked Black, we forgave his deficiencies. He wasn’t raised like foundational Black folks; he learned some of our secrets from his wife, Michelle. While some white conservatives couldn’t stand the fact that he was Black, he was a favorite and almost a savior for the white establishment on the left. He did their bidding behind the scenes. When specifically asked about helping the Black community, he said, "I can't pass laws that say I'm just helping black folks." I know, I know. He’s supposed to be the president for everyone, but it was Black people who voted overwhelmingly for him, and when given a chance to reciprocate, he got all presidential. I could go on and on about him, but my blood pressure medication has been working for years, and I don’t want to mess with my health.

I will conclude by saying that I don’t blame white people for making Brown and Black people forget where they come from, because we should know better. However, I will always hold them responsible for creating a system that promotes this behavior and for maintaining unjust systems.