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VOL 3. NO. 28 Monday, July 23 - Sunday, July 29, 2001
AFRICA
AGAINST THE GRAIN
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THE WORD
BUSINESS/NETWORKING - BUSINESS EXCHANGE
BUSH, BOND AND BLACKS
Why Didn't President Play The Race Card Better?
By William REED

Julian Bond, Chairman of the Board of the NAACP

President Bush's snub of the NAACP's New Orleans convention has political activists wondering "why?" Compounding that rebuff of America's largest civil rights group, Bush aides shot back that NAACP Chairman Julian Bond "went too far" saying they were "a government of the rich, by and for the rich." At a time when polls show Black Americans at the bottom of the country's economic ladder holding "pessimistic views" that their status and race relations will get any better, why would Bush not address Black Americans' most influential group with tidings of good cheer?

Of course, even had Bush gone to the NAACP convention, its officials probably would have still whined. But, Bush still needs to embrace the idea of "inclusion" when it comes to blacks. Republican policies and programs can have great impact on black communities if they work to create an atmosphere of inclusion. Such an effort would cause Bush aides to step out of their comfort zones and create new alliances and work to overcome the prejudice and misunderstanding that continues to keep African Americans separate and unequal in America. When Republicans elect to work with black and urban groups they will create wider support for the president and resurrect Republican Party memberships among blacks. By reaching out Bush can show that he's shaping solutions for the whole community not just the rich and traditional Republicans whom 67 percent of all Americans say Bush is aligned with.

Bush's faith-based initiatives have outstanding revenue and social services potential for African-American communities, but it has had more exclusion than inclusion. An NAACP national director accuses Bush of dividing black clergy and refusing to meet with civil rights leaders on the initiative. Board member Amos Brown says, "There has been no inclusive dialogue" and if Bush were serious about including the black community," he would have met with some of us."

What is the mindset among Bush's staffers regarding African-Americans? Are black aides in the administration using their positions to promote a broad-based black agenda, or are they being used to put a black face on an anti-black agenda? Black Republicans committed to black empowerment have a hard time promoting Republican philosophies that could help African-American interests when the president ignores black leadership groups like the NAACP.

When it comes to bridging the races, President Bush needs to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. A recent Gallop Poll Social Audit reveals the dirty little secret too many Americans want to ignore - there's an ongoing racial divide in the country. Instead of ignoring African-American groups, if Bush used his political acumen he'd take his bully pulpit into such forums regularly, preaching inclusion and race relations that will benefit us all.

William Reed is the author of "Who's Who in Black Corporate America." For questions or comments email him at businessexchange@metroconnection.info.

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