By Travis Johnson:

No other ethnic political apparatus in this country is so firmly in the pocket of one party as African-Americans and the Democratic Party.  For decades, Democrats have pandered to African-Americans at election time, then forgot their promises a day later.  And yet, we keep coming back, waiting for more empty promises.

The Black Press is complicit in this abusive relationship.  Let’s look at one recent example.  In the run-up to the 2010 elections in Illinois, no black media outlet completely ignored every Republican primary.  All of them.   The mainstream press, on the other hand, weighed in on both the Democratic and Republican primaries.  Justifiably outraged by this, Republican nominee for the Congressional seat currently held by Jesse Jackson, Jr penned this open letter to the Illinois Black media:

Dear Editor –

I am the GOP nominee for Congress in IL-2. I am conservative. I also happen to be an African-American, and resident of the Chicagoland area. The reason I am writing to you today is because your publication primarily serves the Black community. I am a faithful reader, but have noticed an intentional/unintentional neglect to Republican members of our community.

Your endorsements this week did not include the Republican Party at all! However, the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune both endorsed Democratic and Republican primaries. This created grave concern about your commitment to objective reporting, and to the real needs and diversity of opinion among African-Americans. I find it particularly challenging to reconcile how no Republican candidate is worthy of your endorsement. It gives the impression of partisanship.

I know it is assumed that all Blacks are Democrats and to be Black means you have to be a Democrat, but these assumptions are egregiously false. Black history is full of prominent Republicans, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we just celebrated. Dr. King’s niece, Althea King, is a prominent Republican today, and a conservative activist in New York City.

As “minorities” we have always called for diversity and tolerance, yet within Black press there is no tolerance for Black Republicans and no willingness to embrace Black political diversity. My question is why not? Why are our press releases, letters to the editor, community events, and campaigns ignored? Is it not the responsibility of Black press to keep the Black community informed of what and who is impacting their lives?

I appeal to you to be more inclusive, more objective, and less partial. We have Republican candidates running for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and Cook County Sheriff who are members of the Black community. Yet, there has been no mention of any of our candidacies.

Our backgrounds include Reverend, Alderman, Officer, working with youth, and community organizing with President Barack Obama. We are not outsiders. We ask that we not be treated as such.

Very Respectfully,
Rev. Isaac C. Hayes
GOP Nominee for U.S. Congress, IL-2

 As I’ve said before, the Republicans do not have the best record in the civil rights arena. But, a cursory examination of the Democrats policies show that they have their own problems. It’s time for African-Americans to stop putting our entire political future in the hands of the Democratic party.

To the Black media, I say, give our people the means by which we can educate ourselves on all of the issues. From every perspective. Provide fair coverage to Democratic AND Republican candidates. Maybe the Republicans won’t convince African-Americans to vote for them. Maybe they will. But at the end of the day, our people deserve the right to make their own choice.

The Civil War and the Civil Rights movements were about giving our people the right to self-determination. Live up to that vision by giving us all the information we need to wisely choose our leaders.