A stupid black man

I am a huge opponent of Larry Elder’s ideology, but I believe the underpinning of his book, “Stupid Black Men” is authentic. In the book, released February 2008, Elder used his controversial views to take those he labels as “racial ambulance chasers” to the woodshed to challenge their “racism done me wrong” mindset.

“Whether they are demagogues like Al Sharpton, established politicians like Hillary Clinton, or entertainers like Danny Glover, no one escapes Elder’s cogent arguments and rapier wit,” reads the book’s front flap cover.

Although racism still produces its harvest from seeds planted decades ago, I too believe that too large a percentage of black folks have chosen to view the glass of racism as half empty rather than half-full. The strides that blacks have achieved over the past four decades have been historic and our opportunities exceed those of our forefathers by leaps and bounds.

As African Americans living in the 21st century we are the beneficiaries and descendents of ancestors who struck down slavery, Jim Crow and segregation and did so with a grace that missing in today’s “the white man is holding me black” mindset. No, we can’t sit by ideally and allow our rights to be breeched by 21st century racism practices, but neither should we be decreeing racism in those situations where it does not exist or become so intolerant that white folks are unable to freely discuss issues without being label a racist.

Elder contends that the actions of black leaders like the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sharpton and guilt-ridden white liberals are dividing the country by angrily emphasizing differences rather than celebrating similarities. He maintains that these race card baiters are playing the race card and losing.

There is some truth in his ascertains, however his position on the subject matter is filled with as many holes as those he debates.

While the premise of Elder’s book is plausible, his reasoning – which I’m sure he believes is rational – is ridiculous and reveals that Elder is one “stupid black man.”

Self-described as a someone who has been a thorn in the side of the conventional wisdom crowd, Elder’s “Stupid Black Men” as a complete body of work, was somewhat of a thorn in the side of my conventional wisdom He uses 267 pages to try and convince readers that Democrats are dumb, Republicans are right and black folks spend too much time “bitching.” He spends much of his word count suggesting that folks like Jackson, to include guilt-ridden white liberals are alarmist, always playing the “race card.” But Elder fails to see that he is playing the “race card” as an apologist for the Republican Party – always exonerating any wrong committed by those good ole right-wing conservatives. Elder, Jackson and Sharpton, in their arguments, are all riding on the spirit of truth, but all are bucked by the truth because in their spirit they choose never to straddle the balance of that truth. Truth covers a broad spectrum.

Elder’s stupidity can be seen in his propensity to see simply what he wants so that his point of view is corroborated.

In the seventh chapter entitled, “The Criminal Justice System” Elder provides a recap of the racial tension that took place during the debacle, call the Duke rape case. Elder was sure to let his readers know the innocence of the three accused lacrosse players and indicted those “racial ambulance chasers” that included former District Attorney Mike Nifong, Sharpton and other activist who supported the accuser’s claim. Earlier Elder chastised Sharpton’s presences in another racial charged rape case. In 1989 Sharpton called Trisha Meili, the “Central Park Jogger,” a whore. When discussing this case Elder features only Sharpton’s epithet, he fails to provide for his readers the fact that those five accused black boys, like the three white boys from Duke, were innocent. He also failed to explain that those accused black boys were initially convicted despite there being no DNA evidence to connect them to the crime. Selective reasoning was evident throughout the book.

In other examples of Elder’s bewildering reasoning he paints beautiful portraits of the Republican Party suggesting that the Democrats are ungrateful for the righteousness of the GOP. He also agrees with Mychal Massie, chairman of the black conservative group Project 21, who said, “The NAACP sees racism behind every tree and bush.” Elder sees racism nowhere or at least fail to provide one case where he thought it existed.

What really reveals the ignorance of Elder is his controversial title. In “Stupid Black Men” he clearly takes issue with white liberals and alarmist; call out white folks like Nifong and the Clintons (Bill and Hilliary). Yet the title of his book denigrates black men. I’m only left to believe that naming the book “Stupid White Men,” "Stupid White Women" or “Stupid White Liberals” would have resulted in fewer book sales, or it might have placed Elders in jeopardy with his white brethrens. Elder’s book title was however somewhat poetic, it did include the thought process of at least one “stupid black man.”