In 2002, the political grounds in Maryland shifted. Then-U.S. Rep. Robert Ehrlich Jr. defied conventional political wisdom to select Michael Steele to run with him as lieutenant governor.
Many so-called experts said the governor made an unwise choice in Steele. Maybe these experts based their assumptions on the fact that no black politician had been elected to a statewide office in the state.
The Baltimore Sun in particular ridiculed Steele. It wrote an editorial endorsing Kathleen Kennedy Townsend for governor in which it said the only thing Steele brought to the ticket was the color of his skin.
The Sun was wrong to disrespect Steele, and I remain stunned that the newspaper did not apologize to him and that notable black officials did not condemn such an insensitive and arrogant characterization of him. I have not read nor heard the same insult hurled at Anthony Brown, a black delegate from Prince George?s County who is running with Baltimore Mayor Martin O?Malley, and find the newspaper?s silence hypocritical.
The personal attacks on Steele and the name-calling by some white Democrats and some blacks are truly unfortunate. As an educator and an American of African descent, these attacks concern me greatly.
On the one hand, we struggle to inspire, motivate, and educate black men, and on the other, we tear them down. When they persevere and succeed, we abuse them by calling themnames that suggest they should not have worked hard to succeed. In particular, I believe we send a mixed message about success when we rudely disagree with the politics of black Republicans.
Steele has every right to be a conservative just as former Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate Kweisi Mfume has every right to be a liberal. If the black community can celebrate Mfume?s lofty accomplishments after a hard life growing up in Baltimore City and rising to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, why can?t the black community celebrate the accomplishments of Steele? After all, he was not born into wealth. He is acquainted with struggle just like many blacks.
When I teach my students, I encourage them to think independently. I am well aware that many of them may disagree with me. That?s a good thing. At least it lets me know they are thinking.
My goal is to help them exercise their ability to think freely and to be comfortable in their core convictions.
Steele thinks independently, and that?s a good thing. He favors low taxes like fellow Republicans, but supports affirmative action and finds federal education mandates in No Child Left Behind, troubling unlike many party colleagues.
The demonization of successful blacks who happen to be conservatives or Republicans needs to end. No community grows if everyone thinks, lives, speaks and believes the same way.
There needs to be a diversity of thought. Let us resolve not to denigrate and abuse successful black men who hold different political views than the majority of black leaders.
For many black men and women, Steele is an inspiration and example of how much you can accomplish if you work hard and are willing to stand on principle. His views deserve debate, not scorn.
Solomon Iyobosa Omo-Osagie II is professor of political science at Baltimore City Community College. He can be reached at [email protected].
