There are significant numbers of African-Americans who oppose all the programs I mentioned. Ron Paul got traction by standing up against the drug war during newslettergate. Nothing like Obama, obviously, but for a white Republican accused of racism, he had a lot of support in the black community.

For an even better example see

http://nallforgovernor.blogspot.com/2006/05/tuskegee-sheriff-candidates-nall-right.html

The original Black Panthers were among many in the hood who know that an outside occupying force of mostly white and frequently racist police (including the black ones who want to prove to themselves and their partners that they are not n*****s) can not be relied on for protection and that community self defense is vital.

The Nation of Islam and many other groups preach about the importance of family structure and black-owned small businesses in the community, rather than relying on handouts from mostly white politicians and bureaucrats.

In no way, shape or form is the community monolithic in its opinions or support for any government programs.

You may also be getting a skewed picture of what black folks support because the ones who oppose a lot of these things tend to be less organized politically than the ones who support them. Libertarians would have a huge growth opportunity there if they would learn to do outreach (first of all at all) to these folks, and secondly in terms that don’t make them sound like white nationalists.

For example they are against the drug war because they believe that the U.S. government imports drugs into the black community, and then uses the police to destroy the community.

The members I’ve heard talk about their political ideas support a land-based variant on the reparations idea: either the USA setting aside allotted land for a totally separate black nation or providing some kind of legal oversight of black population centers to community organizations. These areas would have their own judicial system, hospitals, prisons, schools, law enforcement etc.

They are pro-gun and anti-tax, although in the latter case it only applies to black americans as another form of reparations or a means of separating from the USA. Not sure about affirmative action, as they probably don’t want to work at white-owned companies.

It is possible that these are only the opinions of the NBPP members I’ve spoken with, but they are very consistent talking points. In any case they are very, very different from the NAACP or the Urban League! I’m surprised that they didn’t get behind Cynthia McKinney. It would certainly have been interesting to see these guys in the same room with the Green Party rank and file; sounds like a lost season from MTV’s” the Real World”. If I had to sum it up, I’d say that they are not against government, they are against whites governing blacks.

http://www.newblackpanther.com

http://www.blackpowermovement.org/

As Mr. Hill said, I do not believe that. All of the programs you mention (I would wager all the money I have in the bank on this) would pass referenda in the American black community by a higher percentage than in the American white community.

The war on drugs (especially bolstered by the war on terror) police/prison/industrial complex is a prime one.

“War on poverty” programs also keep people trapped in dependency.

Taxes and regulations prevent business startups, and keep them from being able to compete on a level playing field.

Victim disarmament has the worst effect on law abiding civilians in drug war ravaged neighborhoods (like where I grew up).

The military-industrial complex tends to use those trapped in poverty disproportionately as cannon fodder, and leaves them in the worst way afterwards.

That’s just some of the larger social framework in which racism plays out.”

All of these programs are overwhelmingly approved of by black americans. Give an opportunity to put them each to a referendum of black voters–im quite sure every program would survive.
So these programs are self-imposed. Maybe they hurt blacks more disproportionally (and I think they do)–but blacks themselves are cheering them on. That isnt a case for racism or the “vestiges of Jim Crow”–its a case of Democracy.

I would bet that the welfare system, gun control and the drug war are popular among American blacks, more so than with American whites, anyway.

When programs which continue to maintain the disparity in society end.

The war on drugs (especially bolstered by the war on terror) police/prison/industrial complex is a prime one.

“War on poverty” programs also keep people trapped in dependency.

Taxes and regulations prevent business startups, and keep them from being able to compete on a level playing field.

Victim disarmament has the worst effect on law abiding civilians in drug war ravaged neighborhoods (like where I grew up).

The military-industrial complex tends to use those trapped in poverty disproportionately as cannon fodder, and leaves them in the worst way afterwards.

That’s just some of the larger social framework in which racism plays out.

Until the state is abolished.

Paulie, so when is long enough? They’ve been free of slavery for 150 years, and free of Jim Crow laws for at least 40 years. There is only so long that excuse can work–when does it run out?

Frederick, though he states it in a way that scares me, is quite right. Black-americans have taken advantage of this “woe is me” attitude in order to bank on it. Walter Williams or Larry Elder would agree with me, too.

That, Jim Crow, etc., has lasting social effects.

And racist I am not, but Frederick has a little bit of a point: it’s the reason foreign blacks from Africa and the Caribbean hate American blacks: they see them as whiners.

http://www.newblackpanther.com/

http://www.blackpowermovement.org