A guest column by Brent Gray, candidate for State Representative, 29th District.

As the primary election emerged towards its conclusion, Black radio station ads promoting Ken Blackwell asked for our vote to elect him the next and first African American Governor in the state of Ohio.  This message rang out like a stray bullet from a drive by shooting…. Terrible analogy you say?  Probably.  So is the political philosophy of a former democrat turned neocon and extreme right-winged fundamentalist who is far removed from the black community and its concerns.

Following the primary, I engaged a prospective voter in conversation and asked the question; “Who do you like for Governor and why?” “I’m going to vote for Blackwell because he represents the Black man,” he said.  It became apparent to me that he wasn’t aware that Mr. Blackwell opposes affirmative action but supports educational slots for legacies.  He wasn’t aware that Mr. Blackwell does not support an increase in the minimum wage and calls the constitutional initiative an ill-conceived idea.  He wasn’t aware that Mr. Blackwell as co-chair of President Bush’s re-election campaign desecrated his position as Secretary of State by disenfranchising voters in highly populated Black/Democratic precincts across the state during the 2004 election. This blatant act of suppression should have warranted his award of a complimentary imperial grand wizard hood and robe.

Sixteen years of failed leadership, 2 historical tax hikes, corporate welfare, escalating property taxes, scandals and corruption, 1.3 million Ohioans without healthcare, unprecedented job loss, excessively high statewide unemployment rates specifically in the black community, record foreclosure rates and bankruptcies topped off with the lowest governor approval rating in history.  I did not just describe an ice cream sundae. These are the issues that warrant your consideration in this upcoming election.  It is not the number of scriptures you can quote.

Had enough of the same or is it time for a change?

There is an old adage that reads, don’t look at the messenger, listen to the message.  My intent is not to marginalize the accomplishments of the candidate.  It is to do as Frederick Douglas penned, “agitate, agitate, agitate.” We are committed to motivate people to vote in their economic interest versus their values. It is irresponsible to vote based on divisive frames such as race, class, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.  I urge you to champion progressive initiatives that have a positive impact on all of humanity and defend those causes that provoke social change for a better day.

Ask the tough questions like: Will there be economic inclusion or gentrification and exclusion, quality education or disproportionate incarceration, liquor stores or opportunities with open doors?  Send a message to the radio stations and throughout the Black community stating that we won’t be placated by pigmentation.  It is the biased viewpoint of this candidate that rips at the worned fabric of a strained community and annihilates the hope of prosperity that will mend it.  If it were true that Mr. Blackwell postulates himself in comparison to the great Martin Luther King, Jr., then he would be familiar with a segment of the I have a dream speech that reads” they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Mr. Blackwell, the race card wont be played in Ohio’s spades game today.  You don’t have any more tricks and you’ve been set.  Game over!

Brent Gray
Candidate, State Representative, 29th District
http://www.grayforstaterep.org

Socializer!

del.icio.us

Furl It

Anonymous comments are allowed, but you can log in above to stamp your name and to avoid typing the anti-spam code.

If you are not familiar with our rules for leaving comments, click here!

1. says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  08:22 am | #

   It seems Mr. Grey thinks it is alright for the Dems to have extorted the Black Community for all these years. The Dems’ empty pledges never came true. Perhaps Mr. Grey is afraid of Black folks thinking for themselves and voting for a non-Dem candidate. Wil the Dems and their Union Thugs have to go out and earn the Black Vote? Stay tuned.

2. says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  11:04 am | #

   Seems Blue Gill cannot analyze Ken Blackwell’s history, as Grey has done above.

3. Jim Meeker says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  11:09 am | #

   And what does Blew Gill Brinkman and his villainous ilk offer the Black community? ‘Pull yourselves up your own bootstraps’, the end of Affirmative Action, the inclusion of minority owned contractors and the Voting Rights Act. Plus lots more prison for black males.

   but hey, a few lucky Uncle Tom’s get some prominent positions. All they have to do is to betray their race to get ahead. Just like Uncle Ken Taftwell did.

4. says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  12:26 pm | #

   This Jim Meeker comes off as quite the racist!

   Prisons are built to house criminals no matter their skin color. It’s the offense that gets them behind bars, not their skin color.

5. Jim Meeker says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  01:45 pm | #

   Au Contraire Brinkman, YOU are the rascist. And a vile pig as well.

6. Jacqueline Henretta says:
   21 Jul 2006  at  05:31 pm | #

   It seems that I can not find a conversation on the Beacon that is without you two little girls squabbling.

7. says:
   22 Jul 2006  at  12:30 pm | #

   Mr. Blue Gill, extortion has in fact come at the hands of some candidates because of selfish agendas, I will agree with you on that point. I certainly dont think that it is a partisan issue.  Moreover, it certainly has not been the result of principles or the philosophy commensurate with progressive thought associated with the Democratic party’s vision.  Personal choices are made daily whether they be right or wrong and one has to deal with the consequences of those decisions.  So...in that respect, Im certain people can think for themselves despite their ethnic persuasion. It becomes more of a serious matter when these decisions impact the lives of others which is the responsibilty of the candidate.  We need candidates who literally care and realizes that in order to nurture trust between people and get the required results, a leader should be more concerned with being thoughtful than being correct. He or she should have a world view that recognizes that there is no Black or White answers to problems of a diverse people, but when mixed together...which means consensus building to find solutions, you have a shade of GRAY...and a better way

8. factchecker says:
   28 Jul 2006  at  07:05 pm | #

   Brent- great piece, give ‘em hell!

9. cincysue says:
   29 Jul 2006  at  02:45 pm | #

   Just check out ken blackwell’s website. Who’s endorsement does he proudly cite? Jeb Bush. Who is he hugged up to? Barbara Bush (the same BB that said about the people suffering in the aftermath of Katrina, “these people were underpriviledged anyway. So they have it pretty good here.") He’s in the front of the Bush ass-licker line, with no min of his own and no conscience. He’s also trying to ruin the local public school system via his wife Rosa. Anybody, black or white, democrat or republican, that ISN"T RICH and supports this asshole is an idiot. You’re simply voting for George Bush. Blackwell has no opinion or position of his own.