New York Amsterdam News Needs Black Support
By Alton H. Maddox, Jr.

I am appreciative of the New York Amsterdam News for allowing me to contribute to the welfare of the Black community thorough my pro bono writings. These articles are not written for my benefit. They are written to provide the Black community with a Black perspective on current issues.
For example, the current op-ed piece is entitled 'White supremacy shaped John McCain's life.' To understand Sen. John McCain's current conduct, it is important to understand his family' political philosophy. Prominent members of white families generally embrace the same political philosophy. This is 'cause and effect.'
Black families usually spawn multiple and disparate political philosophies for its Black members. This is a result of slavery and white supremacy. In many families, a 'Nat Turner' and a 'Roy Wilkins' are in the same family. If we are unable to unite families, racial unity is a pipe dream. This is an issue for 'Black Solidarity Day.'
To be sure, many of my writings are lengthy. While denominated as op-ed pieces, these writings include research in politics, law, economics, history etc. In 'The Miseducation of the Negro,' Carter G. Woodson maintains that our lack of knowledge of ourselves is a critical problem. It would be criminal for any Black person to omit history from his or her writings.
History explains the conduct of McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin. The McCains were deeply involved in the Civil War and Reconstruction. Moreover, the Black male and white female problem started after the ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment despite the presence of Frederick Douglass in the women's suffrage movement.
White women would conspire with the KKK in the untold number of lynchings of Black men. Lynchings of Blacks only became commonplace after 1865. Our value went from the three-fifths to zero because of the Thirteenth Amendment.
Economic value explains the assassinations of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell. Pain and suffering is more valuable than wrongful death. This is a real problem in a system which accords socialism for the rich and capitalism for the poor. Insurance may be a deterrent.
In my writing about the McCains, I had to expend hundreds of dollars. This is typical. There were no writings connecting the McCains with direct assaults on Blacks beyond their being slaveholders. History shows that they were quite active with the KKK which was established within a week of the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment.
I was told recently that my articles had to be subject to a 600-word limitation. I appreciate the concern for space but I also note that the prior op-ed piece of Richard Carter, for example, exceeded 900 words. A similar limitation would, at least, allow me to write an article that would be intelligible to most readers.
Of course, my reference to historical events without explanation requires additional research for the reader. In the current article, I mention the Colored Farmers Alliance, the Southern Farmers Alliance, United States v. Cruikshank, 'Carrolton Courthouse Massacre,' the 'Greenville Movement,' Henry O. Flipper and Wesley A. Brown. This is a part of our history.
I hope that we will be able to institutionalize this space in the New York Amsterdam News. Time is running out on my ability to continue these writings. We need comprehensive analyses of current events. The opportunity to find another good Samaritan may be from slim to none.
Nonetheless, we will never be able to benefit from politics by operating on political fumes. This is our current plight with term limits. No leader, political or otherwise, has raised the right issue. This means that Blacks are marching down the wrong road again. Political success starts with political education.
Although Sen. Barack Obama dissented, Cong. John Lewis was correct in equating Sen. John McCain's political campaign with Gov. George Wallace's political rhetoric. In speaking about the Confederate flag, McCain said, 'Personally, I see the flag as a symbol of heritage.' He voted four times against the Civil Rights Act of 1990.
On April 4, 2008, he finally admitted in Memphis that he was wrong in opposing the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday to a group of supporters of the slain civil rights leader. In Congress, McCain voted against a national holiday for Dr. King. He supported the decision of Gov. Evan Mecham of Arizona to rescind the state holiday for Dr. King.
Only history can explain McCain's legislative actions. Each generation of McCains has inherited the doctrine of white supremacy. Thus, McCain's thinking controls his actions. Dr. Carter G. Woodson said that if you control a person's thinking, you control that person's actions. A revolution in Black people must start with a revolution of Black minds.

10/25/08