African-Americans who believe that Mitt Romney represents the best opportunity for black America.

Right after the end of slavery, a highly spirited debate emerged in black America over how to reach equality with whites. The debate was primarily between Republican Booker T. Washington, who believed that black people should win their equality through self-reliance and the development of vocational and job skills, and “Radical Democrat” W.E.B. DuBois, who believed black people should do so by engaging in the arts and using government as a means to reach equal footing within the population.

To DuBois’ own credit, he believed in immediate equality, while Washington was more passive due to his belief that blacks should attain equal rights by developing vocational skills to such a high level that employers couldn’t afford to turn them down. DuBois’ determination helped him become the first head of the NAACP and, as such, his imprint on Black America is felt heavily today.

So, about 25 years ago, I was living in Annapolis, capital of Maryland, sitting right on the Chesapeake Bay.

It has a distinction of being one of the early capitals of young America AND a major port for the US slave trade. Yes, down by the docks, there’s even a plaque commemorating Kunta Kinte’s arrival.

Today, Annapolis’ great claim to fame is being home to both the US Naval Academy and St. John’s College, a liberal arts institution of which I am a proud graduate.

At the time of this anecdote, it was either the summer before or after my graduation. I was walking down Prince George Street, which runs up from the docks toward the college, to visit friends living off-campus. My friends lived in the back half of a house — with, alas, a non-functioning doorbell. This particular day, the residents in the front half (the landlord/renting family, as I recall) weren’t home.

In the current 112th congress, no United States Senators are black. There is no tangible reason for this disturbing fact, however, some elements are clear and present as to give a possible answer

Federal action to slow foreclosures and hold down interest rates are prolonging this pain while doing nothing to address the real problem of dead equity.

Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, producer, and model. In 2009, the Guinness World Records cited her as the most-awarded female act of all time.

GLAAD’s knee-jerk response to anyone who is a public figure that says anything that they disagree with is to call on that person to be fired; and then request that person meet with them. Why would anyone that you made lose their job be interested in meeting with you?

But doesn’t that go against their very mission—“to promote understanding?” Isn’t it more logical to call for a meeting with a person before you demand that their employer fire them? Shouldn’t you dialogue with a person before you start questioning their motives and intensions, if your true goal is to “advance understanding?

In the immortal words of semanticist, S.I. Hayakawa, “meanings are in people, not in words.” In short, words have no intrinsic meaning other than meanings that are internalized by each individual. For example, if I walked up to a female and told her that her dress was “stupid,” she would be either flattered or insulted. If she understood the language of Hip-Hop, she would be flattered; if she didn’t, then she would be insulted. “Meanings are in people, not in words.”

NWA’s debut album “Straight Outta Carolina” was an album laced with raw and vulgar expressions and story telling never heard before in hip hop or in music as a whole. The LA based group shook the industry with their unabashed message of being anti-law enforcement, anti-America, and most of all exposing the lifestyle of a “gangsta”. One who takes no for answer and gets what he wants, no matter how right or wrong the method.

Hip Hop began in 1988 as it always did, New York based rappers delivering rap songs that expressed the life of New Yorkers. None of these rappers messages were clean enough to perform before a Sunday church crowd, however, there was some biting of the lip in regarding their expression. Public Enemy frontman Chuck D was as anti-establishment and raw as they came, yet he never articulated the need and desire to use violence as a primary way of life. With their angry and no holdsbar attitude,NWA forever changed hip hop.

This brings me to last Saturday’s GOP primary winner Newt Gingrich. Newt Gingrich is much like NWA. No he isn’t new to the political fold, however his style and mannerisms are uncharacteristic of any of his GOP opponents. He’s all telling and unwavering regarding to his principals and positions. Ron Paul, Rick Santorum, and especially Mitt Romeny are those east coast rappers who do deliever their message, however, its done with care and ease. Sometimes even apologetic, not Speaker Gingrich.

I came down to cover the event from Canada. And for anything you may have heard of Canada’s (well earned) reputation for tolerance, diversity and friendliness, nothing could have prepared me for the hospitality and graciousness I’ve had the joy of experiencing in Charleston.

This 2012 Black GOP Candidates list is from Republicans for Black Empowerment. This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement . This information is provided for informational purposes only.

Libertopia is a feature-length documentary that encourages twenty thousand people to move to New Hampshire where the participants examines issues of freedom and liberty.

(Tribune File Photo) Mia Love, mayor of Saratoga Springs, is jumping into the 4th Congressional District contest. She faces fellow Republicans Stephen Sandstrom and Carl Wimmer, both state lawmakers, in the battle for the GOP nomination.

Street vending has been a path out of poverty for Americans. And like other such paths (say, driving a taxi), this one is increasingly difficult to navigate.

Newt Gingrich’s rise to leader of the pack among Republican presidential hopefuls isn’t an accident nor is he just the GOP flavor of the month.

Gingrich is the most formidable and qualified candidate to take on Barack Obama and win, something conservatives are coming to realize, which is why the New Hampshire Union Leader endorsed Newt Gingrich in the New Hampshire Presidential Primary because he is most capable of leading the country out of this mess.

The more Gingrich debated his colleagues, the more people liked him. In every debate Gingrich has performed deftly, offering common sense solutions to problems facing America from entitlement reform to foreign relations. He also acted like a statesman in debates, never falling for liberal moderators’ bait of trashing his colleagues. As Newt often reiterates, “any one of us on this stage could do a better job than Barack Obama.”

When Politicalistas asked me to help them launch their site with a weekly take on my experiences in China, I could immediately think of several topics to write about.

After all, I’m a southern girl from Arkansas who decided to set up camp in Mainland China for a year to teach English, do some things for my business, learn Mandarin and understand the culture in general—all of this AFTER having run in national political circles during most of my 20’s. That’s enough material for at least one good season on a reality show.

At 28, I am a member of the Y generation who may as well have been born with microchips in our brains. It’s as if we were made for technology, and in a world that craves mass communication capabilities, I’d say this is okay.