The "Black Flight Progressive" Concept Defended From The Scrutiny Of The "All White Jury"

Black progressives flee to conservative suburbs By Shamara Riley - The Grio



Many thanks to Shamara Riley of "Booker Rising" for putting giving a larger voice to a phenomenon that is easily observable in most large metro areas where African-Americans live. I may have coined the term "Black Flight Progressive" but, anyone seeking to make objective analysis of the migration patterns of middle class African-Americans can see for themselves that this is the case.

Of course, whenever certain observations that are put out that tend to step upon some toes (along with my admitted confrontational tone at times) seemingly there appears an "All White Jury" on the scene to attempt to derail the scrutiny of their actions. This post is my attempt to clarify my points, where necessary. Also there is a need to refute some spin that has been injected as an attempt to pettifog the point.

Keep in mind that the rather straight forward list of "Black Permanent Interests" were attacked when I put it forward after years of listening to Black people of all stripes:

• Safe Streets
• Quality Education
• Thriving Local Economy
• Healthy Lifestyles

Even this attempt to put forth a transparent framework that people who have different ideological and partisan viewpoints could agree upon as sound common goals for us to navigate toward drew staunch criticism from the "usual suspects".

With some people I have learned to adjust my expectations of their responses to better match their known antics.

THEIR INCUMBENT MINDSET

The first thing that I must make note of is the assumed incumbent mindset that many of the Black folks that I often debate come to the table with. In their view my criticisms against the way that THEY think is, in fact a "criticism upon all of Black America". It is not.

Strangely enough they can be heard attacking Black Conservatives such as Clarence Thomas, Michael Steele or Larry Elder, calling them names that had been reserved for use by lynch mobs just prior to them stringing up the Black man that was the subject of their ire. Yet it never dawns upon them that they have committed a far more gross infraction.

Regardless of how large their faction is - their way of thinking is a CHOICE and is not intrinsic upon Black people. This my critique of their way of thinking will only always be a critique of them - a SUBSET OF BLACK THOUGHT.

Ironically despite how frequently they make note of the size of their line of thinking they seem to evade ultimate accountability for the state of affairs today among many of our people.

THE BLACK FLIGHT PROGRESSIVE - OBSERVED

I can speak authoritatively from my own first hand view on several cities/metro areas: Atlanta, Washington DC, and Philadelphia. For some, they desire to have me get a doctorate degree and publish a "peer reviewed" paper prior to them even thinking about accepting these observations. (We should note that Huffington Post, DailyKOS and Common Dreams.org do not have such a mandate prior to having their work syndicated on the various "Black Quasi-Socialist Progressive-Fundamentalist Racism Chaser" blogs.)

To clarify a few of my points - YES, it is true that as a people obtain a measure of wealth they seek to vacate to settings that are populated with people who share their values. I clearly state this in the original definition.

I will clarify that in absence of clearly stating the fact - I did not attempt to make the case that ALL Black people who seek to emigrate to the suburbs go exclusively to "White Conservative Suburbs". Anyone living in Metro Atlanta know how ridiculous such a claim would be. There are plenty of "majority Black liberal" and "majority White liberal" suburban communities and cities in existence. These are attractive destinations as well.

Upon debating this issue I was made to more clearly see one key point. The foundation of civil rights laws and the enforcement there in has also opened up the "majority White conservative" suburban communities for settlement by the Black American.

Thus, as I said in the original definition - when a middle class Black person seeks a community to live in they often make use of standard real estate resources to search upon the key elements that I previously mentioned:

• Quality Schools
• Safe Communities
• Retention of Property Values
• Access To High End Retail

The list that is returned often contains all of the communities profiled above, including the White conservative community.

Absent the hostility in these conservative communities they are chosen for settlement by African Americans. In Fayette County Georgia - a solidly Republican controlled county where I live - this is easily observable as the case. Despite the stereotype of the "racist conservative" that is continuously perpetuated by the Black Establishment - the people who have relocated into these metro area conservative counties have not experienced this threat, by and large.

THE NEED FOR RECONCILIATION

In my original definition of "The Black Flight Progressive" I noted the irony of seeing a Black Progressive that is a loyal Democratic voter finding himself moving next door to his ideological enemy in an attempt to have his "Black Permanent Interests" expressed. Something that likely did not come to fruition in the place from which he relocated.

I made a non-scientific observation of the increase in the number of Democratic candidate campaign signage during the 13 years that I have lived within. In reading the local (county) newspaper - they too have noted that the influx of African Americans has revitalized the county's Democratic party. (Previously, they said "The Fayette County Democratic Party used to hold their meetings in the Photo Hut", noting the small size.)

At no point did I ever say that Black Progressive Democrats are not welcome here. In fact I felt that my choices were validated by their appreciation of the environment into which they have moved. After years of teasing about "living with the White folks and having 'sold out' " I now see people who are ideologically compatible with the "haters" against me now moving in.

The point the suggested reconciliation is based on the fact that they are having the "Black Permanent Interests" of their family being expressed within an environment that has been shaped by their ideological adversaries.

One of the "All White Jury" members, in his attempt to scuttle my claim, noted that Blacks who move to "Majority Progressive suburbs" of a particular income level also have their interests expressed. The point that is missed by the hater is that such a state is expected in the "friendly" community. In the conservative community, however, if the stereotype is true - their Black kids should be harassed out of the school house after a few weeks due to the racism that the conservative is known to exhibit. (Anyone reading certain papers and blogs, especially this week would easily come away with this opinion).

Thus the more accurate argument is to make the case that the prevailing negative stereotype that exists within the Black community is true. Instead the hater has chosen to show the sameness of these two communities - liberal and conservative.

INCUMBENCY

The key point that trumps all of this banter between left and right on the matter of the residential satisfaction of the African-America is the power of INCUMBENCY that one side clearly has in the Black community. Regardless of the core city that they originated from or the "progressive suburb" that they vacate to there exists one machine that controls both of these places if and when the Black voter becomes the majority.

When I point this out there is gross suspicion that my agenda is to get Black people voting for the Republicans. I am not even a Republican. Instead my agenda is to take hold of the facts with the counter charge of "YES - It is clear that you prefer progressives and Democrats over all other alternatives. No longer is your constant challenge which asks 'Well tell me what has the Conservatives ever done for Black people except stand in our way?'. YOU NOW HAVE THE INCUMBENT CONTROL OVER WHERE YOU LIVE. With your adversary vacated the new question that must be asked is 'Now that your favored people control all of your key institutions - Please detail the benefits that our community has received regarding our PERMANENT INTERESTS. Your attempts to show me the portraits of the Black elected officials on the wall does NOT represent PROGRESS. Maybe progress for your party and ideology. Progress for the Black community, however, are proven on the streets among the people, in the schools, in the business districts where our people live and the health outcomes from the messages that are streaming to our people. In as much as these areas remain very problematic I am disinclined to yield more uncontested power to you. Instead I want some 'earnest money', proving of your intentions before I continue walking with you".

For some people such a stance is a threat to them. Their logic says "Lets strengthen the Progressive ideology and the Democratic Party. From this array of favorable elected leadership over MORE of our institutions - the Black community will prosper.

They are unwilling to submit to a checkpoint where these claims are validated. A look at the map where African Americans are most concentrated shows that despite having achieved this control - the bottom line Permanent Interests remain unfulfilled. Ironically the continued frustration has the impact of strengthening the entrenchment of the progressive and Democratic base. In as much as the Black Establishment is able to redirect the blame for this continued conditions off of the backs of their ideological soul mates in these elected positions over to an issue of "Structural Imbalance" at the national level this unchallenged expansion continues. If the progressive can achieve more ground in more local districts then they can foment their agenda of the alignment of their power base - At the grass root level, at the municipal level, at the state level, at the regional level and finally - at the federal level.

The key is to have the African-American focus upon his long term ideological and party interests, not looking at the failure to deliver at the local level. "Stay unified. Don't ask questions about where we are going by scrutinizing where we have taken you thus far. You should be happy with the official portraits upon the wall. Do you want the Republicans in power and thus you'll have to take the portraits off of the wall?"

THE BLACK 'RE-LOCATEE' IS A DEMOCRATIC VOTE

I have bee a scourge on many Black progressive chatrooms and blog sites over the past 10 years that the Internet has allowed for open debate on various subjects important to Black people. Over this time I have noted the jubilation that many Black Democrats have expressed over the "blue-ing" of certain states and counties. I recall someone mentioning this about Virginia and North Carolina. There has been prediction that the influx of Hispanics will return Texas to a blue state. There are even predictions that Georgia will turn into a Democratic state in 15 years. I am sure that Florida will have done so long before this.

The key point is is that the Black voter has fused his racial outlook to that of his party. He is so focused on the battle with the conservatives via fighting the Republicans - just as the Black Establishing wants him to do - that he fails to see that local political and ideological victory on behalf of the forces that he is focused upon HAS NOT translated into a more balanced success for his people. After the political campaign victory party ends - he returns to his community, conscious of the very same threats that were there prior to the election.