One of the things I have surmised from my 30 years of being a Republican, is that the Republican Party that I came into in 1979 as an idealistic college graduate and was welcomed, is now not the same party. There has been an even greater identity switch than that which historically took place in the 60s.
In making such a broad statement, I need to clarify that my Republican experiences come from a southern prospective. What I have found is that all African American Republicans are not created the same. For example, in states such as Ohio, African American Republicans have and continue to be a part of the political mix of the party without resistance. Therefore, it would be totally unfair to label them as politically deprived or to suggest they have endured racial injustices. However, in states such as Tennessee, which is also my home state, it is quite an opposite scenario. So how African Americans are treated in the party is determined more by region and the mindset of those in leadership within those regions, which can be the difference between night and day.
Where there is political parity within the Republican Party for Blacks, we applaud it and are greatly encouraged. We also do not want to unjustly place everyone under any label, which they do not duly deserve. Therefore, I want to proceed with extreme caution not to do this. However, we do not want to disillusion ourselves with thinking that every state and every Republican experience is the same. We have to allow for all of them as polar opposite as they may be. However, there is one consensus we all can share and that is there is far too few of us involved in the party at meaningful local, state and national levels, and this has to change.
Regardless, we have to take a serious look at the Republican Party, see where we have gone wrong, and try to get back on track if we wish to share the loyalty of the Black vote that was once enjoyed from Reconstruction to the 1960s.
What I have identified as a major factors contributing to the lack of Black participation and loyalty that is so heftily enjoyed by the Democratic Party, is that we have undergone a switched identity that has been birthed out of Greed, Territorialism, Mean Spiritedness, Racism and Religious Hypocrisy.
As the economy tightens, "greed" has surfaced even more, as those who have, press harder to keep what they have, and to cushion themselves with more. As I have shared with my daughter, “We only live one lifetime, but greed will cause one to store up that which they cannot use within that lifespan or take with them in death.” Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to My Daughter LaShunda___JHH.
If government interfering in business or the lives of the wealthy means securing the wealth or as in the case of the bailouts, it acts as a financial safety net, then it is regarded as a function of government. However, when it means bailing out those who are losing homes and are unemployed, or who require some form of healthcare, we scuff at its reality with opposition for how much it will cost taxpayers. Originally, I supported the bailout, only because I believed it would stimulate the economy by proving financial stability to the markets, and in turn help to keep small businesses from going under. But as we have seen, small businesses are the last to receive the benefits.
There also is something else that is interesting about "greed". It is willing to do what is unprincipled to protect what it hordes. In doing so, it often turns a deaf ear to those who are suffering. We clearly see this. In Congress, 44 percent of its lawmakers are millionaires. This is in contrast to only one percent of Americans being millionaires. Even the medium income of those who are not, is $622,254, which makes it very difficult for them to understand the plight of the average American citizen who is struggling.
None of the members of Congress, Republican, Democrat or Independent is struggling to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, a car and gas to go in it. They do not have to be concerned if they are sick. They have one of the best health coverage plans in America. Retirement is of no concern to them. If they can manage to stay long enough, their retirement benefits are assured. This is quite to the contrary of many Americans who are in desperate straits with each day that the economy worsens, they fall further and further into despair.
Some members of Congress even hold assets in some of the very same companies that have received TARP (bailout money), including Bank of America and Goldman Sachs. So it is like the fox guarding the chicken house. This shows that "greed" is not anything that is unique to politics and is a disease on both sides of the aisles. But seemingly it appears that Republicans are more guilty of it symptoms when it comes to who gets what from our government and at what cost.
"Territorialism" is another system of Republican politics as I have witnessed in Tennessee. In my home state, it has caused some in power, such as former TNGOP Chair Robin Smith and Congressman Zach Wamp to covet that power so much that they become so "mean spirited" that they are ruthlessly willing to do anything to keep it! If it means cutting throats, then throats are cut. If it means destroying a person’s reputation or credibility, then it is done. If it means black balling those who are perceived as competition or rivals, then there is no problem with this. The Gatekeeper's Spirit consumes those who watch day and night to protect and keep out those who might cease or share a portion of that power. This is unfortunate because what it does is prevents full participation within the democratic process by those who perhaps would have made meaningful contributions.
Democracy is a precious concept, which allows citizen’s participation at the individual level through direct participation, and through the representative level afforded to us by those elected. But when it is seized and is horded by only a few, and God forbids if that few are less than qualified or principled, then what we have is a party which lacks leadership and direction. In many ways, this is exactly what has happened to the Republican Party. This is why we have anyone who can scream the loudest, say the most ridiculous things get the media's attention, write a book and become front center spotlighted, and become self anointed as the almighty leaders and spokespersons of the Republican Party.
“Racism” is another issue within the Republican Party and especially in Tennessee! Quite to the contrary, racism is not dead! But the other side of the coin is that not all White Americans or White Republicans are racists. Also, we have to acknowledge that the ghost of past racial sins has also haunted the Democratic Party. It has a long history of slavery and racial prejudice and violence towards blacks. It is often overlooked that it was the racist demons within the Democratic Party that enslaved us, and fought so bitterly and violently, prior to 1965 to keep us from obtaining equal rights. This has been barely a generation ago, if we count a generation as a forty-year period. But despite that, today less often in the Democratic Party is there a perceived threat of racism. The election of our country’s first African American president is proof positive of that. Not in my lifetime would I have thought this was possible! But it did happen. It is obvious that there is a shift in those who were once racists, having flocked to the Republican Party. We need look no further than the insidious racial incidents that occurred in Tennessee during the 2008 presidential race or the way in which African American Republicans like myself and those members of the National Republican African American Caucus have been treated.
Also, when you contrast the two parties in terms of their racial positions, there are more African-American Democrats at the table, which suggest they have been included and not excluded. While in the Republican Party, there are few to no African-Americans at the table. In Congress, there is not one African American Republican member in the House or Senate! So when the Republican Party talk about it being the “Party of Lincoln” and attempts to persuade Blacks to join its national ranks, it is hard to sell because we do not see anyone who looks like us in a national elected position. This begs the question of “Party of Lincoln” is not more willing to embrace those of whom the party under President Lincoln was willing to go to war to free, as worthy of national elected leadership.
[We will leave the election of RNC Steele for another discussion. ….Ummm? ….Interesting. Thank you President Obama and the Democratic Party for prompting the gift. But not so sure about whether or not it is truly a gift or a cover.]
Regardless, there still are some who cannot phantom that racism could be an issue within the Republican Party. Therefore to mention it, is to suggest that the race card is being played. Then there are those who are fully aware that it still exists, because they are the ones nurturing and keeping it alive. Second cousin to them are the ones who become angry at the mentioning of the sins of White America from the not so far past, which still have not been properly atoned. Not realizing that it is better to just say "uncle", admit it happened, change and move forth. But to deny it and to say get over it, or to pretend it does not exist, while at the same time being the perpetrator, is just as hurtful and offensive to present victims of racism, as it was to those who were victims of it in the past.
No one wants any more than African Americans, including myself, to once and for all have racism removed from America and to get beyond the horrors of the past. This is why like many other African Americans, I have has done everything White America has said is required to acquire a place at the table and a piece of the American dream; to have some boots and a strap in which to pull myself up. However, as much as I would love to believe this and would like to move pass race, my experiences with Tennessee Republican politics will not permit me to do so. Because I realize that despite Tennessee being not only in the Bible Belt, but also considered the "buckle", there is still racism coming from those who say they walk with, hear from, live for, and serve God. This no doubt is the most disheartening of it all – racism mixed with religion.
Racism coming out of the church and from those who are considered godly is scary, because out of this same mixture came the nightriders of the Ku Klux Klan, with the white sheets and burning crosses! It also is an affront to the very God we say and preach is a Just and Righteous God. So this is something in which White Christians have to be careful not to fall prey to it, as a repeat of history.
Fortunately, there are those White Christians who have walked color blindly, not seeing color, but just the God in their sisters and brothers. This is what it is going to take in order for there to be a true Republican revival of the conscious and spirit, which brings the party back into its intended purpose. More importantly, what we must do is be careful and mindful to live and practice what we teach, so that we do not fall victims to our own hypocrisy.
So one might ask of me, why is it that a well educated, outspoken, African American women who also is a member of the clergy, still stays in a party where she has not been welcomed? It is because I believe in redemption and hope. Therefore, I stay. I fight the good fight, and I lead the way in my home state in changing the political atmosphere that is slowly, but surely killing the good that is still left in Republican politics. By extending a black olive branch to my Republican sisters and brothers of faith, hopefully, those who know right from wrong will take a stand, and those who claim they know God will accept the olive branch, as we recruit "People of spirit and faith, working together, extending an olive branch, to bring about positive impact through involvement and leadership in politics within the Republican Party."
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Part Nine: Thoughts On The Obama Inauguration And The Republican Party
[Excerpts from my article posted on Chattanoogan.com, January 2008]
Thoughts On The Obama Inauguration And The Republican Party - And Response
by Jean Howard-Hill
posted January 26, 2009
The day was like none I had seen. I had been asked by the Chattanooga Times Free Press to give my reflections from the day for a feature Sunday article. I wrote:
Coming from a lineage of slavery, and as an infant of the civil rights era, I rejoice to see this day! For it was just yesterday that Fannie Lou Hammer was beaten in a Mississippi jail for registering to vote. Blacks were lynched, hanging from trees as strange fruit for wanting to be free and to exercise their rights as citizens. Even my own story is one of personal impact of racial hatred. I was born in Alabama, because my family fled from Georgia to Alabama, and then to Chattanooga to escape the KKK and segregated schools and inferior facilities. The beatings, the dogs, the hoses. The injustices and inhumanity. Who among us dared dream this day would come? But at last, it has.
Casting my vote for Obama, I swelled with pride. Seeing him accept the nomination, I wept. But when he was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, I saw with my own eyes, the prayers of many generations answered. No words can adequately express what I feel. There is weeping. There is joy. There is hope. Yet there is fear predicated from knowing, not all of America will celebrate. Not all will rejoice. But there is hope that we are on our way to removing racial barriers that stain our nation’s history. There is hope in a nation whose people looked beyond the color of one’s skin and elected one of color to lead our nation. Yet as in the days of Nehemiah when the wall was completed and you could not distinguished weeping from those who rejoiced, I too both weep and rejoice. My heart is heavy because the pain inflicted from an era of inhumanity and my personal experiences has left many scares. Yet my spirit rejoices to see this day.
I capsulated those thoughts and sent them off, but they did not totally reflect all that I truly felt. I wasn’t sure if any writing could do that. However, I knew I had to leave a record of those emotions and feelings that embodied my very soul, so that my daughter would know and have a better feel of this historical moment, as she passed it on to her children and her children’s children.
From the eve of the inauguration until dawn, I was restless. I tossed and turned. My heart was with the Obamas. I prayed for President Elect Obama, his wife and his two daughters. I saw the beauty of family in them. The preciousness of their two daughters found a special place in my heart. I thought about just how they must feel, and that perhaps even they weren’t so sound asleep knowing what lie ahead of them.
When I did doze off, the racial realities of yesterday dominated my thoughts and brought about restlessness throughout the night. The horrors of slavery, the civil rights era, and my own personal experiences of racial injustices caused me to be overwhelmed.
I remembered my own history. The segregated lunch counters, having to drink from the “colored only” water fountains, being chased by whites as we took short cuts through white communities, attending segregated schools and using out-dated text books, being called a nigger, my father being called boy, the humiliation and insults, the fear of not feeling safe, and especially losing the birthright to my birthplace because of the Klan that sought to take my father’s life, all played before me in a recap of my history.
I awaken with so many mixed emotions about this great historic day. I was happy, yet I was saddened. I rejoiced, yet I wept. I had hope, yet I felt so frustrated. Because although many celebrated, and especially those of us who came from a lineage of slavery, I knew as an African American Republican, today’s political milestone was still an upheaval for those like me, who knew the true story of racial discrimination, black tokenism, and the white walls of silence that still existed within the Republican party.
While my sisters and brothers of color celebrated, I felt like those who after the Emancipation Proclamation were still held by the clutches of their slave masters with none to afford them real and true freedom. African American Democrats had something they could call a milestone in racial equality, because their party had moved beyond racial hatred and political lines of color to elect the first African American president. But for me, I felt even more the fist of the Jim Crow laws of the Republican Party like a noose around my neck, so much that I felt politically strangled. That noose restricted those of color in the party who were not among the token chosen, or those who went along to get along and be included. My spirit was still bound by a form of Republican slavery, which ignored the cries of those who were victims, and silenced those who spoke out against it. It was bound by secret Republican Jim Crow laws that barred those of color who dared think themselves equal to whites, and relegated even those who were qualified to bow down and get behind those who had lesser qualifications or no qualifications at all to serve or be elected. My party had become a party where you need only have money and the ability to crush those who you felt to be a threat in order to rise to power. I knew this all too well because I was among those bound, blackballed, crushed and silenced.
This day brought to mind that my struggle to remove that noose began around the 2001 Inauguration of President G.W. Bush. Both my daughter and I were there for that occasion, just as many were gathered today. Now eight years later, and even after having written the book, Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed in 2004, still no one was willing to right the wrong or to even speak of it openly. Though well documented the wrongs that had been done, no one dared even acknowledge what I had written. African Americans being purposely and cruelly excluded from the Republican Party was not something which caused public outcry. Perhaps it was because it involved those in elected and appointed power, who were tied to the Republican money base. It was like a secret revealed as loud as thunder, being silenced by a whisper not to make my story known, with hopes that in time, it would go away. But because it is a story of truth, truth never dies. It only bides its time.
No matter how I have pled for help and to have this wrong made right, I have seen those from the local to the state, to the national levels ignore that plea, and white republican lips remain sealed tight. But what grieves me most was that those sealed lips were among those who counted themselves as people of faith and religious conviction. As I witnessed this, I have come to the place where I no longer believed in the god of the white Republicans I have encountered within the party; those who speak religion but practice their own brand of righteousness. I do not know their god – a god who allowed for a double standard of justice for some, and injustice for others, based upon the color of their skin. Theirs is a god of tokenism, who prefers only one or two of color and not the masses. A god who tolerates racial hatred, and is willing to turn his head and pretend it does not exist. A god who lacks compassion, and tolerates injustice. I fear their god, because of the hypocrisy, cruelty and bigotry I see in those who claimed to follow after such a god.
But for my own faith and knowledge of a God of Justice whose standards do not change, and who has no respect of person, I would have lost my faith.
I sat thinking about all of this, as I grew heavier and even more grieved in spirit. I tried so hard to lift myself up in the glory of this moment of history which I witnessed in this day. The more I tried the heavier and more grieved I became.
As I retired for the evening, I went on to Chattanoogan.com after not having gone on for a few weeks. There were postings that further vexed my spirit, and made my burden of the day even heavier. I saw those who spoke of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., yet rendered a deaf ear to my plea against racial injustices within the Republican Party. I saw those who had practiced racism, exclusion and mean spirited politics, gather, and some now being supported to move on to seek other levels of elected office. I saw many of whom, whose qualifications did not begin to equal mine be in positions of elected and appointed Republican leadership. I saw those with money gather in support to ensure they got the money they needed to further this practice. I saw the same old political regime, some even crossing party lines, covering and supporting each other, to ensure their own support, re-election and appointment. I even saw how being on the so called “wrong end” of politics had affected my ability to be appointed to a local position, because of his alignment with my opponent. I saw how blackballing is not just political, but it has far greater impact. With all of this so obviously starring me in the face, I became overwhelmed with injustices to the point that I cried out to God.
“Lord how long will you allow your name to be used and your righteousness mocked by those who clothe themselves in it, only for their individual and selfish political and financial gain? How long will the people remain blinded to all of this? How long will you remain silent and allow those whose hearts are breaking to continue to be subject to those whose god is their own greed, and selfish quest for power!? How long will you sit back before you judge right from wrong?”
I felt my frustrations mounting, and I knew on this of all days, neither my heart, nor my spirit could bear this insult. On a day when the world was witnessing a new level of freedom, I realized just how out of touch the old Republican regime was. The old way of politics as usual, sickened me. I wanted no parts of it.
There was silence.
It was as if there was a pause in the heavenlies where that which was in heaven was attentive to that which was on earth. I froze in that moment of time. It ended as I looked and this e-mail had come in from one of my former UTC students who happened to be white, and now was in law school. It came at just the right time. It was as if God was using this e-mail to speak to me, to let me know that there was a new generation who was different, and that there was hope for change among a new generation, just as it had been with Democrats. In part, the e-mail read:
January 20, 2009
9:14 p.m.
Hi Second Mom!
I was just thinking of you today during the Inauguration. I was just thinking of things that you had to go through during your lifetime and how significant it is for you to see Obama become the President. I'm sure you are excited, and I am too. :) It's just amazing to me that in one person's lifetime that there can be such racism and segregation to see the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr partially realized. It is truly amazing. And not just that, but the fact that he was born the child of a single, moderately incomed mother with the odds stacked against him and he made it. I'll admit... I was not a huge Obama supporter, but I can realize the importance of this day and the struggles and adversities he has faced to get to where he was... I just wish that you were representing the people of Tennessee as well. I also want you to know that I, and my family, voted for you during the election. I know the outcome isn't what we had hoped, but I am, and forever will be, a Lady J supporter! I know that you have a heart for people, and I truly hope that you are given the opportunity to share that with more than your students at UTC.
Paige
I e-mailed her back saying:
Dearest Paige:
I needed this e-mail.
It was a very emotional day for me today. Also, I realize just how much Republican racism has played a part in blocking me from doing just those things you mention.
Thanks for the encouragement. It meant so much to me. It gives me hope in your generation, and the generations to come.
Also happy to hear about your successful semester in law school. You can do it. I have faith in you!
Let me know when the wedding will take place. You know I will be there.
Love you sooooooo much,
Your Second Mom
Her response was:
January 20, 2009
10:43 p.m.
It was an emotional day for many people, and it has also been an uplifting, amazing, inspiring day for MILLIONS of people. I personally believe that educators, LIKE YOU, have a huge part in events like today. You have one of the most important jobs in the world - you inspire, teach, and lead young minds. I know you have had a HUGE impact on me, and I carry lessons you taught with me... Like I told you, when I came to school and they said that there were 3 branches of government, I quickly said there were 4. I want to thank you for all you do everyday. It may go unrecognized by some, but not all.
I also have a renewed hope in my generation. It makes me proud to be an American.
Also, something I meant to tell you in my last email - one of my professors today called class off and we all sat and watched the Inauguration speech. She reminds me a lot of you. Her name is Shirley Howell, and is a Torts professor here at Jones School of Law. She told us a moving story about being in an elementary school classroom and seeing National Guard armored vehicles outside. Going from that to today is truly remarkable and worthy of MUCH celebration.
In a simple e-mail exchange, God used one of my former white students to encourage me at the very moment when I wanted to just throw up my hands and walk away from politics forever.
I had seen those less qualified and even unqualified move to the front of the line in leadership in the party, while those African Americans like myself who were more than qualified were blackballed and excluded. Yet the party talked of inclusion and paraded those of whom it could control to attempt to make the case that the party was inviting of African Americans. I saw how many African American Republicans were used and when they no longer were willing to conform, they were let out to pasture. I also saw how they pitted one black against another through limited and undeserved appointments and political goodies.
The reality is that if I was a white Republican, I would have a place at the table and no doubt, would have been appointed or elected to office. It wasn’t about winning an election or getting an appointment. It certainly was not about the political goodies. It never was. It was about political equality and opportunity for all races within the Republican Party. It was about doing what was right. For me, it was about truly loving and serving the people, putting aside differences and breaking down barriers that separate good people from doing good things, for the right reasons, and not about selfish gain or power. She was right. I did have a heart for people, and because of that, I ached to know that not even they fully understood this.
As new history unfolded and past history was reflected upon throughout the day, I thought about how I had come into the Republican Party in 1979 during the Reagan era as a promising young Democrat, who had a bright political future. I thought about the price I had paid, as well as the price other African American Republicans have paid to wear the Republican label to no avail. As someone of color who is Republican, it is like wearing a scarlet letter which causes you to be suspect to those of your own race and relegated to abuse by those who find you dispensable and insignificant to their political base. Since most African Americans are not openly Republicans, the party has adopted a policy of doing whatever they wish to the few who are there, because we carry no political capital. Getting other African Americans to understand this and why someone of color has to cross the line, as the lamb for the slaughter in order to effect change also carries it burdens and bruises. It is difficult for most to understand. Therefore, you risk everything to make that lonely and treacherous journey of change. I had taken that risk in 1979 when I decided to become a Republican.
I thought about how I have given all of these years of my life as a Republican, heading national organizations and recruiting people of color to the Republican Party, only to find that the party wants our vote, but not the voice of real African American leadership at the table or in leadership. I remembered being called a nigger. I recalled how those I had recruited along with me were not welcomed. I knew how I had been targeted and excluded simply because I was a threat to those who could not control me and could not use me as a token black to do their dirty work.
I had come to know that if you are an African American Republican willing to be told what you should believe and what issues you should or should not address, then you are accepted. But to be an independent thinker who has the intellect and ability to arrive at your own decisions and core values, you become a threat if you are of color. That threat factor causes you to be quarantined and excluded. This is what has happened to me, and to many other of my Republican brothers and sisters of color across the country. Those who conform are put on display. But those who will not conform find themselves Republicans in name only. We talk about this among ourselves. We hurt silently. Some who because of positions that impact their livelihood simply close their eyes and just go along with the flow, accepting tokenism, and the noose around their necks, rather than have no place in the party. Sad to say, there are even those who have convinced themselves that to conform is the American way. While there are a few who have found a rare breed of white Republicans in leadership who can look beyond color, and accept us into their ranks. But this is something which is becoming indeed rare.
Watching the Obama girls today beam with joy and such political innocence, I thought about how my daughter beginning at the tender age of 5 had to witness political racism. I thought about the tears she shed, as she looked into my eyes and saw my hurt. Or as she sat there with those who didn’t regard her presence as being important, as they poured out racial cruelties. After the death of my husband, she was with me every step of the way, and was privy to the ugliness of politics. Because of this, I struggled to keep her spirits lifted, and to prevent her belief in the goodness of mankind from being tarnished. I did not want her to grow up believing all whites were racists. I did not want her to lose confidence in her ability to bring about change. Although it has made her strong, I prayed that Sasha and Malia never would have to face what my child had encountered most of her 21 years.
Despite the fact that I have come to know a form of racism which is religiously justified and deemed necessary to preserve a predominantly white republican powerbase, I have found among the grass roots, some white Republicans who do not adhere to these kinds of practices. They are rarely found among appointed or elected leadership, but they mostly are among those who have not been tainted by racist and mean spirited politics. Often they are on the outskirts of the political base and have no knowledge of what has been done. They simply vote Republican without regard for who the candidate is, which makes them a partner to injustices and racism. This is unfortunate because some of them are my sisters and brothers of whom I share in the knowledge of their God. Then there are those who have arose with courage to say racism is wrong. But for having some of them offer me consolation and support, my burden and my grief would be even greater to bear. Nevertheless, the general rule is to shun the one of color who is being shunned by the party, even if you know of the wrong. Out of fear of being the one to side with the one of color or be a witness to the wrong done, many would rather do so, than to lose out on the opportunities that are handed out by those in power.
I also have found something else to be strange within the Republican ranks. The word of someone of color, even if it is true and can be proven to be so, is almost never taken over that of someone who is white. When you see this happen, it crushes the very spirit of truth within the soul.
I saw how those with money gave in return for favor, and those who received using it for their personal gain, and to buy the favor and bind those who were elected.
These were all truths of which I reflected upon that battled with my peace, and competed with my sense of pride and excitement to see the first African American president elected. I also knew that my pain, just as had been done with my book, probably never would be revealed. I simply had lost faith and confidence in those who had it within their power to unseal it to do so. Yet on today, my story stirred within me, and could not be quieted. It arose as a cloud of witnesses and dominated even the historic moment of the day. I could not watch the inauguration without that cloud hanging over my head and penetrating my thoughts.
How I wished this was a true moment in history where the theme of unity and oneness of our nation was shared as a part of the Republican agenda. But the reality of it not being so made the cloud of my own history all the more painful.
Around 3:07 a.m., as a new day had been ushered in, I tried to close my eyes, and think about only the good that had happened within the historic moment of the day. Knowing that I too had to move on without seeing that milestone in Republican history where the party has moved beyond color and is inspired to govern with compassion and to do the right thing, I was convinced now more than ever that my work within the Republican Party was not finished, and perhaps never would be. For years I had worked so hard to make this happen. I had spent 28 years trying to bring the party of Lincoln back to its roots, and to provide a place where people of color could truly be represented at the table, to see it seemingly be all in vain. Change had to come to Republicans, but I did not know the course this should take, nor did I believe any longer that I could be that catalyst. I was tired. I was weary. I was worn. The battles I had fought had become far too impossible for a party that was not willing to change. I also wasn’t sure if remaining in the middle as an Independent was the answer.
I asked God for a visible sign of “His Will” for my life. My fleece was in two parts: If Obama won the democratic nomination and if he was elected president. This would be my sign that it was time for me to return to the safe haven and welcoming arms of the Democratic Party. This is where I wanted to be. For so long, I longed to be where I was wanted and could be accepted. The price I had paid in leaving to fight a battle which had to be fought within the Republican ranks was immeasurable. Only my daughter and I could measure it in its toll upon our lives. Although I refused to return defeated, I knew I had done all I could to bring about change and had many scars to prove it. Because of this, my leaving does not signal defeat. But rather, the end of an era, just as today’s events marked the end of an era and the beginning of something new. Whatever it signaled, what I was fully convinced of was that I have to continue to try to invoke a spirit of change, and carry it through impossible odds, overcoming the wealth and power of those who would resist change, driving it through the cruel and miry waters of racism, politics as usual and greed, to penetrate and bring down the political walls of economic and social resistance and racial barriers. It was a new day, a new generation; a new time and a new way of rebuilding America. This was something that had to be done in order to make it truly a land of the free and one which represents all people, regardless of race, religion and creed.
I share my innermost personal thoughts with you LaShunda, so that you can enter this into the archives of our family history and hand it down to your children, so that they can know and understand their political history.
Forever I love you my princess, and I thank you for being by my side during these years of political struggle. Now “together”, we will take courage to move forth to bring about good not for ourselves, but for those we have been called to serve. Let us never forget the lessons we have learned at the hands of hard taskmasters. Nor let us ever forget to be compassionate, caring and selfless as we fulfill our purpose.
I know the road has been rocky, and what you have had to endure beginning as a child until now, has been far too much for anyone to endure. Yet it has made you strong and it has baptized you with the political fire that is needed to make you resilient, yet unmovable. Because of what we have had to go through, it has made us longsuffering and has given us the patience that is needed to give birth to good things. It has given us compassion to serve and an understanding of the true meaning of being oppressed. It has taught us how to care for others, even if it means placing them above our own needs. It also has given us an opportunity to see how doing what is wrong can have such a devastating effect on not only those of whom it is targeted, but to the larger society as well. Because of this, let us never be partakers of doing intentional wrong. Never let us forget what we have come to know is wrong. Never be tempted to do wrong to others, even if it is done to you. Learn to forgive and go on, but understand that it is not always safe to forget. But never allow what you cannot forget to consume you or to tempt you to do a wrong to right the wrong done to you. Just know that for every seed that is sown, there is a harvest that in time those who have done wrong to you, shall reap it in multiple folds. So sow what is right, and according to that same principle of harvest, multiple goodness shall you reap.
My dearest LaShunda, you have a bright future ahead of you. I am grateful for the opportunities you also will have to effect and even witness change within your lifetime. Keep pressing towards making a positive difference, making your life count for good. This is your ancestral calling and lineage.
…And to my lineage which is yet to be born, as you read this even after I am dead and gone, may you also carry out the calling that is upon my lineage to serve others regardless of what position you may have in life, with love, humility, compassion and wisdom. This is the only way to preserve the freedoms that we have witnessed today.
Your Mom,
Jean Howard-Hill
jean.howard.hill@gmail.com
[Although the emotions of that day placed me at the crossroads debating if I should continue as a Republican and be forced to be an outsider or to wear the Independent label, I knew deep within, this was my calling. Not only this, but I believed in many of the core values of the party. So in order to remain true to my calling and to myself, despite the welcoming arms of the Democrats, especially Brenda Nunn and Sandy Smith, I had to stay and continue to fight the good fight. What bothered me even more was that the same Democratic Party Robin Smith had portrayed as ungodly, was the one with some of the nicest and godly principled people, welcoming me with open arms. ....Interesting indeed.]
Thoughts On The Obama Inauguration And The Republican Party - And Response
by Jean Howard-Hill
posted January 26, 2009
The day was like none I had seen. I had been asked by the Chattanooga Times Free Press to give my reflections from the day for a feature Sunday article. I wrote:
Coming from a lineage of slavery, and as an infant of the civil rights era, I rejoice to see this day! For it was just yesterday that Fannie Lou Hammer was beaten in a Mississippi jail for registering to vote. Blacks were lynched, hanging from trees as strange fruit for wanting to be free and to exercise their rights as citizens. Even my own story is one of personal impact of racial hatred. I was born in Alabama, because my family fled from Georgia to Alabama, and then to Chattanooga to escape the KKK and segregated schools and inferior facilities. The beatings, the dogs, the hoses. The injustices and inhumanity. Who among us dared dream this day would come? But at last, it has.
Casting my vote for Obama, I swelled with pride. Seeing him accept the nomination, I wept. But when he was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, I saw with my own eyes, the prayers of many generations answered. No words can adequately express what I feel. There is weeping. There is joy. There is hope. Yet there is fear predicated from knowing, not all of America will celebrate. Not all will rejoice. But there is hope that we are on our way to removing racial barriers that stain our nation’s history. There is hope in a nation whose people looked beyond the color of one’s skin and elected one of color to lead our nation. Yet as in the days of Nehemiah when the wall was completed and you could not distinguished weeping from those who rejoiced, I too both weep and rejoice. My heart is heavy because the pain inflicted from an era of inhumanity and my personal experiences has left many scares. Yet my spirit rejoices to see this day.
I capsulated those thoughts and sent them off, but they did not totally reflect all that I truly felt. I wasn’t sure if any writing could do that. However, I knew I had to leave a record of those emotions and feelings that embodied my very soul, so that my daughter would know and have a better feel of this historical moment, as she passed it on to her children and her children’s children.
From the eve of the inauguration until dawn, I was restless. I tossed and turned. My heart was with the Obamas. I prayed for President Elect Obama, his wife and his two daughters. I saw the beauty of family in them. The preciousness of their two daughters found a special place in my heart. I thought about just how they must feel, and that perhaps even they weren’t so sound asleep knowing what lie ahead of them.
When I did doze off, the racial realities of yesterday dominated my thoughts and brought about restlessness throughout the night. The horrors of slavery, the civil rights era, and my own personal experiences of racial injustices caused me to be overwhelmed.
I remembered my own history. The segregated lunch counters, having to drink from the “colored only” water fountains, being chased by whites as we took short cuts through white communities, attending segregated schools and using out-dated text books, being called a nigger, my father being called boy, the humiliation and insults, the fear of not feeling safe, and especially losing the birthright to my birthplace because of the Klan that sought to take my father’s life, all played before me in a recap of my history.
I awaken with so many mixed emotions about this great historic day. I was happy, yet I was saddened. I rejoiced, yet I wept. I had hope, yet I felt so frustrated. Because although many celebrated, and especially those of us who came from a lineage of slavery, I knew as an African American Republican, today’s political milestone was still an upheaval for those like me, who knew the true story of racial discrimination, black tokenism, and the white walls of silence that still existed within the Republican party.
While my sisters and brothers of color celebrated, I felt like those who after the Emancipation Proclamation were still held by the clutches of their slave masters with none to afford them real and true freedom. African American Democrats had something they could call a milestone in racial equality, because their party had moved beyond racial hatred and political lines of color to elect the first African American president. But for me, I felt even more the fist of the Jim Crow laws of the Republican Party like a noose around my neck, so much that I felt politically strangled. That noose restricted those of color in the party who were not among the token chosen, or those who went along to get along and be included. My spirit was still bound by a form of Republican slavery, which ignored the cries of those who were victims, and silenced those who spoke out against it. It was bound by secret Republican Jim Crow laws that barred those of color who dared think themselves equal to whites, and relegated even those who were qualified to bow down and get behind those who had lesser qualifications or no qualifications at all to serve or be elected. My party had become a party where you need only have money and the ability to crush those who you felt to be a threat in order to rise to power. I knew this all too well because I was among those bound, blackballed, crushed and silenced.
This day brought to mind that my struggle to remove that noose began around the 2001 Inauguration of President G.W. Bush. Both my daughter and I were there for that occasion, just as many were gathered today. Now eight years later, and even after having written the book, Black Eyes Shut, White Lips Sealed in 2004, still no one was willing to right the wrong or to even speak of it openly. Though well documented the wrongs that had been done, no one dared even acknowledge what I had written. African Americans being purposely and cruelly excluded from the Republican Party was not something which caused public outcry. Perhaps it was because it involved those in elected and appointed power, who were tied to the Republican money base. It was like a secret revealed as loud as thunder, being silenced by a whisper not to make my story known, with hopes that in time, it would go away. But because it is a story of truth, truth never dies. It only bides its time.
No matter how I have pled for help and to have this wrong made right, I have seen those from the local to the state, to the national levels ignore that plea, and white republican lips remain sealed tight. But what grieves me most was that those sealed lips were among those who counted themselves as people of faith and religious conviction. As I witnessed this, I have come to the place where I no longer believed in the god of the white Republicans I have encountered within the party; those who speak religion but practice their own brand of righteousness. I do not know their god – a god who allowed for a double standard of justice for some, and injustice for others, based upon the color of their skin. Theirs is a god of tokenism, who prefers only one or two of color and not the masses. A god who tolerates racial hatred, and is willing to turn his head and pretend it does not exist. A god who lacks compassion, and tolerates injustice. I fear their god, because of the hypocrisy, cruelty and bigotry I see in those who claimed to follow after such a god.
But for my own faith and knowledge of a God of Justice whose standards do not change, and who has no respect of person, I would have lost my faith.
I sat thinking about all of this, as I grew heavier and even more grieved in spirit. I tried so hard to lift myself up in the glory of this moment of history which I witnessed in this day. The more I tried the heavier and more grieved I became.
As I retired for the evening, I went on to Chattanoogan.com after not having gone on for a few weeks. There were postings that further vexed my spirit, and made my burden of the day even heavier. I saw those who spoke of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., yet rendered a deaf ear to my plea against racial injustices within the Republican Party. I saw those who had practiced racism, exclusion and mean spirited politics, gather, and some now being supported to move on to seek other levels of elected office. I saw many of whom, whose qualifications did not begin to equal mine be in positions of elected and appointed Republican leadership. I saw those with money gather in support to ensure they got the money they needed to further this practice. I saw the same old political regime, some even crossing party lines, covering and supporting each other, to ensure their own support, re-election and appointment. I even saw how being on the so called “wrong end” of politics had affected my ability to be appointed to a local position, because of his alignment with my opponent. I saw how blackballing is not just political, but it has far greater impact. With all of this so obviously starring me in the face, I became overwhelmed with injustices to the point that I cried out to God.
“Lord how long will you allow your name to be used and your righteousness mocked by those who clothe themselves in it, only for their individual and selfish political and financial gain? How long will the people remain blinded to all of this? How long will you remain silent and allow those whose hearts are breaking to continue to be subject to those whose god is their own greed, and selfish quest for power!? How long will you sit back before you judge right from wrong?”
I felt my frustrations mounting, and I knew on this of all days, neither my heart, nor my spirit could bear this insult. On a day when the world was witnessing a new level of freedom, I realized just how out of touch the old Republican regime was. The old way of politics as usual, sickened me. I wanted no parts of it.
There was silence.
It was as if there was a pause in the heavenlies where that which was in heaven was attentive to that which was on earth. I froze in that moment of time. It ended as I looked and this e-mail had come in from one of my former UTC students who happened to be white, and now was in law school. It came at just the right time. It was as if God was using this e-mail to speak to me, to let me know that there was a new generation who was different, and that there was hope for change among a new generation, just as it had been with Democrats. In part, the e-mail read:
January 20, 2009
9:14 p.m.
Hi Second Mom!
I was just thinking of you today during the Inauguration. I was just thinking of things that you had to go through during your lifetime and how significant it is for you to see Obama become the President. I'm sure you are excited, and I am too. :) It's just amazing to me that in one person's lifetime that there can be such racism and segregation to see the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr partially realized. It is truly amazing. And not just that, but the fact that he was born the child of a single, moderately incomed mother with the odds stacked against him and he made it. I'll admit... I was not a huge Obama supporter, but I can realize the importance of this day and the struggles and adversities he has faced to get to where he was... I just wish that you were representing the people of Tennessee as well. I also want you to know that I, and my family, voted for you during the election. I know the outcome isn't what we had hoped, but I am, and forever will be, a Lady J supporter! I know that you have a heart for people, and I truly hope that you are given the opportunity to share that with more than your students at UTC.
Paige
I e-mailed her back saying:
Dearest Paige:
I needed this e-mail.
It was a very emotional day for me today. Also, I realize just how much Republican racism has played a part in blocking me from doing just those things you mention.
Thanks for the encouragement. It meant so much to me. It gives me hope in your generation, and the generations to come.
Also happy to hear about your successful semester in law school. You can do it. I have faith in you!
Let me know when the wedding will take place. You know I will be there.
Love you sooooooo much,
Your Second Mom
Her response was:
January 20, 2009
10:43 p.m.
It was an emotional day for many people, and it has also been an uplifting, amazing, inspiring day for MILLIONS of people. I personally believe that educators, LIKE YOU, have a huge part in events like today. You have one of the most important jobs in the world - you inspire, teach, and lead young minds. I know you have had a HUGE impact on me, and I carry lessons you taught with me... Like I told you, when I came to school and they said that there were 3 branches of government, I quickly said there were 4. I want to thank you for all you do everyday. It may go unrecognized by some, but not all.
I also have a renewed hope in my generation. It makes me proud to be an American.
Also, something I meant to tell you in my last email - one of my professors today called class off and we all sat and watched the Inauguration speech. She reminds me a lot of you. Her name is Shirley Howell, and is a Torts professor here at Jones School of Law. She told us a moving story about being in an elementary school classroom and seeing National Guard armored vehicles outside. Going from that to today is truly remarkable and worthy of MUCH celebration.
In a simple e-mail exchange, God used one of my former white students to encourage me at the very moment when I wanted to just throw up my hands and walk away from politics forever.
I had seen those less qualified and even unqualified move to the front of the line in leadership in the party, while those African Americans like myself who were more than qualified were blackballed and excluded. Yet the party talked of inclusion and paraded those of whom it could control to attempt to make the case that the party was inviting of African Americans. I saw how many African American Republicans were used and when they no longer were willing to conform, they were let out to pasture. I also saw how they pitted one black against another through limited and undeserved appointments and political goodies.
The reality is that if I was a white Republican, I would have a place at the table and no doubt, would have been appointed or elected to office. It wasn’t about winning an election or getting an appointment. It certainly was not about the political goodies. It never was. It was about political equality and opportunity for all races within the Republican Party. It was about doing what was right. For me, it was about truly loving and serving the people, putting aside differences and breaking down barriers that separate good people from doing good things, for the right reasons, and not about selfish gain or power. She was right. I did have a heart for people, and because of that, I ached to know that not even they fully understood this.
As new history unfolded and past history was reflected upon throughout the day, I thought about how I had come into the Republican Party in 1979 during the Reagan era as a promising young Democrat, who had a bright political future. I thought about the price I had paid, as well as the price other African American Republicans have paid to wear the Republican label to no avail. As someone of color who is Republican, it is like wearing a scarlet letter which causes you to be suspect to those of your own race and relegated to abuse by those who find you dispensable and insignificant to their political base. Since most African Americans are not openly Republicans, the party has adopted a policy of doing whatever they wish to the few who are there, because we carry no political capital. Getting other African Americans to understand this and why someone of color has to cross the line, as the lamb for the slaughter in order to effect change also carries it burdens and bruises. It is difficult for most to understand. Therefore, you risk everything to make that lonely and treacherous journey of change. I had taken that risk in 1979 when I decided to become a Republican.
I thought about how I have given all of these years of my life as a Republican, heading national organizations and recruiting people of color to the Republican Party, only to find that the party wants our vote, but not the voice of real African American leadership at the table or in leadership. I remembered being called a nigger. I recalled how those I had recruited along with me were not welcomed. I knew how I had been targeted and excluded simply because I was a threat to those who could not control me and could not use me as a token black to do their dirty work.
I had come to know that if you are an African American Republican willing to be told what you should believe and what issues you should or should not address, then you are accepted. But to be an independent thinker who has the intellect and ability to arrive at your own decisions and core values, you become a threat if you are of color. That threat factor causes you to be quarantined and excluded. This is what has happened to me, and to many other of my Republican brothers and sisters of color across the country. Those who conform are put on display. But those who will not conform find themselves Republicans in name only. We talk about this among ourselves. We hurt silently. Some who because of positions that impact their livelihood simply close their eyes and just go along with the flow, accepting tokenism, and the noose around their necks, rather than have no place in the party. Sad to say, there are even those who have convinced themselves that to conform is the American way. While there are a few who have found a rare breed of white Republicans in leadership who can look beyond color, and accept us into their ranks. But this is something which is becoming indeed rare.
Watching the Obama girls today beam with joy and such political innocence, I thought about how my daughter beginning at the tender age of 5 had to witness political racism. I thought about the tears she shed, as she looked into my eyes and saw my hurt. Or as she sat there with those who didn’t regard her presence as being important, as they poured out racial cruelties. After the death of my husband, she was with me every step of the way, and was privy to the ugliness of politics. Because of this, I struggled to keep her spirits lifted, and to prevent her belief in the goodness of mankind from being tarnished. I did not want her to grow up believing all whites were racists. I did not want her to lose confidence in her ability to bring about change. Although it has made her strong, I prayed that Sasha and Malia never would have to face what my child had encountered most of her 21 years.
Despite the fact that I have come to know a form of racism which is religiously justified and deemed necessary to preserve a predominantly white republican powerbase, I have found among the grass roots, some white Republicans who do not adhere to these kinds of practices. They are rarely found among appointed or elected leadership, but they mostly are among those who have not been tainted by racist and mean spirited politics. Often they are on the outskirts of the political base and have no knowledge of what has been done. They simply vote Republican without regard for who the candidate is, which makes them a partner to injustices and racism. This is unfortunate because some of them are my sisters and brothers of whom I share in the knowledge of their God. Then there are those who have arose with courage to say racism is wrong. But for having some of them offer me consolation and support, my burden and my grief would be even greater to bear. Nevertheless, the general rule is to shun the one of color who is being shunned by the party, even if you know of the wrong. Out of fear of being the one to side with the one of color or be a witness to the wrong done, many would rather do so, than to lose out on the opportunities that are handed out by those in power.
I also have found something else to be strange within the Republican ranks. The word of someone of color, even if it is true and can be proven to be so, is almost never taken over that of someone who is white. When you see this happen, it crushes the very spirit of truth within the soul.
I saw how those with money gave in return for favor, and those who received using it for their personal gain, and to buy the favor and bind those who were elected.
These were all truths of which I reflected upon that battled with my peace, and competed with my sense of pride and excitement to see the first African American president elected. I also knew that my pain, just as had been done with my book, probably never would be revealed. I simply had lost faith and confidence in those who had it within their power to unseal it to do so. Yet on today, my story stirred within me, and could not be quieted. It arose as a cloud of witnesses and dominated even the historic moment of the day. I could not watch the inauguration without that cloud hanging over my head and penetrating my thoughts.
How I wished this was a true moment in history where the theme of unity and oneness of our nation was shared as a part of the Republican agenda. But the reality of it not being so made the cloud of my own history all the more painful.
Around 3:07 a.m., as a new day had been ushered in, I tried to close my eyes, and think about only the good that had happened within the historic moment of the day. Knowing that I too had to move on without seeing that milestone in Republican history where the party has moved beyond color and is inspired to govern with compassion and to do the right thing, I was convinced now more than ever that my work within the Republican Party was not finished, and perhaps never would be. For years I had worked so hard to make this happen. I had spent 28 years trying to bring the party of Lincoln back to its roots, and to provide a place where people of color could truly be represented at the table, to see it seemingly be all in vain. Change had to come to Republicans, but I did not know the course this should take, nor did I believe any longer that I could be that catalyst. I was tired. I was weary. I was worn. The battles I had fought had become far too impossible for a party that was not willing to change. I also wasn’t sure if remaining in the middle as an Independent was the answer.
I asked God for a visible sign of “His Will” for my life. My fleece was in two parts: If Obama won the democratic nomination and if he was elected president. This would be my sign that it was time for me to return to the safe haven and welcoming arms of the Democratic Party. This is where I wanted to be. For so long, I longed to be where I was wanted and could be accepted. The price I had paid in leaving to fight a battle which had to be fought within the Republican ranks was immeasurable. Only my daughter and I could measure it in its toll upon our lives. Although I refused to return defeated, I knew I had done all I could to bring about change and had many scars to prove it. Because of this, my leaving does not signal defeat. But rather, the end of an era, just as today’s events marked the end of an era and the beginning of something new. Whatever it signaled, what I was fully convinced of was that I have to continue to try to invoke a spirit of change, and carry it through impossible odds, overcoming the wealth and power of those who would resist change, driving it through the cruel and miry waters of racism, politics as usual and greed, to penetrate and bring down the political walls of economic and social resistance and racial barriers. It was a new day, a new generation; a new time and a new way of rebuilding America. This was something that had to be done in order to make it truly a land of the free and one which represents all people, regardless of race, religion and creed.
I share my innermost personal thoughts with you LaShunda, so that you can enter this into the archives of our family history and hand it down to your children, so that they can know and understand their political history.
Forever I love you my princess, and I thank you for being by my side during these years of political struggle. Now “together”, we will take courage to move forth to bring about good not for ourselves, but for those we have been called to serve. Let us never forget the lessons we have learned at the hands of hard taskmasters. Nor let us ever forget to be compassionate, caring and selfless as we fulfill our purpose.
I know the road has been rocky, and what you have had to endure beginning as a child until now, has been far too much for anyone to endure. Yet it has made you strong and it has baptized you with the political fire that is needed to make you resilient, yet unmovable. Because of what we have had to go through, it has made us longsuffering and has given us the patience that is needed to give birth to good things. It has given us compassion to serve and an understanding of the true meaning of being oppressed. It has taught us how to care for others, even if it means placing them above our own needs. It also has given us an opportunity to see how doing what is wrong can have such a devastating effect on not only those of whom it is targeted, but to the larger society as well. Because of this, let us never be partakers of doing intentional wrong. Never let us forget what we have come to know is wrong. Never be tempted to do wrong to others, even if it is done to you. Learn to forgive and go on, but understand that it is not always safe to forget. But never allow what you cannot forget to consume you or to tempt you to do a wrong to right the wrong done to you. Just know that for every seed that is sown, there is a harvest that in time those who have done wrong to you, shall reap it in multiple folds. So sow what is right, and according to that same principle of harvest, multiple goodness shall you reap.
My dearest LaShunda, you have a bright future ahead of you. I am grateful for the opportunities you also will have to effect and even witness change within your lifetime. Keep pressing towards making a positive difference, making your life count for good. This is your ancestral calling and lineage.
…And to my lineage which is yet to be born, as you read this even after I am dead and gone, may you also carry out the calling that is upon my lineage to serve others regardless of what position you may have in life, with love, humility, compassion and wisdom. This is the only way to preserve the freedoms that we have witnessed today.
Your Mom,
Jean Howard-Hill
jean.howard.hill@gmail.com
[Although the emotions of that day placed me at the crossroads debating if I should continue as a Republican and be forced to be an outsider or to wear the Independent label, I knew deep within, this was my calling. Not only this, but I believed in many of the core values of the party. So in order to remain true to my calling and to myself, despite the welcoming arms of the Democrats, especially Brenda Nunn and Sandy Smith, I had to stay and continue to fight the good fight. What bothered me even more was that the same Democratic Party Robin Smith had portrayed as ungodly, was the one with some of the nicest and godly principled people, welcoming me with open arms. ....Interesting indeed.]
Part Seven: Republican Color Failures
[Exerts from my book, Black Eyes Shut - White Lips Sealed, by Jean Howard-Hill]
CHAPTER TWENTY
REPUBLICAN COLOR FAILURES
“My dearest daughter, when you fail to open your arms to embrace
others in love, you also fail to embrace God.
Because God is love!”
Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to My Daughter LaShunda__
jhh
I am not sure where to begin with my story. It is one in which I would have rather not be told. I did not seek a fight with the Republican Party, only inclusion. However, as I attempted to extend a hand to other African-Americans to come into the Party, there were some within the GOP who sounded the battle cry, and began to wage their own war against those efforts.
As I was directed by God, I waited patiently and prayerfully for the leadership of the Republican Party to come and reason with the Caucus, and me or to extend a welcome to people of color. Only a few words, and a change of heart would have prevented the open divulging of the mean spiritedness and racial sins of the Party. But it seemed the more I fasted and prayed, and the longer I waited, the harder their hearts became, and the less likely they were to repent, change and make amends. My quest for reconciliation was taken with mockery and silence, accompanied by retaliation and continuing persecution. The fleshly part of me found this hard to bear. But I had to do as God had directed, and hold my peace, and leave the battle to God to fight in his own way, and in his own time.
I saw in all of this that as always, God in his tender mercies, faithfully gives those who have wronged us, a time and a season to get it right. Then after that, He exposes those wrongs in a forced attempt to cause those who have gone astray to see the error of their deeds, and reconcile their hearts in repentance.
I held the publishing of this book from April 2002, until January 2004, hoping for a last moment attempt at reconciliation. There was none on the horizon or agenda of the Party leadership, either on a local, state or national level. With that being the case, God spoke and said:
“I AM giving ample time and space to make amends and to get this matter right before Me, you, the Caucus and before man, and you have faithfully fulfilled every requirement I have given you in honorably and righteously dealing with those who claim to be your sisters and brothers in the Lord. For those who are innocent, and have had no hand in this matter, I will protect them to prevent them from harm. Therefore they shall not be impacted, but shall be moved to align with what is right. But for those who have wronged you, and have done it with great indignation, arrogance and pride, I shall expose them and reveal their deeds, so that their deeds can be judged for what they truly are.
Also because many have turned a deaf ear to your cry, and have not dealt in good faith with you, I shall lift their own skirts high above their own heads, and shall reveal all of the vileness that has been hidden, and done behind closed doors, not only regarding you, but in other matters as well. And when they look for those to comfort them, I will cause those who would have come to their rescue and defense to become deaf to their cries, and their lips to be tightly sealed, just as they have done to you.
As you speak truth, not only shall I use you, but I shall bring out armies of others who will confirm what you have spoken, and shall add their own accusations against those who have wronged you. Therefore, you shall not stand alone, and your story shall not be the only one that is told! For I have raised up, and sworn in witnesses of my own, as I stand as Judge, Jury, and Prosecutor in this matter that I have brought against them before Myself to judge. I also call MYSELF as a witness to their deeds, for the record is in heaven, and the evidence which has been presented before Me speaks for itself. I saw it all, both what you did and what they did to you, and will rule according to the facts that I present to Myself. Therefore, divine and perfect justice shall be served.
Also take courage in knowing that you shall no longer be a target of their vengeance, nor shall you be denied entry and passage through any political gates, even those outside of the Republican Party. For I shall tear the doors of prejudice and hypocrisy off the hinges of the Republican Party, and shall cause it to return to its first love, and be reconciled with its divine purpose for which I birthed it.
I shall also open the gates to the Democratic Party and to politics to allow those to walk and sit in places of rulership and authority who will do what is just and right. Then I shall take what has been done, and will use it to bring glory to My name, and to reward you, and others for your suffering and for your faithfulness.
Now, I the Lord your God, issue the orders for you to tell your story, so that others may take courage to come forth and tell theirs, and so that full restoration can begin.”
I prayed for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but most of all love and integrity to tell the story that led to the writing of this book. With that I begin the story of my painful journey.
Several months before the 2000 Presidential Election, God told me to actively return to politics. I wasn’t eager to do this. I had voted regularly and had continued to bring African-Americans into the Party, but I just wasn’t openly eager to get back into the mainstream GOP political inner loop. Nevertheless, I obeyed. I always had some inkling that my task was not completed, and that at some point and time, God once again would require my active involvement. But until He expressly said get into the loop again, I steered clear. However that time did come.
The morning of the election, God woke me up with these words, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
He spoke with such authority that it awakened me. I sat up in bed shaken from the power of his words. Seldom had I heard God speak in such a sovereign and assertive voice. I wasn’t sure what to make of what He said, so I reached over for my Bible. Before I could open it, God spoke again and said, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
This time his voice was firmer than the first time. I wondered what this could mean. The tone and force in which God spoke made me know the seriousness of what was being said.
He spoke the third time, saying again, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
I was positive now that this election would be different from any other, and that God was about to intervene in the affairs of mankind to bring about a divine result, which had nothing to do with the will of man. Upon realizing this, God gave me specific directions for the day. He told me three things.
The first was, “Whoever wins the election, this will serve as a confirmation of the party I want you to align with”.
I thought that was strange because I was already a Republican, and wasn’t looking to become anything else.
The next instruction made me wonder if God was telling me to switch parties. His second instruction was, “You are to go to the Democratic camp tonight, to await the election results”.
I was sure now that I was changing parties!
The last instruction was, “While you are in the Democratic camp, there is something I want you to hear”.
Then He gave me the story of Gideon, in Judges 7:9-25. I did not consider the Democrats of Hamilton County my enemies, and neither did God. But just as He had instructed Gideon, there was something He needed for me to see and hear within the Democratic camp.
I obeyed, and did just as God instructed. I called Missy Crutchfield, and told her I would meet her at the Reade House where the Democrats were gathered to await the election results.
When I got there, I was amazed at how many people were sincerely happy to see me. This had been my prayer. When I left the Democratic Party, I left behind many good friends, and had prayed for the day when I could again enjoy the fellowship, and fully restore those relationships. I despised the political lines, which had separated us, and did not realize just how much those relationships meant to me, until I saw the faces of those I had known back in my early days as a Democrat. I also realized just how destructive partisan politics can be, when it impacts upon relationships that are not just political, but are built upon friendship and other kinds of relationships.
I got plenty of hugs, and warm and sincere embraces. However what I heard astounded me the most.
I sat with LaShunda at a table near the door. Subconsciously I may have done this so that, just in case I was not well received, I would have an easy escape route. After all, I was a Republican …and a well-known black one at that, which made my presence very obvious!
One by one, Democratic elected officials, party leaders (past and present), and friends came to the table to say hello, and to share what God wanted me to hear. Without knowing it, they spoke a word of encouragement and confirmation that greatly strengthened me.
One black party member said, “Years ago Jean, we didn’t understand what you were trying to do when you left the Party (Democratic Party). But most of us understand now. It was something you had to do, and you didn’t do it because you were selfish or wanted something just for yourself like most people. You did it because God had a purpose for you being there.”
The person then hugged me, and walked away.
What was said, literally blew my mind! This was the first of the ear full. Then came the second.
“Welcome back! You are coming back aren’t you?” asked one person.
I smiled, without answering, because until all of the election returns were in, I didn’t know which direction God was sending me.
More hugs and confirmations followed that.
“I hope you run again in the 29th district. This time you can win! Cause you can get the black support this time,” another precinct chair said.
My mind went back to the 1980, 29th District race in which I ran. But I had no desire to have “Sam play that tune again”.
A party leader chimed in, “We sure could use you in the Party. We have a lot that needs to be done.”
Jokingly, one person said, “You sure are one brave lady! I have always admired you for being your own person. It took a lot of guts to be a Black Republican! Especially during the time you went in.”
Then another person asked, “Jean I have always wondered, why haven’t they used you more in the local Republican Party after all the work you have done in bringing in blacks? I see Johnny Horne, and the way they push him, but you are the one they really need to put out front.”
I dared not respond to that one. To go there would have taken all night! Instead, I just smiled.
Someone else said, “You sure know how to get people to change parties. I don’t know what it is that you tell them, but black folks will jump ship in a minute, if you ask them to join the Republican Party!” Jokingly he staggered back, making a quick exit from my table and said, “Let me get away from you before you have me wanting to be a Republican!”
In response to this, I had to laugh. He got away from me in a hurry as if I had Republican leprosy, which apparently he thought he might catch!
As it appeared that Gore was lagging behind, I realized that it was time to go. Before I left, I happened to look up, and guess whose face was on the television monitor? Yes! Mine! I thought to myself, this should be interesting, the possibility of God sending me back into mainstream Republican politics, on a night when I am televised “live” at the Democratic camp, watching the presidential election returns! LaShunda and I laughed and talked about that all the way home.
What I did not realize until days later, was that night God showed me favor with those I had left in 1979 to join the GOP. After all these years of being a Republican, it was such a blessing to see there were those who did not hold a grudge against me for leaving, or thought of me as the enemy. They just welcomed me. Republican or not, I was just Jean to them.
That night I also realized that true friendships are not predicated upon party labels, but they are relational, as they should be. It was encouraging to see that I had so many friends in the Democratic Party; those I went to school with, grew up with, attended church with, preached to and pastored, socialized and worked with, counted as friends, and even shared blood ties. To see that my political affiliation meant nothing to them was the greatest gift I could have received that night.
Despite the price it would cost me, if and when I became more publicly active within the Republican Party and they found out I was there that night, I was grateful for the opportunity to be there, and count even Democrats as friends.
I remained puzzled over what God had said earlier that morning. He certainly had proven himself faithful and kind at the Democratic camp. But I still awaited the mystery to be revealed of what He meant by saying. “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS”. It wasn’t long before the mystery was revealed.
For the next twenty-five days or more, the nation waited in limbo not knowing who won the election. Never had anything like this happened in the history of America! Yet those whom God had revealed himself to, knew it was an awesome display of God, which would prove his sovereign rule, as He intervened in the affairs of man!
Many around the country stood in awe, praying that the will of God be done, because unlike other elections, this one would prove prophetically crucial to the events of the future.
During this time, God issued to me another set of instructions. “Pray for Joe Lieberman because he is My Servant”.
I immediately got on the telephone and called to those I knew faithfully would carry out this instruction. We bombarded heaven with prayers for Lieberman.
The second instruction was, “Sit back and watch Me circumvent every ballot cast, and cause it to come up the way in which I have ordained it to be, for I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
Sure enough, this is exactly what God did! The Florida election episode will be remembered in history as the Year of the Amazing Election Re-count. But it was God who caused things to be as they were. His purpose was so that President George W. Bush would recognize beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was divinely orchestrated that He was made president, over the will of man. This was important for him to know, so that he would always remember and seek the Face of the God who elected him. Should he seek God’s Face in every decision he made, he would not fail, stumble or error in fulfilling the divine purpose and call on his life. But when he failed to do this, he would. That is why the election turned out the way it did. No matter which way the count went, God circumvented the ballots and over the popular vote, ordained Bush for this Hour to lead America.
Knowing that God’s divine hand was in this, I saw President Bush in a different light. I understood that despite his human frailty, he was God’s choice for this Hour. For whatever reason, God chose him to fulfill a specific purpose. Prophetically God had said that He was called to be a Liberator and a Repair of the Breach. Because of this, I became committed to support him and follow his leadership, as God directed me. He was in my prayers on a regular basis. I understood what it meant to be God’s anointed and chosen, so I reverenced the call that was upon his life, and the mission which he had been birthed to accomplish. I did not want to see him fail, because if he failed, this meant he failed God and America. My task now was to do everything within my power to lift him up before God; give him the prophetic words, so that he would understand his call; speak good of him before men; and do my part to assist him in fulfilling his purpose. Therefore, when the president spoke of inclusion, I knew I had a major part of the key that he needed to unlock the doors to the African-American, religious community, and other minority communities. The recruitment of people for any purpose was a gift God had given me. I never quite understood it, but I always was able to gather together people by the masses for whatever purpose. Now I knew God wanted me to come forth for this hour, and use that gift to strengthen the mission of President Bush, so long as he sought God’s direction, and walked in his counsel.
It wasn’t that God directly opposed Al Gore. It just was not his season or the time of the specific calling that was upon his life. Mr. Gore’s calling was that of preserving creation and natural resources. Because of that calling, he would have channeled his attention more in this direction, than in international affairs, and matters of war and national security. But God knew the terror that would descend upon America, and the resolve that was necessary for that hour. He also knew it would be an hour where Gore’s faith would be tested beyond measure, and had to be firmly rooted in him alone. So in his infinite wisdom and knowledge, God knew which man was best suited for the immediate task of leading America through the hour of her prophetically fulfilled terror.
God also knew it was an hour where America was being weighed in the balance, and the leader had to be someone who had a heart for repentance, and the boldness to take a stand, and call America back to God. Also Gore, along with his wife Tipper had begun to render their support to matters in which God strictly opposed. The position they took in favor of gay rights would have brought America prematurely to its demise, sooner than God had ordained. This was the prime reason why God would not allow him to prevail in 2000, and even would shut the door to 2004.
Just as God had instructed, I also returned to the mainstream Hamilton County and national Republican Party inner loop, bringing with me thousands of blacks from all over the country that I had continuously recruited over the course of many years. This made it an easy task in producing the numbers.
Within Tennessee alone, in less than one year, we had managed to bring in over 5,000 blacks statewide, and a little more than 68,000 nationally. This was because I was personally committed with my time, resources and contacts to make it work. Not only this, but I was not in it for the credit or for any other reason other than I believed in what I was doing, and that this was a call that was upon my life. This is why I had up until then, recruited blacks and other minorities silently and without the political fanfare. But as those blacks who knew this, witnessed the ill treatment I was personally receiving; the failure of the Party to recognize us as a legitimate Republican organization; the back-room racist dirty politics that were being used to discredit those efforts, and personally destroy me; the failure of the Party to address these concerns; the snubbing; and the white wall of silence, many who had been recruited, became disillusioned with the embrace. After all of the hard work I had put into years of recruiting blacks, and even the opposition I had endured from my own race for doing so, I now faced the worse let down, in seeing the Party who preached “inclusion”, now once the altar call had been made, and blacks had come, refused to ingratiate those who had answered the call. Now my job was harder than ever, because I had to face those who were asking the hard question of why didn’t they want us?
As long as I silently recruited blacks outside of the mainstream Republican Party, they voted republican, and remained invisible, there were no problems. However, the moment I attempted to integrate them into full participation within the GOP mainstream, and their presence became visible, immediately I was met with opposition from the Party’s leadership. My troubles began at home, within my home county, and spilled over into the state and national.
It all began with Congressman Zach Wamp.
At first, I thought Congressman Zach Wamp’s personal vendetta against me was because of something that happened in 1992. So I went to him to again make right whatever had gone wrong between us. Despite the fact that I felt he owed me an apology for his hurtful and insensitive call he made to me shortly after my husband’s death, I felt as a Christian, I needed to make sure there was nothing on my part that would hinder our friendship and political relationship.
From 1989 through 1991, I had traveled throughout the United States recruiting
African-American women into the Republican Party. I met with Clayton Yeutter, the chairman of the RNC at that time, and thought that the Party would be pleased to see and know of those efforts. Women from every social and economic background were coming into the GOP ranks. The numbers were unprecedented. My husband was also involved in recruiting black men. While Bobby was living, he footed the bill for those efforts. However, after he passed I was not as financially prepared to do this kind of recruitment on a national level. Rather than see the efforts go down the tube, I went to RNC to see if they had any suggestions on how to keep those efforts alive. The visit with Yeutter was very cordial, but beyond that, it offered no further encouragement or assistance with the efforts to recruit minorities. In fact, RNC made no attempts beyond my visit to do anything further to encourage our recruitment efforts, which was strange if the Republican Party really wanted us.
I also met with Congressman Don Sundquist. This was before he became governor of the state of Tennessee. He was very straightforward, and appeared to have been the most interested and sincere about assisting our efforts. I had just come back from a minority event sponsored by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Johnson in Connecticut. I had financed the trip out of my own funds, which were very limited now that I was a widow. The purpose of the conference was to encourage minority recruitment in Connecticut. On the way back home, I flew into Washington and met with Congressman Sundquist. I explained to him how strapped I was financially, and that I could not continue to fund the efforts for recruiting minorities now that Bobby was gone, without the help of the Party. He gathered up a few souvenirs and gave them to my five-year old daughter who traveled with me. He also gave me a few names of people within Tennessee to contact, which later did not prove fruitful. Then he looked at me and said, “Jean, have you ever thought that maybe they don’t want as many minorities as you are recruiting into the Party?”
This stunned me, but it was something I had felt all along. He then gave me a brief heart to soul talk, and encouraged me not to continue to spend what I did not have to carry out the Party’s recruitment of minorities. I appreciated his advise, because I felt it came not just as a bit of Republican political wisdom, but it was made out of a heart felt concern for the financial and emotional welfare of my daughter and me.
I also met with a Republican female within the Bush Sr. camp, whose name I am sure she would rather I not reveal. She was just as candid in her discussion with me, and gave me the scoop as it related to not just minorities, but the dilemma facing women as well within the Party.
Returning to Chattanooga, I knew I could no longer put on the facade of recruiting black women into a party that did not want them. There also were some women in the local Republican Women’s Club that I knew were not so accepting of blacks. I struggled with what to do. With over 150 women in the Hamilton County chapter, and thousands nationwide, I knew I could not continue to bring them in knowing they might not be accepted. Neither could I continue the recruitment efforts without the Party’s help. All of these women personally had been recruited by me, so I felt a personal responsibility to make sure they were not battered and bruised by racist Republican politics.
I prayed and the answer God gave me was to turn the organization into a non-partisan one for the time being, and allow the women to gravitate to whatever side of the political pendulum they chose. Following God’s advise, the name of the organization was changed from the National Coalition of Black Republican Women to the National Impact Coalition of Black Women. Our mission was the same, to address issues related to the black family. It just would not be done under a party label.
The organization made a decision that now as a nonpartisan women’s organization, we wanted to support a female candidate–that being the incumbent Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd.
The Congresswoman and I had a good relationship. During my democratic days, she assisted me with the Democracy In Action program, and even as a Republican, I could call her office, and there always was a positive and timely response. Most senior citizens supported her because her office was always extremely helpful to them in matters regarding social security. I admired her, and thought she was a great congresswoman, and a genuinely good person. I had always supported her in the past. However, I knew she would soon make a decision to step down from office, and decided to support Zach Wamp in his quest to replace her.
When Wamp first told me he was running for Congress, I personally introduced him to Elder Rev. C. H. Douglas, the president of the local Clergy Koinonia of which I was a member. I talked with local ministers, and others within the black community about supporting him. At that time I did not know that supposedly he had dropped out of college because of drug use, and that there were some things in his past that were questionable, along with the possibility of having sold drugs. But based upon who I thought he was, and his own words that assured me that he was a born again Christian, I was willing to give him a chance to prove himself as a viable candidate.
When he chose to run prior to Congresswoman Lloyd stepping down, because the organization decided to endorse Congresswoman Lloyd, this placed me in a difficult position. As the head of the organization, I did not feel it was my place or that it was right to sway the organization one way or the other. The women were intelligent enough to make their own decisions. So I remained neutral. However, as the head, I was the one who as a part of my leadership duties went to Congresswoman Lloyd to discuss our endorsement. She was delighted to have our support, and we were pleased to give it. I shared with her that Zach had become a personal friend, and because of that, I had committed my individual vote to him. She cautioned me that if I came out with my personal support of Zach, this might defeat the organization’s endorsement. I agreed with her that it would jeopardize the endorsement. Therefore I made the decision to still support him with my vote, but not with a personal endorsement.
Before I could reach Zach to talk with him about this, the endorsement was made public, along with the announcement of the organization becoming non-partisan. I was also in between a decision as to whether I would return to the Democratic Party, now that I was so weary of trying to get the Republican Party to completely embrace and accept blacks on a national level.
There to welcome me and any other members of the organization, who wanted to return to the Democratic Party were Hamilton County Democratic Chair, Senator Ward Crutchfield, as well as other party officials, and to receive the endorsement, Congresswoman Marylyn Lloyd. Actress Rose Weaver had flown in for this event. She was a member of our organization’s board, and a personal friend.
The event received more media coverage than I expected. The story line read, Changes Horses in Mid-Stream. Whether I had fully decided or not, they had me as a prodigal daughter of the Democratic Party, returning home. At that point, I really did not care. I was tired, broke, had endured being called a “nigger” by a Republican, and totally disappointed with the Republican Party’s lack of interest in recruiting and welcoming African-Americans into the Party. However, although Zach Wamp nor the Party were working with me or the organization to recruit minorities, and did not appear to want us, when this was done, Zach hit the ceiling. He called my house in a fit of uncontrollable rage!
“Jean, I know if Bobby was alive, he would not support your decision to endorse Marilyn Lloyd, because Bobby loved this Party and was a good Republican. I know he would turn over in his grave if he knew of your decision.”
After those words, I don’t remember too much more of what he said. I lost it! It was nearing the anniversary of Bobby’s second birthday since his death, and was one of those days when it seemed like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. His tone of voice was angry, mean, hateful, demanding, callous, and selfish. He seemed to have had no consideration for my feelings, and the emotional impact it would have on me to have him say what he said to me regarding how he thought my deceased husband would feel. I was in shock to hear him tell me that my dead husband would turn over in his grave because I was not supporting him! To even dare say something like this in such a cold and callous manner was enough to make me lose it! I do remember explaining to him that this was an organizational decision, and that I had spoken with Congresswoman Lloyd, and told her that I would cast my personal vote for him. Beyond hearing this, my anger, along with my hurt and pain blocked out everything else.
I got off the phone totally and emotionally devastated. I never shared this with the organization. Only two or three people knew about it. Years after Zach won, I never spoke of this again, even when those who supported him because of me, spoke of him in my presence. It was a wound that had been inflicted, that I covered in grace. It was not easy to do, but if I preached forgiveness, I also had to practice it, even if he never apologized for his rude, insensitive, selfish, self-serving and coldhearted behavior.
The organization gave its endorsement to President Clinton for the presidential election. I was invited to greet Vice President Al Gore, at the airport, and personally deliver that endorsement. However beyond this, I never got involved in Democratic politics, and it was not long after this that the load of Bobby’s death got so heavy that I left Chattanooga. Being away, and less involved in Republican politics on a local level, it was much easier to retain my Republican identity. So I remained a Republican. I continued to recruit minorities nationally, but decided to do it outside of the mainstream Republican Party. I was more interested in getting blacks to embrace the Republican philosophy, than to become visible participants. Either way, my efforts remained highly successful, even if those blacks who were now voting and thinking “Republican” were not visible at the table.
When I returned to Chattanooga, and was considering to again get involve in the local Republican Party in 1999, I called Zach first to talk to him about what had happened years ago. I wanted to make sure there were no lingering hard feelings. He never once apologized for what he had said. I guess he did not feel that tearing the heart out of a widow was an offense worth atoning for. But that was okay. I had done my part. I had forgiven him, and graced his offense.
After my telephone call to reconcile with Zach, I thought everything was fine between the two of us. I kept in contact with his office, and did everything I could to support him, and to keep his name before the black community, as he had asked me to do. I even vouched for his concern for projects within the African-American community, and tried to get him to assist, even when he showed no concern or desire to be involved.
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I was happy to see that seemingly, Congressman Wamp had overcome his past, and was on the right road. As a minister, redemption is the main goal of ministry. Thinking this was what had taken place with him, I did not hesitate to applaud him for his growth, encourage him, and vow my support to work with him as long as he was striving to do the right thing and living the profession of faith he made.
As I anticipated my return to the local Republican Party, I met with an old friend and campaign stumper, Gene Hunt. We had developed a close friendship during our 1980 campaigns. He ran for state senator, and I had run for state representative. He was very happy to hear from me, and to welcome my involvement again in the Party. He overly flattered me in telling me how much my involvement in the local Republican Party had meant. He introduced me to the local party chair, Robin Smith. In first meeting her, she appeared to be very happy to have minorities. She told me that I was a sign to her that God wanted her to serve a second term, in order to bring minorities into the local Party. I vowed to vigorously work with her in those efforts. It seemed that we would have a very good working relationship. Then something happened, and very abruptly things changed!
I heard from white Republican friends that someone in the local party had spoken with Robin Smith, and now there were negative rumors being spread about me. I could not figure out who it could be, or what could have been said. Then I got a sniff of what it may have been. Supposedly Congressman Zach Wamp, despite me having talked to him again to make sure we had ironed out our past differences, and were okay with each other, still had some lingering animosity towards me. This animosity had been shared in a negative manner, which caused some individuals within the Party to resent me. Immediately, as a Christian, I sat down and sent him a personal letter, addressed to his home to make sure he got it. I also had planned to share with him some things that were on my mind. This was a good opportunity to do both. So I wrote:
Sunday, February 26, 2001
Dear Zack:
I want to share some things with you. Usually when we speak, there isn’t the time or opportunity to share anything of a personal nature. So I decided to do it by way of a note to you.
God keeps bringing you to mind. In fact, over the past nine years, since Bobby’s death, every so often you come to mind. I began to ask God why. What he shared with me was that the two of us are tied together. Regardless of what may have happened to make it appear we were at odds with each other, God had placed divine assignments in our hands that connect us together. I believe this and want to make sure there is nothing I have done or are doing that will hinder that call or friendship.
First, I want to bring closure to a telephone call we had back in 1992. You called very disturbed because you saw an article in the newspaper, which showed my organization changing to become non-partisan, and me in a picture with Marilyn Lloyd and others from the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, the whole story has never been told. As a result of that, this has placed a wedge between the two of us of mistrust. So, let me try to tell the story.
Before Bobby’s death, I recruited him into the Republican ranks. He and his family are strong elected and party supporting Democrats. He became a Republican because he supported my efforts and me. Therefore, he allowed me to use our resources and money to fund the National Black Republican Women. I was able to travel across the country, networking and building an organization of over 15,000 women. After Bobby’s death, I remained committed, although my heart was broken into a million pieces. I continued networking. I worked hard, not because I was being paid, getting or expecting some benefit from the party. I did television and radio shows across the country. There was so much excitement among Blacks who felt they could embrace the Party, simply because they believe in what I was doing and me. I met with Clayton Yeutter, the RNC Chair. I attended the National Federation’s conferences. I accompanied Arthur Fletcher, when he visited and spoke here in Chattanooga, and did a press conference with him. I was a faithful member of the Hamilton County Women’s Club and Pachyderms. I brought the largest number of blacks ever to attend the Lincoln dinner, when Sundquist spoke. I went to Nashville and spoke to the Republican Legislative body. There were more blacks involved in the Party then, than ever. I did everything I knew to do to be a part of the Party on a local, as well as national level. But very few thought the efforts were all that important, it seemed. It was not that I was opposed; it was more like being ignored. This grieved me greatly. Nevertheless, I had to keep up a front to keep the rest of the women from knowing what was going on. Most of the Hamilton County women supported me when I ran for State Representative in 1980, and had witnessed the racism of me being called a nigger. So I knew I could not tell them too much, otherwise they would retreat and never want to be Republicans.
The week leading up to the Marilyn Lloyd incident, I had been in Connecticut with Congresswomen Nancy Johnson, of which I paid my own expenses to accept her invitation to come. I also had been in Washington at the RNC. No one there thought the black vote was significant to the Party. Despite all of the numbers and work, it was just not important. When I returned home, I had a choice to make. I could no longer lead women across the nation on a path, which I knew they were not welcomed. Many of the Hamilton County women were growing weary. So to save face, and to keep from fully revealing the problems with acceptance we were facing, I changed the organization into a non-partisan coalition, and decided to leave the Party. Although I wanted to stay, I felt a need to leave, so that I could make a difference. I was welcomed back to the Democratic Party with opened arms, although I never really became a Democrat. I also did not see any need to stay, because the price was too high to ask me to pay at a time when I was so deeply grieved and broken. However, I had made some friends within the Party and did not want to lose those friendships. You were one of them.
The only reason why I took you to meet Rev. Douglas, president of the Clergy Koinonia, that day at Hunter’s Restaurant, was because you were my friend and I had confidence that you would do the right thing if elected. I took a chance in doing that because the Clergy Koinonia is basically made up of pastors who are Democrats. Yet because I was willing to openly support and defend you, they became open to you as well, and many supported you, and still do. I confess, I should have persevered, and come to you before the article ran or before I made my decision. However, there was so much going on at that time. I got back to Chattanooga to hear the final decision that the insurance company had refused to pay Bobby’s death benefits, the bank repossessed my car, and the house slowly was going into foreclosure. All of the financial pressures were crashing down on my head at one time. I thought about all of the money I had spent pursuing a cause for the Republican Party of which, they could have cared less. On top of all of that, there was this rumor that I had been given some money from the Party, and had taken it for my personal use. This hurt me very deeply, especially knowing this was not true and being in the financial dilemma I was in, after having spent so much of my money for the Party. I could not understand how anyone could be so cruel. I was not angry with you, nor had I abandoned you. But before I could get to you the article ran. However, you can confirm what I am telling you with Marilyn Lloyd. I met with her and told her that although the organization wanted to support her, I could not endorse her because of my personal friendship with you. This was not something she wanted to hear. I also told the organization the same. With the exception of only a few, all of the Hamilton County Black Republican women decided to do the same. They remembered you speaking at Bobby’s homegoing services, and knew you were our friend. Therefore they also choose to support you. So, when you called that day, it hurt so much to have you accuse me of doing something in which Bobby would not approve of if he was alive. Those words broke my heart even more, and came at the worse of times. I remember dropping the telephone after we ended the call, and me screaming out in pain. It was too much to bear. I know that none of that makes any difference now. It is a new day.
My daughter and I have gone through some of the hardest times of my life these past nine years since Bobby’s death. But, none of it has been in vain. With every step of the way, God has deposited within us the good that comes from being tried in the furnace. So during this time, with God keeping you on my mind, I knew that whatever happened between us, was Satan’s way of separating us. You were my friend then, you are my friend now, and unless you tell me otherwise, you will remain my friend. I am not like most people. I truly treasure and honor friendship as a gift from God. But, it is more than friendship. It is a call that God has on both of our lives.
I don’t fully have all of the pieces, but I do know that there can be nothing between us, and that we must renew our friendship and trust, in order for God to do in both of us what He wants to do. So, I humbly come to you to ask your forgiveness for any pain or disappointment I may have caused you, and to let you know that the pain I felt that day years ago, I don’t feel it any more. All that I feel is the love of God for you as my brother in Christ, and as my friend.
Jean
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After pouring out my heart to him, taking the time to explain in detail what had happened, and humbling myself to ask forgiveness for wrong I had not done, he never once responded to my letter! I still could not figure out what had caused this abrupt shift or why a man who claimed he had changed his life, and given his heart to God, could still be just as callous as he was in 1992. He just ignored me and continued to do every mean spirited thing he could to block me, and keep me out of Republican politics, using Robin Smith, Marty Fairbanks, and others as his instruments.
I still could not understand why, until God spoke and said, “Remember the meetings. The answer you seek is in the meetings”. I pondered this and then it became apparent. I remembered that I had a meeting with Zach twice. In one of those meeting, he urged the organization that I founded and chaired, to not render their support to one of the gubernatorial candidates. When I did not acquiesce to his wishes, he wasn’t very happy about that. It seemed he had hoped to use the organization for his own political use. But that just was not the purpose of the local, state or national Caucus. He also kept dropping hints that he would be running for the Senate in 2006, and that his office would be up for grabs. He talked about Congressman J.C. Watts and me getting together, as a team in Congress.
I was not lead to respond to this because my role as head of the organization was not to further my own political career by cutting deals with anyone who wanted to use the organization, through me. If I was truly ordained by God to one day serve in Congress, it would happen. But it was not my place to set that in motion by my own doings. Nor was I going to prostitute the Caucus in exchange for personal favors or personal political opportunities.
As further political bait, Wamp also offered me the opportunity to sit on his third district advisory board. I am not sure if that is the correct title, but it was a group of some sort he had created that consisted of community leaders. After I was not willing to play ball in his court, he never mentioned it to me again, and did not follow through in appointing me to serve.
He also attempted to give a job to our vice chairman of the Hamilton County African-American Republican Caucus, who also was my nephew. But when I refused to allow him to use the organization, or Patrick for his personal use, he withheld the job offer from him. This was the beginning of me seeing that this was Congressman Wamp’s usual way of webbing his support by giving a position on his staff to a relative of someone who had influence, so that in return he could later use that to guarantee himself support. Because of me, Patrick was a valuable tool to him. So once he was convinced that I would not be a pawn that he could use, and would not allow the organization to fall into the hands of any politicians to control and change its vision and mandates, he no longer had any use for me. Therefore, he no longer had any use for him. In fact, he began one of the most fierce and deadliest campaigns against me to destroy my credibility within the Republican Party at every level, and to block and close every door and contact I had worked so hard to build.
He began by placing the local party chair as a Gestapo force against me. At first, it was very difficult to believe that Chairwoman Robin Smith could be anything less than a model Christian. She was the one “toting” the biggest bible, praying the loudest prayers, and waving the biggest flag. Believing she was sincere, I pledged my full support to assist her in recruiting minorities into the Party. But I soon learned, she was like a book that could not be judged by its cover. Once the book was opened, I was shocked to see that the inside was not as I had thought and had hoped it would be.
In response to our telephone conversation facilitated by my Republican friend Gene Hunt, I sent Robin Smith a letter, enclosing all of the information on the Caucus. Since she had only been in the Republican Party for five years, and had not known me when I was active in the party, I also sent her information on me, so that we could get better acquainted. Additionally, I sent to her materials and newspaper articles, which showed some of my past efforts to recruit, and past involvement in the party on a local, state and national level. In a letter inviting her to our first organization meeting, and providing her with the progress of the Caucus I wrote:
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill, Nat’l Chair
Chattanooga, TN
February 26, 2001
Dear Robin Smith:
We are very excited about the formation of the National Republican African-American Caucus. All over the United States, from California, to North Carolina, to Oklahoma, to Tennessee, County Caucuses are forming!
The Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus is having its first organizational meeting the second, Monday night in March to elect officers, and to plan our Caucus activities. As elected officials and Party officers, we want to work very closely with you to keep you abreast of our activities and county strategy to increase African-American participation in the Party, as well as welcome the opportunity to work together with us.
Pursuant to the National By-laws, County Republican elected officials and heads of local Republican organizations are asked to sit on the County Republican African-American Caucus Advisory Boards. I have enclosed a copy of the by-laws, so that you can see the function of the Board. We invite you to sit on the Hamilton County Caucus Advisory Board, and know your input will be of great value to us.
Because the organization is so new, I will be serving as County Chair, for the first year, to ensure the Hamilton County Caucus gets off to a good start.
The National web site should be up in a few weeks. It will have links to the County Caucuses, including Hamilton County. Please feel free to visit our web site. The County link also will have a link where you may post information to our County membership. Patrick Favors is the web master for the County site. He will be in touch with you, should you wish to take advantage of this opportunity for Hamilton County African-American to get to know you.
Please let us know if you have other suggestions on how we can work together as one to build the Party, increase the GOP’s presence within the African-American community, and improve our communities as a whole.
We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/mh
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I also attached information on the Caucus, which included our mission, and recruitment projects. I continued to follow up with letters and e-mails to keep the chairman Robin Smith and Congressman Wamp appraised of our progress, despite evidence that the mean spiritedness and racism had begun already to rear its ugly head.
Then there was a second meeting with Wamp. During that Washington meeting, Congressman Wamp shared with a staff member how much he had enjoyed me singing, and how years back, I had sung at a Republican Lincoln Day Dinner and also had sung and eulogized my husband. Therefore, I volunteered to sing at the up-coming Lincoln Day Dinner. I spoke with Robin Smith about this, and she seemed delighted. I got with some of the Caucus members to form a group called Embrace to sing a melody of patriotic songs for the event, and our organization’s theme song, which also was called Embrace. But three weeks before the Lincoln Day Dinner, when I called Smith, she told me that Congressman Wamp had decided that he wanted instead of us sing, to have a group outside of the county to perform for the dinner, therefore we could not sing.
I had sung before at the last Lincoln Day Dinner before my husband died, and at other political functions, so I wasn’t disappointed. But it was disappointing to the Caucus.
I then asked if she would allow the Caucus to be introduced to the local party, along with the exciting news that Hamilton County was the first county to have the first Caucus organized. We were so elated with our efforts. By then, we had over 260 members, which was 258 more than they had, and more members were joining weekly. Since Tennessee had played such a crucial role in the election of President Bush, I thought this would be something about which she, the local party and Congressman Wamp would be equally as excited. After all, our efforts made them look good. It also would have made good political sense for Wamp to have embraced the Caucus, especially in light of his anticipated 2006 Senate race. But instead of welcoming us into the Party, he was too blinded by racial hatred and his desire to destroy me personally to understand how all of this translated into possible votes and support for him. With whatever attempts they had made to bring in minorities, at best they netted one or two token members. Now we had become successful in our recruitment, almost over night. Without any efforts on their part, except to open their arms and just welcome us in, this would make Hamilton County the first to step to the plate and carry out the mandate of the President for the inclusion of minorities on a noticeable scale.
The Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus also had Hispanics, and we were introducing the Caucus to East Indians, Asians, as well as Blacks. This truly was an exceptionally inclusive effort.
What happened after this stunned me. It caught me totally off guard. Instead of an embrace, Robin Smith tore into me with the vengeance of an alley cat. This woman who was so God-fearing, nice, and willing to work to recruit minorities, all of a sudden took on a quality that was liken unto someone possessed. She accused me of building a power base for my personal use. She told me that absolutely no! Under no circumstance could we be introduced, and that she was not allowing anyone black on the platform that night, except for two black pastors who were not members of the Caucus or Republicans, but were selected by Congressman Wamp. She inferred that I was wanting personal recognition, and she was not about to give it to me. I was in shock! I asked her what was wrong with introducing the Caucus to the local Party? How else would local Republican know we existed? It did not have to be me who made the introduction, it could be someone else, if that was the problem.
Also since Congressman J.C. Watts, the only black Republican congressman in the House was going to be the speaker, this would be an even better opportunity to make a show of embrace to blacks and other minorities. Despite all of this, the answer was a cold, rude and emphatic no!
Later, Angela Sailor at the White House spoke with Congressman Watts, and he was prepared to make the introduction on our behalf. But nothing changed Robin Smith or Zach Wamp’s mind. From that day forth, she continued to pounce on me with accusations that I was up to something. I did not know where she was coming from, or what caused the abrupt, sudden, and ruthless change. However, prior to this I had noticed a visible change in her attitude towards me, but I had chosen to over look it, giving her the benefit of being the Christian she claimed to be.
In an effort to get her to further work with the Caucus, and to address the issue of being introduced at the Lincoln Day Dinner, the Caucus responded with a letter to Ms. Smith.
.......(Continued Excerpts)
We also issued a statement addressing the hostile way in which she had reacted to the Caucus’s request to be introduced to the local party at the Lincoln Day Dinner. Members of the Caucus knew of the efforts I had made to recruit them. As their leader, they felt very strongly that if the Republican Party could bring in blacks who were not identifying themselves as Republicans and place them at the head table, and giving them a place on the program, then I also should be recognized as the head of the Caucus. They also felt that if they were taking the risk to become Republicans, and had become a part of an organized group, then that group should be introduced and welcomed by the local party. It was hard for any of us to understand why this was something which Ms. Smith and Congressman Wamp so adamantly opposed to.
Unitedly, the Caucus issued this statement to Ms. Smith and Congressman Wamp:
STATEMENT FROM
THE HAMILTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS & HAMILTON COUNTY HISPANIC COMMITTEE
The membership of the Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus, do hereby make the following statement regarding the African-American participation at the Lincoln Dinner:
In as much as we are fortunate to have residing within our county and state, the national chair and founder of PROJECT EMBRACE and THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS, we think it is proper protocol to recognize her at the Lincoln Day Dinner, and that she be seated at the head table. Dr. Hill has given of her resources and time unselfishly, and at an enormous sacrifice to spearhead the recruitment of African-Americans in the Party on a local and national level, going back as far as 1979. She is well respected and well known not just within the local community, but within the national community as well, and within many grass roots communities all over the United States. We fully and unanimously support and applaud her efforts and find it unacceptable to have her not play some part in the Lincoln Day Dinner. In the spirit of “inclusion” and in support of the President’s efforts to include minorities, to not offer an invitation to her to sit at the head table, and acknowledge her as our national leader, is a slap in the face to all of us on a local, state, as well as national level.
We have eight tables at the Lincoln Day Dinner, with others still to be counted. Except for the Lincoln Day Dinner in 1991, in which Dr. Hill was responsible for a showing of 18 African-Americans, this is the largest showing of African-American participation in the Hamilton County Republican Party’s history. Also, we have coming in for the event, three of our National Officers who include our National Vice Chair, Bishop “Earthquake” Kelley from Los Angeles, California and National Treasurer, Rev. Glenda McNeal from Salem, Ohio. Being that Congressman J. C. Watts is the speaker, and that President Bush’s major theme has been inclusion, we would think this would be a great opportunity for the Hamilton County Party to show its support in taking the lead to embrace the African-American efforts to embrace President Bush and the Republican Party, by supporting and “show casing” our local efforts, in that it is one of the first 100 caucuses to be formed, under the NRAAC. It is most embarrassing to the Chair and to our local caucus to have these individuals come, and there be no recognition or attention drawn to those efforts.
We also express our concern that no member of our Hamilton County Caucus was included on the program, while non-members of the caucus and non-acknowledged Republican African-Americans have been placed out front to play a role in the program. The Caucus has over ten ordained ministers and five African-American/Hispanic pastors who could have and should have been called upon to perform clergy duties. It also has many individual singers and groups, who could have been called upon as well.
As members of the Hamilton County Caucus our coming out and standing as openly acknowledged Republicans, is not being done without paying a major price. Many of us will suffer exclusion and reprisals for doing so. Nevertheless, we have made a commitment to pledge our open support of the President and the Republican Party. However, we can not make such a commitment and open showing of our party affiliation, if the party is not going to be sensitive to our involvement as acknowledged members of the party. While we still wish to believe that the Hamilton County Republican Party is sincere, these actions have caused us to place in question the local party leadership’s sincerity in including minorities that are willing to openly embrace the party, and pay the price for doing so.
In light of this, we strongly urge the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee to reconsider their actions and take some positive steps to reconcile this error in judgment, so that we can truly feel the welcome mat beneath our feet, as we commit ourselves to standing proudly as African-American and Hispanic Republicans.
This statement is supported by the full membership of the Hamilton County African-American Caucus and Hispanic Committee, on this 26th day of March 2001, and is made a part of the organization’s official records.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Instead of sitting down with us, and working out this matter, their response became even more vicious. Apparently they resented this fresh new breed of African-American Republicans who were both vocal and responsive in dealing head on with issues affecting us.
Weeks later, after the 2001 Lincoln Day Dinner, not only did they attack me, but they viciously attacked a well respected, elderly white party loyalist, Mary Louise Collins, who had heard about what had happened from someone else, and inquired about the matter. When she did this, Robin Smith, along with Marty Fairbanks, the local party’s executive director verbally and abusively attacked Mary Louise Collins, while Congressman Wamp stood there looking on and saying nothing to stop the verbal assault. It was apparent, that their actions were sanctioned by him.
The way in which they treated Mrs. Collins, with Congressman Wamp’s approval was nothing short of being disgraceful and disrespectful. Not only this, but the mean and hateful things that the two said about me were beyond belief. They really didn’t know me, yet they proceeded to defame me in the things they said about me.
Now I understood what God was saying to me.
Finally it all surfaced, and was clear. Apparently, Congressman Wamp had issued orders to block me, and Robin Smith, Marty Fairbanks, and others were carrying out his wishes.
As time went on, I realized that the way in which Congressman Wamp was responding to me, had everything to do with what had happened back in 1992, when he first ran for Congress. Even if he should claim he did not understand, the Congressman by now knew and understood fully well why I had become politically neutral, and the once Republican women’s organization had been turned into a nonpartisan group. The facts were clear. It was because the Republican Party back then, just was not accepting of blacks in large numbers. Therefore, after my husband’s death, I had no other choice than to abandon my massive recruitment of African-American women because of personal and financial considerations. I also needed the time and space to mourn, and to focus on my future as a widow with a small child to care for alone. I also had to do something with the women I had recruited. He understood perfectly clear why I changed the organization into a non-partisan one, and allowed the women to determine who they wanted to support for Congress. He also knew how I had gone to him when I returned and personally talked with him. He also knew, even much later, after I saw he had begun to play these little nasty and vindictive political games with me, that I again had tried to sit down with him and reason things out. I gave him every opportunity to be the Christian brother he claimed to have been. None of my efforts were met with a mutual desire for him to act as a Christian brother to prayerfully and in a godly manner resolve any differences we might have had. It was clear that he was intent upon being at war with me, instead of pursuing peace, even if it was to the detriment of the Republican Party locally, or at the state and national levels or to the President and other Republican elected officials.
After my efforts to reason with him were rejected, I knew then that he had begun his campaign to destroy me. It was when he learned that he could not control me, and use the Caucus like his own political puppet on a string that he really went after me with full force! Unlike those who conspired with him, I was not about to compromise my integrity or the integrity of the Caucus to carry out Congressman Wamp’s dirty work, just to be a part of the local Republican inner loop.
Now that I knew I would not receive any cooperation from my own congressman, I introduced the Caucus to Congressman Van Hilleary. He was delighted and excited to hear about our efforts. He did everything he could to get us the legal clearance Robin Smith had demanded we obtain. I was totally, and pleasantly surprised to know that the congressman took a personal walk down to the RNC to get them to respond to me, after I had spent weeks trying to talk to someone about this ridiculous requirement that Robin Smith had made on our organization to get legal approval from RNC before she or the state would recognize us as a legitimate Republican group, or grant us the right to have information in the local county Newsletter, which was important so that the local party would know of our existence, our recruitment efforts and our projects.
Congressman Hilleary was the only Republican member of Congress who I contacted that would personally meet with me, from the state of Tennessee. He also was the only one who offered any assistance to the Caucus. Although I had sent information on the Caucus and letters to Senator Frist and Senator Thompson’s office, as far as I got with them was a meeting with a member of their staff. Kelvin Moxley, a black staffer, and Tyler Owens in Senator Thompson’s Chattanooga office. Both Moxley and Owens did send me the name of someone to get involved in the Caucus, and appeared to be happy that we were recruiting minorities.
I also met with Bob Davis and Sarah Bryant of Senator Thompson’s office. I provided them with the information on the Caucus, and asked for the Senator’s help. Senator Thompson had a good rapport and relationship with blacks in Hamilton County because of his strong support of the Bethlehem Center, which did excellent work in steering young black boys towards achieving and having self worth. When I met with Mr. Davis, he assured me that he would look over the Caucus materials, and if he liked what he saw, he would help, but if he didn’t, he wouldn’t. I guess he didn’t, because I never heard back from him. After Senator Thompson decided not to run again for the Senate, Sarah went on to work in Congressman Wamp’s office, which I assumed explained the shut-out in Senator Thompson’s office.
Emily Reynolds met with me in Washington, from Senator Frist’s office. She was very cordial, but just as was the case with Senator Thompson’s office, they did not appear to be excited about our efforts, and offered no further support or had any further contact with us. I did share with her surfacely some of the issues we faced in Hamilton County. But I am sure as was the case with everyone, Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had managed to shut us out there as well. Just as the case with Senator Thompson, this was hard to believe since Senator Frist had a reputation for being a man of integrity and fairness. But I guess when faced with the issue of race, and the word of a fellow congressman, Wamp’s word would be taken over mine, even to the detriment and tarnishing of Frist’s own reputation in the eyes of African-American Republicans.
I was so accustomed to meeting with members of Congress personally from other states, but my own congressional delegation remained gated. Other than meeting with staffers, that was the last I heard of any congressional commitment or interest in our efforts to recruit blacks and other minorities into the Party. I started to give Senator Arlen Spector a call. I had met with him in 1992 during the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas ordeal. But I felt those within my own state should be the first to welcome and support our efforts. It was something how easy it was for me to meet face-to-face with members of Congress from other states, while in Tennessee as far as I could get was a chief of staff or just someone in the local office. I even could get to democratic members of Congress easier than those in my own party!
Only Congressman Hilleary took the time to personally met with me, talk to me personally on the telephone, return my calls, and saw the value of the organization. Perhaps this also was because he saw the value of having the black vote for his governor’s race, which was something Wamp failed to see or understand. He also was responsible for a $1000 check, which was given to offset some of the expenses for the reception we hosted in Memphis, during the faith based initiative meeting.
At one point, I feared even Congressman Hilleary may had become slightly affected, as neither the Caucus or I were asked to play a part in his gubernatorial election efforts, while those who were opposed to us, and even working against him behind the scenes were included. Wamp made sure he had his people infiltrate the Hilleary camp to keep him informed and to sabotage his campaign efforts. At least we would have rendered genuine support and would have been friend, instead of foe.
It appeared no matter which way I turned, everyone was being a little or extremely guarded because of Congressman Wamp’s and Robin Smith’s campaign against us. All of this made the Caucus and me feel very uncomfortable, unwanted, and unwelcomed as we watched Republican leaders in Washington give lip service to inclusion, while at home in their own state, they ignored us, and treated the local and state Caucuses as if we had committed the unpardonable sin, by just wanting to become Republicans. Perhaps they all had failed to see that charity starts at home, and then spreads abroad. I wondered. If you could not embrace blacks within your own local backyard and home state, welcome them, and treat them like human beings, then how could you truly advocate for inclusion some place else? But in all of this, I discerned something more was working behind the scenes to cause this kind of reaction. It was like an army of locusts following me, and devouring any in routes I attempted to make into the Republican Party. I had experienced some degree of prejudice and some opposition in the past, but this was nothing in comparison. Back then, we could at least become a Republican. But now, I wasn’t even getting through the door! It was almost a complete shutout, even by many of the local elected officials, who could have used the support of the black vote.
Congressman Wamp also met with me, but each time I met with him, it was more for the purposes of helping him get a foothold in the race for the 2006 U.S. Senate seat, or using the Caucus to carry out his personal vendettas. Each time he made it clear that he did not want the Caucus to support Congressman Hilleary for governor, because he didn’t believe Hilleary had the charisma, was qualified, or had what it took to be governor, and asked me to get the Caucus to work against him to support another person, Bill Baxter who had not yet decided to enter the race.
I knew Baxter because we were in law school together. He was two classes ahead of me, and from all that I knew about him, he was good people. There also is no evidence that he knew how Congressman Wamp felt about Hilleary, or what he had tried to get us to do. Not willing to go along with Congressman Wamp, I made it clear that as a Caucus, we would not endorse any Republican candidate in the Primary Election, unless it was a minority member of the Caucus. However, we would meet with both potential candidates to present them to the Caucus, so that each member could make their own decision who to support in the Primary. Then in the General Election, we would gladly get behind that winning candidate. This was the only fair way to do it. I did meet with the potential candidates, Bill Baxter, Congressman Hilleary, and later Jim Henry.
I became a little leery when Congressman Wamp gave me names of people to steer clear of. High on that list was the Tennessee State Party Chair, Chip Saltsman. Because of the Congressman’s confessed personal dislike for him, I was told he would not be someone who would work with me and the Caucus on the state level. I did not quite understand all of his reasons for disliking him. But I was told that he did not support women and gave them a hard time, and would not be open to blacks. I knew nothing about Saltsman, and wanted to form my own opinion of him, as I interacted with him and got to know him. Also, I had heard just the opposite from a black Republican in West Tennessee. Regardless, I did not intend to get involved in the Congressman’s personal grudges and political cat and dog fights. I only wanted to recruit minorities, and steer clear of dirty and petty party politics.
Besides this, I was a minister and was obligated to seek peace, and not to be a part of any form of confusion. If I could not accommodate a reconciliation between him, Saltsman and Hilleary, I certainly wasn’t going to be involved in their conflicts.
Despite the warnings from Congressman Wamp, I contacted Mr. Saltsman and sent him information on the Caucus:
January 8, 2001
Mr. John “Chip” Saltsman Jr.,
Republican Party State Chairman
1922 West End Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Dear Mr. Saltsman:
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter I sent to President Bush and RNC Chairman Jim Gilmore regarding Project Embrace, which is an effort to recruit minorities into the Republican Party.
I look forward to working with you to fulfill the vision within the State of Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/pf
Enc(s):
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I did share what Congressman Wamp had said and attempted to get the Caucus to do with Congressman Hilleary in a conversation with him in Washington. I did it because he was positive Congressman Wamp was one hundred percent behind him, and I thought he should know that behind his back Wamp secretly opposed him, so that if there was a problem, he could clear it up with him.
When it was apparent that I was not going to use the Caucus to carry out Congressman Wamp’s personal agendas, this is when the tide completely turned, and fierce battle lines were drawn. For the next two years, I lived a nightmare of some of the most vicious and mean attacks, and disparate treatment based upon race, which included dirty, mean spirited, and vicious politics that were used to defame me and those who dared to stand with me, and support the inclusions of blacks within the Republican Party.
With Congressman Wamp’s help and sanctioning, his supporters successfully did everything under the sun to kill off any influence or power I may have had on a local, state, and national level. I saw this from the White House, to RNC to the State Party to the local. It is amazing the power that a congressman or a person with political power can have when he sets out to destroy you! This was a Political Science lesson I quickly learned. After this, I could never again get Wamp or Smith to meet with me to try to get things right, so that we could work together. He ignored my telephone calls and letters requesting an opportunity to sit down with him to talk.
Nevertheless, as a last attempt, I even approached him face-to-face while we were at WGOW radio to do the Jeff Styles Talk Show, and personally handed his Chief of Staff, Doug Fisher a copy of the letters I had sent to his office requesting to meet with him, along with copies of the other letters I had sent him in the past, just in case they may have claimed to have not gotten them. But even that fell on deaf ears. The last letter I wrote trying to reconcile with him was in September 2001.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
CONFIDENTIAL
September 26, 2001
TO: The Honorable Congressman Zach Wamp
Attention: Paulina Meaderis, Scheduler
FROM: Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
Congressman Wamp, I kindly request an opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to put to rest some divisive rumors that have been floating around, that could affect the Party’s ability to maintain African-Americans within the local party.
For months I have been told rumors of things that have been said, that have been disturbing. But I have chosen to ignore them, simply because as I told you in a note to you earlier this year, I am your friend, and until I come to you and say differently, that does not change. Although you never responded to my note, I assumed you felt the same way. However, there are so many rumors that are surfacing and won’t go away, which suggest that we are at war with each other. This is causing some concern among members of the caucus and other fellow Republicans. The only way I know to dispel those rumors or to work out any problems that may be between us, is for the two of us to sit down and talk. As Christians, we have an obligation to come together in a humble and loving way, to reason.
I prayerfully look forward to the opportunity to work this out as Christians, as friends, and as two individuals who love the Party, and want to see it grow inclusively.
Thanks.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Meantime, the Hamilton County Party chair, Robin Smith continued to block me and the local Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus from taking its roots politically within the Party. After successfully using her power to prevent us from being introduced at the 2001 Hamilton County Lincoln Day Dinner, she was persistent with requiring us to get legal clearance from the RNC and Tennessee State Party before she would recognize us as a Republican group. It was like she was standing at the birth canal to prevent the Caucus from coming forth, and when it did, she pursued its life to destroy it in any way she could. She reminded me of a modern day King Herod who was intent upon killing any efforts we made to organize at the Caucus’ inception. I was told without that legal clearance, we could not make announcements of our meetings or activities; we could not have any announcements or activities printed in the monthly Hamilton County Republican Newsletter; and we could not be legitimately considered as Republicans. This sent me on trips at my own expense, to Washington, D.C. to the RNC, and to Nashville to the State Party in pursuit of this legal clearance. First, I contacted the Tennessee State Party. Then following their recommendations, I sent a letter to the RNC.
January 10, 2001
Chairman James Gilmore
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Dear Chairman Gilmore:
Congratulation on your new appointment as chairman of the Republican National Committee. We have a lot to look forward to, and accomplish over the next few years.
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter I sent to President Bush regarding Project Embrace, which is an effort to recruit minorities into the Republican Party.
I will be in Washington, the week of January 17th – 20th, and then again the following week. I look forward to meeting you and discussing how we can work together to increase minority involvement in the GOP.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/pf
Enc(s):
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Later I called the RNC to inquire about the legal requirements of becoming a Republican group. They seemed shocked to learn that they had such a requirement.
Every step of the way, I advised Robin Smith, and sent her copies of my correspondence. Later I realized that she used this as a means of tracking what I was doing, and the opportunity to circumvent every effort I made.
I also made direct contact with the White House in an effort to work with the President in his minority inclusion efforts.
January 8, 2001
The Honorable George Walker Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20016
Dear President Bush:
As a Republican and an African-American, I congratulate you on becoming the nation’s 43rd President. It is with great excitement and anticipation that I embrace you as my president.
In your post-election speech, you asked for our prayers and vowed to make your administration one of unity and inclusion of all Americans, working together for the good of our nation. I share your vision, pledge my support, and extend my hand to you to help accomplish those goals.
First, let me assure you that you have my prayers that God will grant you divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding to lead this nation, as well as strength of body, mind and soul to be able to withstand the rigorous and surmountable task that is before you. I will continue to keep you, your family, your administration, and the nation in my daily prayers.
Secondly, I want to help in obtaining your goals of inclusion, unity and healing of our nation, across both partisan and racial lines.
I came into the Republican Party in 1979, at a time when inclusion was not a major goal of the party, and being Black and a Republican did not necessarily endear one to the greater black community. Nevertheless, I worked vigorously and was very successful in recruiting blacks into the Republican ranks under President Reagan and your father’s administrations. Using my own resources, I was able to network all over the country and bring into the Republican Party, former Democrats, and those who were not politically active. [Please see newspaper articles that show some of those efforts.]
Page Two: Letter to President Bush
However, at that time, although I was very successful, it was very difficult to get the Republican Party to see minority recruitment, and especially the recruitment of African-Americans as a priority, or to assist me in my efforts. Therefore, after having worked so hard, having expended so much personally, as well as having to deal with the death of my husband, I became weary, ceased my efforts, dropped out politically, and began to focus on other ways to make a difference. As a result of that, many of those recruits fell by the wayside. I still feel as strongly as I did then, that blacks must become active participants in both parties, and to do any less relegates us to second-class citizenship. There are blacks who embrace some of the same ideology and beliefs of the Republican Party, and there are ways to bring them into the party. All of this is apparent from the tremendous success of my past efforts. I strongly believe the doors are still open for even greater success, through joint efforts, despite the present racial divisive climate. However, unless the Republican Party and your administration are serious about inclusion, which I believe you are, it would be a fatal mistake to embark upon this, without being truly sincere, and willing to put every effort into it to make it work.
I have created Project Embrace, which outlines a national campaign to recruit African-Americans and other under represented minorities into the party. A copy of the project is enclosed. Again, I approach the Republican National Committee and now you, to extend my hand to help to accomplish your goals of inclusion. If your administration and the Republican Party are truly sincere about the inclusion of under represented minorities, you have my full support and willingness to assist you in those efforts.
I also have enclosed information on the “Democracy In Action” Program. It is a non-partisan national and global civics educational project. Because it is an educational, and not a political initiative, it invites and encourages partnerships across party lines. The program began in 1976 and in 2001 will become a national and global project, that integrates the use of modern technology in teaching government and good citizenship, and in interacting with students of other cultures, to learn how governments function within other global communities. I solicit your involvement and support.
Information on other national projects that I am working on is also included. Among those is the Digital Divide Parity and Enablement Project, which seeks to bridge the digital divide for Black, Hispanic and Tribal schools, K-12 and higher education; and special needs groups, such as veterans, senior Americans, and the disabled. Because of the many projects, and positive relationships I have with so many minority individuals and groups across the country, such as the DDPE Project, I have found many opportunities to share and exchange dialogue regarding the need for minorities to take a serious look at the Republican Party as a viable political alternative.
Project Embrace already has obtained an overwhelming number of commitments from business and religious leaders; entertainment and sports celebrities; women’s organization; and individuals to work with the project. Especially within the African- American community, this is not only an excellent start, but it is an unprecedented
Page Three: Letter to President Bush
beginning for true embrace. We also have commitments from 100 high profile individuals, to attend the Inauguration to offset the Shadow Inauguration activities. This includes some of the heads of the largest Black churches in the country.
I look forward to working with your administration in repairing breaches, building bridges, and bringing this nation into the glory of the new millennium.
Again, I congratulate you on the election.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
In April 2001, I was called to the White House to discuss the recruitment of minorities and to talk about the Caucus. During that visit, I met with White House Public Liaison, Angela Sailor, and discussed some of the roadblocks we faced in Tennessee in our efforts to recruit minorities. Later through written correspondence, I also sought the White House’s guidance in this matter.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
FAX
DATE: April 23, 2001
TO: Ms. Angela Sailor,
White House Public Liaison Director
FROM: Dr. Jean Howard-Hill, National Chair
Thank you so much for meeting with us on last week. You were very helpful and encouraging. I am sending you (or dropping off to you) the tape from Fox News covering the NRAAC. It was a great piece! I am faxing a copy of one of the articles.
I still have not heard from RNC as to our affiliation status, therefore we are waiting still to be recognized in Tennessee as a legitimate Republican organization. Despite all of that, things are going remarkably well across the country, with many County Caucuses waiting to charter under the NRAAC. So this is good news!
We also are in our fund raising drive, to raise money for the National headquarters/museum/conference facilities. I will send or drop off a copy of the proposal. If you have any ideas for funding, please let me know. …Also, I will be in Washington, Wednesday-Friday of this week, following up on some of the contacts you gave me. If you have any other suggestions, I am open.
Will we be able to meet with Congressman Watts while he is in Chattanooga? While we were there, you had telephoned his office to make the request. (We appreciated that!)
I will be in my office most of the day, and will be leaving for Washington later tonight.
Thanks again!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Even with Robin Smith fighting so hard to keep us out of the party, she nevertheless used the opportunity after my visit to the White House to make it appear that she was in support of the Caucus by volunteering to offer a statement to the local newspaper. This really puzzled all of us, especially because she was so adverse to us. I figured this was a way of hedging her and Congressman Wamp’s bet, just in case the White House became friend, instead of foe to the Caucus or me. This way, they could look clean, and stay in the good graces of the President, should he favor our efforts. Until they saw which way the political winds at the White House were blowing, they had to appear to be supportive. But it was not long before they returned to their normal behavior of blocking and relentlessly pursuing us.
After Robin Smith claimed she spoke with the Tennessee State Party, she informed me that they had advised her to have me directly contact the RNC’s general legal counsel before they would recognize us as a legitimate and honorable Republican organization. Therefore, I wrote the State Party and RNC.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
April 3, 2001
Brian P. Eastin,
Executive Director
Tennessee Republican Party
1922 West End Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Dear Mr. Eastin:
Our Hamilton County Party Chair, Robin Smith passed on to me the information from you regarding obtaining approval for affiliation with the RNC. We have sent the information to the RNC and are waiting to hear from them with further instructions.
We look forward to meeting with you, obtaining affiliation with the RNC, and working with the Tennessee Party to bring inclusion of Africa-American and other minorities in the Party across the great state of Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
NRAAC national Chair
HCRAAC Chair
Cc: Ms. Robin Smith,
Hamilton County Chair
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
April 3, 2001
Mr. Joe Jaso,
Director of State and Local Affairs
Republican National Committee
First Street
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Jaso:
Our State Party Executive Director, Brian Eastin indicated that he had spoken with you regarding the proper procedure for obtaining approval for affiliation with the RNC. Upon your recommendation, we tried reaching the Chief Counsel’s office, but have not been able to speak with anyone. Therefore, we have sent the information on the organization directly to you, and will wait to hear from you with further directions. I hope this is okay.
We look forward to obtaining affiliation and working with the Party to bring inclusion of African-Americans and other minorities into the Party.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
NRAAC national Chair
HCRAAC Chair
Cc: Mr. Brian Eastin
Executive Director
Tennessee Republican Party
Ms. Robin Smith,
Hamilton County Chair
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was unreal what the Caucus was made to do, just so that we could become Black Republicans! Nevertheless, I did everything I was asked to do. But needless to say, even with the help of Congressman Hilleary, we never got this so called legal clearance or recognition from either the state Party or RNC that Robin Smith insisted we needed to become “legit Republicans”. In fact, no one I spoke with at RNC or the Tennessee State Party had the foggiest clue what it was that she was asking me to obtain. However, she assured me it was all pursuant to the Hamilton County Republican Party’s charter, of which she would not provide me with a copy, so that I could use my own legal expertise to carefully review to make a determination of exactly what was required in order for us to become legally recognized. Both the State Party, and RNC were seemingly willing to work together with the Caucus, until this anti-campaign began. But once it was set in motion, they also closed the door to us or remained silent.
As a last attempt to jump through the political loops of Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith, I traveled to Nashville to personally present the Caucus, providing the State Republican Party with a detailed strategic plan for recruitment within the 95 counties in Tennessee that I had developed.
After a very positive, and welcoming meeting with Lance Frizzell, at the state headquarters, the newly elected State Chair Beth Harwell sent me a letter of support for the Caucus. From the personal conversation I had with her, this was done in an effort to perhaps put a cap on some of the confusion that we were having in Hamilton County.
The State Party also made mention of the Caucus in its fall 2001, statewide newsletter.
MINORITY OUTREACH
We are very excited about growing interest in the GOP in minority communities. Republican fiscal policy and our stands on social issues are breaking through the liberal media roadblock
Democrats in Tennessee and nationwide are very worried about the inroads we are making into the Hispanic community. Hispanic opinion leaders have praised President’s Bush education plan while criticizing Tennessee Democrats for stopping Republican Charter Schools legislation 4 years in a row. In the coming weeks, look for the Tennessee Republican Party’s website to be available in Spanish.
We also want to recognize Dr. Jean Howard Hill for her work on behalf of Republicans in the African American community. Her Tennessee Republican African America Caucus [TRAAC] is a comprehensive grassroots outreach program designed to take the republican message to African-Americans.
I immediately responded to Beth Harwell with a letter of gratitude for her support, and expressed a willingness to work together, to get the job done. Also in the letter, I explained that we also needed their support in other ways, because I had exhausted my resources just trying to get legal clearance for the organization.
I also sent her our September/October Caucus Newsletter, and a tentative outline of the TRAAC’s Setting the State Republican African-American Agenda for 2002 to 2004 Leadership Conference, which was planned for November 23rd and 24th 2001. We were moving along with tremendous momentum despite the roadblocks set up by Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith. This was the case, in part because I had not told the Caucus locally or the state and national caucuses the problems I was having in just getting the Caucus to be accepted. I knew if they found out about this, they would become discouraged, and would not want to be Republicans. Except for a few local, state and national board members, I said nothing.
At the 2001 Statesmen Dinner, State Chair Harwell made a special effort to make her way to find me in the crowd to introduce herself, and to personally thank me for the efforts of the Caucus. Lance also had promised to assist us in finding funds, of which would be mostly in-kind contributions, to assist with our recruitment efforts. This was a sigh of relief, because you cannot ask blacks to come into the Republican Party, tell them they are not wanted, and then ask them to fund their own efforts to be a part of something that has closed its heart to them. I was very pleased with the State’s tangible commitment to bring minorities into the Party. It was the first real effort I had seen to embrace us.
But immediately when Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith found out about the letter, Smith claimed she called Beth Harwell, and now the state chairman was no longer willing to support us. In fact, she claimed that she was furious because I had shared the letter of support, and that Ms. Harwell had told her that she had not given it to me for this purpose. I shared the letter at the Pachyderm Club when I introduced to them the Caucus. This left me very confused. Why else did I need or did she write the letter? I never discussed this with Beth Harwell, so I do not know if she said it or not. But this was told to me by a reliable Republican that Robin Smith had said this. With everything else that was happening, I assumed what Robin Smith had said was true, so I stopped circulating the letter from the state chair.
I also saw a change in the State Party. I had invited Lance Frizzell to the reception we hosted at the Faith Based Conference in Memphis. He was there. He sat at my table. He saw. He heard. He observed that the Caucus was in fact a legitimate organization that was successful on a national as well as a state level in recruiting African-Americans into the Party. He had the opportunity to meet some of our local, state and national board members who had flown in for the reception. However, shortly after that when I attempted to discuss with the State Party the problems I was having in obtaining recognition from my local county chair, and congressman, and some of the racist and mean things they were doing to block us, the attitude of the State Party seemed to change. Seeing this, to try to iron out whatever problem that may have arisen that we were not aware of, I requested that they meet with our state Caucus TRAAC board of directors, to see if we could work this matter out, and work together for the good of the Party. But notwithstanding that most of the Board members were pastors or members of the clergy, that request was flatly denied in an interesting e-mail exchange between the Caucus and the State Party, which clearly showed that again, something was working behind the scene.
——-Original Message——-
From: drhill [mailto:ilercttc@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, October 26,2001 7:52 AM
To: Lance Frizzell
Cc: Judy Hill
Subject: Dr. Hill – NRAAC-TRAAC – October 25, 2001
Good morning Lance:
Sorry I was not able to call you when I was in Nashville. I was there as a presenter for the National Title VI Conference, for the Charitable Choice/Faith Based Segment. My session was from 4:-6:00. Because of lively discussion, my session ran over. By the time we finished, and I hung around for questions, it was too far into the evening to call. I left there for Tulsa, OK for the announcement for Bishop Carlton Pearson, who is running for mayor as a Republican, and is a member of our national board. The rest is travel history!
I do want to speak with you, but the board has decided the discussion needs to include them as well. The TRAAC Board would like the opportunity to meet with Beth, Matt and you, so that we can clear up any problems we may be having; determine if there is a true embrace of African-Americas within the state of Tennessee by the Republican Party; get some perspective on where we are going and what the State Party expects of us; how we are going to work together; and how we can work to mutually support each other to accomplish worthwhile and meaningful goals.
We are concerned with the present anti-recruitment climate in Hamilton County, which seemed to have been reinforced by the visit of the executive director during his speech at the Pachyderm’s club a few weeks ago. Not only are we concerned, but there are many good, solid and party supporting white individuals who are equally concerned, and willing to step forward to try to put a cap on what is happening before it reaches a point where the Party is embarrassed or labeled as racists. Not only that, but we owe it to the President, who has put himself out there in the forefront in including minorities in the Party. I believe he is sincere and is a man of principle and integrity. Unfortunately, his vision has not trickled down or it is not always shared by others within the Party. This is why grass roots efforts such as NRAAC/TRAAC are experiencing difficulties in gendering state and local support in places like Hamilton County and Tennessee, despite visible efforts to recruit minorities.
As an organization, we are at the cross roads of how we should proceed with the state of Tennessee. However, as long as the President’s arms are open to us, we will and shall continue to build across the nation, and in those areas within Tennessee where there are good people, who can look beyond race, and get beyond foolishness, and build strong party ties with open arms of embrace.
So if you can facilitate a time within the next week or two, I will advise the board, so that we can travel to Nashville for the meeting. Also this would be a good time for the State Party to meet members of the TRAAC Board.
Thanks Lance. I do appreciate the meetings and conversations I have had with you. You have always been willing to listen, and to try to assist me in finding amicable resolutions. I certainly appreciate that.
I look forward to the meeting. If you need to chat with me regarding the request for a meeting or for any other reason, please feel free to give me a call –423-510-1397.
Dr. Hill
cc: TRAAC Board Members
* * * * * * * * * * * *
——-Original Message——-
From: LanceFrizzell
To: ‘drhill’
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 7:38 PM
Subject: RE: Dr. Hill – NRAAC-TRAAC – October 25, 2001
Hello Dr. Hill,
Sorry for the slow response time on this one. I’ve been deliberating on it for several days. I’m not sure what can be accomplished by another meeting with the state party. Frankly, I thought a lot of the misunderstandings in Hamilton had been worked through some time ago. I’m not sure what you mean by the reference to Matt’s visit to the Pachyderm Club.
On our part, we feel like we have been supportive of you and your organization. We said some very positive things about you in our newsletter. That was our only statewide mailing this year. It went to 60,000 households and cost several, several thousand dollars. My advice would be to move forward. You have the ability to work for and elect Republicans. Like Reagan said, “there’s no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit”
Please feel free to call on me if I can ever be of service. You are doing worthy work and I urge you to continue. It is a very good cause.
Sincerely,
Lance
* * * * * * * * * * * *
——Original Message——
From: drhill
To: LanceFrizzell
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill – NRAAC – October 25, 2001
November 7, 2001
Lance
TN Republican Party
Thank you for your response. However, I am not sure why you used the quote from Reagan. This is not a task where anyone is seeking credit, and certainly not me. But for whatever reason, this seems to be what is thought to be the case by a few in Hamilton County, and I see it is now being echoed from the state party. This is very unfortunate. Nevertheless, the call is certain and the task is far too great to be distracted by anything. I appreciate the comment in the newsletter. But I also have made a tremendous sacrifice to support the party with my time, resources [to the tune of over $15,000 and climbing], and by not making public a lot of the things that have happened that could be labeled anti-inclusive and even racist. But I do not give up on the task God has called me and this organization to do, and that is to raise the level of African-Americans, so that they can understand they too share some of the same philosophy of the Republican party.
And since you mention Matt’s visit to Pachyderms, I will explain to you how that impacted upon the situation in a negative way. I had e-mailed the state party asking for advise on how to deal with the problems I was having in Hamilton County. I was totally ignored, and no response was made. However, two weeks after I spoke at the Pachyderm’s club, sharing with them the support I thought we had from the state party and the excitement we had in traveling the 95 counties, the executive director comes to Chattanooga, never once mentions the TRAAC’s efforts, and on top of that gives raving reviews of everyone I mentioned I was having problems with, with me sitting there, and with most people knowing they are giving me problems! Not once in his speech did he address inclusion of minorities as a priority or on the agenda of the party. I did not care if he did not mentioned my name. That is not the point. The point is, if the executive director of the party does not see this as a priority, and recognizes a state-wide effort in his own state that is successfully bringing in African-Americans, then how can you truthfully say the party is supportive of the efforts? It was what he didn’t say that caused people to question if the state party really wants minorities. I am sure you cannot understand the point I am making, and will treat it like all of the other issues I have tried to get your help in resolving. But this is a new day, where the African-Americans coming into the party are not willing to just have issues sweep under the rug just because they may step on the foot [of] someone who is in a position of power. I am for doing what is right, and expecting that out of others as well, regardless of who they are, or the position that they hold. But at this point, I really don’t have the energy to expend on trying to get the state party to understand the importance of doing what is right towards African-Americans. So let’s just let time do it’s job. And in time, perhaps the party will become more sensitive to [the] double standard and “white wall” of silence that is used when dealing with us on issues we consider worthy of crossing the line and becoming a part of the party, even if their philosophy is aligned with the party. It’s a “fairness” and “trust” issue. Situations such as this one, keeps convincing us that we simply cannot always trust you to deal with us fairly, and with the same respect afforded other republicans.
I also think it is a big mistake not to sit down with the TRAAC Board members. But that is your choice. At least we can say we have tried everything within our power to try to reconcile what we see as issues that present barriers to inclusion of minorities within the state of Tennessee
Again, thank you for your response.
cc: TRAAC Board Members
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Frizzell was right. Prior to this matter being raised again, they had mentioned the organization in a favorable way in the statewide mailer. We were certainly appreciative of any mentioning of our organization. But I also was right. Something had changed, and it was necessary to sit down and work this out if the Caucus was to be successful. It also was a mistake not to meet with the board, and to just blow us off, as if we meant nothing.
The Matt King matter was in reference to his visit to Chattanooga, after I had apprized the State Republican Party of the problems I was having, and asked for their assistance, and a meeting with the TRAAC Board. About a week or two after I spoke at the local Pachyderm meeting, and seemingly was well received by them, Matt King, the Executive Director of the State Party spoke to the same group. During his speech, as I indicated in my e-mail response to the State Party, he apparently had met with the county party chair, and the executive director, and others opposed to me, but not once as much as even acknowledged my presence as I sat in the meeting while he spoke. In fact, he went out of his way to ignore me.
That day I made an announcement regarding the Caucus, which was the last time I was allowed to do so, therefore it was not like he did not know I was there or who I was. Besides that, there were only two of us there, other than my daughter who were black! So with only three flies in the bowl of buttermilk, it was easy to figure out who I was, even if I had not stood to make the Caucus announcement. Clearly knowing who I was, he ignored me, and did not have the good manners or common decency to at least greet and pretend to be cordial. Instead he treated me as if I wasn’t there, but proceeded to praise everyone of the individuals whom I had mentioned to the State Party that we were having problems with. It wasn’t just the ordinary recognition. It began with Congressman Wamp, then Robin Smith, and even included Marty Fairbanks! The praise was so thick and flowery that even some who didn’t realize what was going on thought it was a little lavish under the circumstances. They also knew I had visited with the State Party and wondered why he never made mention of the recruitment of minorities, and particularly our efforts as a part of the State Party’s agenda. This was the most classic display of the Republican White Wall of Silence or ”Ignore the Nigger” treatment I had ever witnessed. Not one mention of minority recruitment was made, as he set forth the State Party’s agenda. This said to me, blacks are not a part of our state agenda or priorities-at least not those in the Caucus. The way he intentionally ignored me, if I had not known that I was there myself, I would have sworn under oath, not only was I not there that day, but I did not exist and neither did the Caucus! This was the most humiliating and hurtful thing that could have been done by the State Party. I felt so violated and discouraged. I thought maybe it was just me. So I asked my best friend, Melinda Smith who is white, and also attended the same church as Robin Smith, if I had misinterpreted what had just happened. Her take was the same as mine.
“He just flat, out and out, ignored you, while he made it clear he was on their side”, she observed.
My friend Betty Rice got so upset because of this, that she grabbed Representative Jack Sharpe by the arm and told him he needed to say something to Matt about what had happened or they might lose me in the Party. I don’t know if he did or not. I waited around, but Mr. King never introduced himself to me, or even bothered to talk to me after he finished speaking. He avoided eye contact or any other form of interaction with me. Seeing this, and how hurt and devastated I was, several white Republican friends surrounded me after the meeting, along with a newspaper reporter who was there, to try to make sure I was okay, and to assure me that they did not feel the same way about blacks. Even with their encouragement, I was devastated!
It was apparent that the negative, hate and racial campaign against the Caucus and me was working from Hamilton County to Nashville. Judging from this, and the refusal to set up a meeting with the State Party, I had to wonder if anyone was home at the Republican Ranch! Anyone with any kind of political common sense would realize that if you are serious about recruiting African-Americans within the Republican Party, the most potent source is the African-American church, headed by African-American clergy! To dismiss and brush off a board consisting of African-American clergy or to treat me as a member of the clergy as they had done, being that I was well known, was political suicide for the Party no matter which way you cut it! Yet they did it, and did it with absolutely no respect for the clerical dignity of some of our board members or even respect for me as head of the organization. My request for the meeting was denied and ignored. This was amazingly scary.
When this happened, I knew that as long as Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had power, and there were those who would conspire with them, blacks in Tennessee were in trouble if they were relying upon the local, or Tennessee State or national Republican Party to be racially conscious, sensitive, fair, or inclusive.
I kept wondering what could I have done to have caused the wrath of Congressman Wamp, Robin Smith, and others to descend upon me. All I wanted was the opportunity to see blacks who had similar ideology become a part of the Republican Party.
As 2003 came in, one by one, I saw from the local to the state level, people who I had talked with and had turned a deaf ear, and ignored me, taking positions of leadership within the Republican Party at all levels. That was a clear signal that the Party was going deeper into racial opposition of African-Americans who did not conform as they thought they should, and they seemed to have no intentions of changing or making things right with the Caucus or with me. This was ever so disheartening and discouraging for those of us who still wanted to be counted among the Republican ranks. It was more than I could bear. So I left the matter in the hands of God. I knew in time, He would command a change, and cause every man or woman to be accountable for their deeds. But I could not help but be grieved to see so many of those who professed to know and serve God be involved. Now I knew that the gods of the Republican Party did indeed see color, and did not have a mind to reason.
They also spread the rumor that all I wanted was money. After having spent so much of my personal funds, which I did not have to spend, to grow and maintain the organization, throughout the years and especially during the dry seasons of my widowhood, even more deeply hurt and disturbed me. It was as if they expected me as a widow, to place a burden upon my own household, and neglect my daughter, just to recruit blacks and other minorities into the Party. The success was evident. Each time I began a black Republican organization, that was true. When I first ran for office, many blacks crossed over with me to the Republican Party.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when I created the National Coalition of Black Republican Women, thousands of African-American women became Republicans. Then as I created the National Republican African-American Caucus, with state and county chapters, the numbers were exceptional! The proof was in the pudding. With this being the case, I would have thought the Party would have been happy to assist in anyway possible to keep the momentum going in recruiting blacks and other minorities into the Party. Other than Congressman Hilleary’s check, and one local Republican’s donation of $25 and $10 from Mike Olin, these were the only funds anyone within the Republican Party gave to carry out our recruitment efforts. This left the burden on me, because how well do I know that when you are recruiting black people into the Republican Party, you have to wait a while before you ask them for money to help with recruitment. It is hard enough to get them in, and then to ask them for money is a no-no!
They tried to make such a big deal of me asking the State Party to search around for in-kind contributions they may have had to assist us with the setting up of our national headquarters. While on the other hand, we were expected to pay our individual $200 per year to the Statesmen Dinner, and $55 or more per person to the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, as our financial contribution to the Party. Not to mention the mailers with numerous requests for campaign donations from Republican candidates, including Congressman Wamp. Adding to this are the almost monthly telephone calls, and constant flow of financial requests for donations from the RNC. Nevertheless, when we made a simple request for help to accomplish the inclusionary goals in which the Party had set forth themselves as a priority, it was made to seem like all we wanted was money. Yet no one complained about any of the other requests for money. Neither did they mention the $1000 contribution Johnny Horne, the only other local black Republican they favored, had requested from fellow Republicans in his letter to them for his campaign for state representative for the 29th district, which they gladly poured money into.
The last straws that broke my back, was the back room politics involved in the election of Wayne Crop as the next county party chair to replace Robin Smith. Behind all of this was Congressman Wamp. Once again, he was using his political maneuverings in order to retain his stronghold over the local and state party. Many in the Party knew this, but kept silent, while it was rumored how Congressman Wamp cut a deal to have his crony, Wayne Crop replace Robin Smith as the local party chair, and cut a deal with the vice chair, Gerald McCormick to support him in his run for state representative, if he did not push the issue of becoming county chair. This was a sure way to continue their control over the local party, being that Crop was a close ally of Wamp.
The “good” Republicans could have used this opportunity to stop Congressman Wamp’s racist and mean spirited regime. However, those involved in cutting the deal, and those looking on, did not feel it necessary to act, or to spare the Party or the President of the embarrassment of being at the head of a party, which could be labeled as racist. Maybe they did not see or understand what was happening. I hope that was the case. Or at least I would like to think it was.
For me, it didn’t take a lot of brains to figure out the political maneuverings
that had taken place. Wayne Crop was one of the names given to attest to me having bad character, although he didn’t really personally know me. But I knew he probably was not particularly fond of blacks, from a case where my husband had represented a client in a discrimination action against him, while he was at the Air Pollution Control Board. Perhaps this is why even with not knowing anything about me, he did not have anything favorable to say about me.
While continuing to block and accuse me of building a power base, there also was rumor that Robin Smith was vigorously vying for the appointment as the Chairwoman of the 2004 George Bush Tennessee State Re-election Campaign. Apparently the Bush campaign wasn’t interested in the black vote. Or they did not understand the damage Robin Smith had done not only in Hamilton County, but throughout Tennessee, and across the country in successfully denying the President the votes of a strong block of African-American Republicans, who but for what was going on as a result of Congressman Wamp and her, would have not only voted for him, but would have actively campaigned on his behalf across the nation to encourage other blacks to support him in 2004. This was even more of a reason why those blacks who had attempted to become Republicans were skeptical of the Party’s true commitment to the inclusion of minorities. You certainly do not ask a racist to head a presidential re-election campaign, if you are truly serious about courting the black vote! We waited to see if the rumor would materialize.
I also watched them as they used other local black clergy, even those who were not Republicans to personally circumvent my efforts with the faith-based initiative, and to exclude me from any further participation at the White House level.
An article in the Monday, July 28, 2003, Chattanooga Times Free Press, showed this to be true. Two years later the same two local pastors that Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had used to give the illusion of black inclusion, and to prevent the Caucus
I have done my part as a Christian to try to reconcile with you in love. I am sure you know why I sent the e-mail requesting an opportunity to talk to you. There are things you have done, in which we have already talked about, that were not right, i.e. calling the election commission to check my voting record. If you had any doubt, as to whether I was a republican, why couldn’t you have just called and talked with me? But you did this underhandedly, not realizing that someone from the election commission would tell me you had called. This is not a black vs. white issue. The person who told me you had called was a white republican, who has said, she doesn’t mind if I tell you she told me. She has known me since the 70’s, and knows the price I have paid to be sometimes the only black republican that was out there, taking the heat from the African-American community. She was very upset over the inquiry. There are more than a dozen other white republicans who have shared negative things you have said or have come out of the headquarters. From the Republican headquarters, all kinds of petty rumors have been spread. You also have told people that you received information from Congressman Wamp that I was not to be trusted, and that he was not sure I was a republican. You told this to Marty and she has had a field day with it! Along with as many mean and hateful things she could conjure up, she has poisoned the air with gossip. This is not the way a headquarters should be operated, and it certainly does not make for any kind of embrace of the minority community. The pettiness of what is being said, goes on and on. This along with statements that I wanted to grand stand at the Lincoln Day Dinner by singing, just as I did at my husband’s funeral when I song to him, was so cruel. You have no idea how difficult it was to preside over my husband’s homegoing. But by the grace of God, I don’t know how I made it. You cannot tell me this is the kind of behavior that is becoming of a Christian. Even someone who is not professing to know God would not have said anything this hurtful. It seems there is a concerted effort to kill my influence and credibility, and to make it look like I am a trouble maker. And had it not been for those white republicans who know me, and are not so gullibly led, this would have happened. Yes, the Caucus is being hurt by all of this. There were lies even about members of the caucus sneaking out plates at the Republican women’s picnic. We bring groups to events, and afterwards mean things are said. This should not be the case. I would think you would be excited that finally you have minorities in the Party. We have asked to be included in the newsletter. At one point you told me, the state party would not allow you to do that without getting legal clearance from the RNC. We have asked again, and you still will not include us. This has caused local republicans and Caucus members to ask me why? Without hurting the party, I have had to dance around this issue.
I have sat back quietly trying to see if all of this would eventually go away. I know I am being set up to look like the “bad” guy and the “troublemaker”. But I can no longer keep quiet, because what is happening affects the welfare of the Party, not only locally, but on a state and national level. Do you not realize how detrimental this can be for the Party, and the embarrassment it would cause the State Party and the President? All eyes and ears are on Tennessee. The White House is carefully following the progress of the NRAAC, and the TRAAC embrace.
Inclusion is something that is dear to the President, and is something he is striving to make as a national mandate for the party. Everything we do, the White House knows about it. Do you even realize how this can affect the Governor’s race? Democrats intend to regain the Governor’s seat. So we are going to need all of the extra votes we can get! Am I missing something as to why you have created a circle of influence, and the headquarters to fight something that everyone else seems to be for? I don’t understand it.
Robin, all I want is peace. I do not like confusion or gossip, and will not be a part of it. This is why I have come directly to you. Just be the Christian you say you are. If there is a problem with me or the organization, lets sit down and try to work it out, and stop all of the gossip and confusion. If I am doing something wrong, let me know. And if we can’t work it out between the two of us, let’s ask for help from the state party. We need to work together to build the party, and not tear it down. I am not looking for a fight with you or anyone else. My energy needs to be used for the task that is before me.
As you said, truth shall prevail. If I did not truly believe that, I would throw up my hands, give up and become discouraged. But because I do not believe God will allow a lie to overcome the truth, I stand firm and determined to finish the task he has assigned me to do, either in peace or with opposition, believing in my heart beyond a shadow of a doubt that “truth shall prevail”.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
——- Original Message ——-
From: Scott Smith [Robin]
To: drhill
Cc: VMorris347@aol.com ; McCormick ; Madaris, Paulina ; hcgop@usa.net ; Wes Kliner
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 9:11 PM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
Jean,
I have sought counsel from a pastor who has given me the following scripture and is standing in agreement with me on the matter that is at hand:
1 Corinthians 4:3-5
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”
I have not spoken any untruth of you. I have not accused you of any of the statements below nor have I repeated any information in relation to you.
The ONE truth is that on March 27, 2001 I requested your voting record be checked after learning of the dissension you had tried to inject in a Minority Committee that had its initial meeting that day during lunch. After I had learned of your attempts to influence members of the committee who met with me to “demand your presence on the program at the Lincoln Day dinner” when I had already informed you that our dinner did not at the time feature any other officially affiliated Republican club on the program and had extended an offer to recognize you if you were successful in obtaining that status from our National or State Party. To my knowledge, this status has not yet been given. On the afternoon of March 27, 2001, you, your daughter, Wes Kliner, Valerie Morris and I sat and discussed the situation of that day and your strenuous opposition of my requesting your voting record. I explained to you that as Chairman of the local party it was my duty and responsibility to address dissension and confirm the “fruit” of those who sought leadership within our Party, particularly after you had publicly stated that you had been at the local Democratic headquarters on the night of the Presidential elections. As I recall with these witnesses, our words were harsh, direct but we ended a two-hour meeting with prayer, hugs and tears and I pledged to you that as far as I was concerned that day was over and the matter was settled.
I have since referred you to the Chattanoogan.com for media contacts, I have called and congratulated you on your very eloquent remarks in relation to Joanne Favors and the County Commission and have greeted you and your colleagues at the Statesman’s dinner with sincere interest and love.
I will no longer address this matter. I have been and will continue, with the help of my Lord, to serve our Party and this community to win races, foster good citizenship, grow our local party with those of all and any color and heritage and will work with all who share our Republican philosophy and seek the good of our Nation, our state, our community and our Party.
I strongly encourage the work you are doing to serve the Republican Party. I strongly encourage you to work in supporting our elected officials and qualified candidates of races to come. I strongly encourage you to work in recruiting qualified Republicans of all heritage to run for office. I will continue to support the bylaws of our national, state and local party and work with all who support our Party. I welcome your service and appreciate your commitment to our Party.
Serving our Party,
Robin Smith
* * * * * * * * * * * *
From: drhill
To: Scott Smith [Robin]
Cc: VMorris347@aol.com ; McCormick ; Madaris, Paulina ; hcgop@usa.net ; Wes Kliner
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2001 1:33 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill
——Original Message——
Robin:
I have no further comments. I stand on the words that truth shall prevail.
Jean
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I wasn’t sure what pastor Ms. Smith had received counsel from, since she was careful to say she had sought counsel from “a” pastor, rather than “her” pastor, who was a man known for tearing down walls of racism. Hopefully it was not Pastor Ron Philips who had given her counsel. However, whoever this pastor was, he failed her in not saying to her, “Go to your sister in peace and love, and prayerfully work this matter out between the two of you in love.” This should have been the godly advice he gave to her. Not some unrelated scripture about judging. What was happening had nothing at all to do with the issue of judging. It was about reconciliation and peace.
At least in her e-mail, she admitted denying us the right to be Republicans. In her own words she says she would only be willing to recognize us if we were successful in obtaining official status from the national and state Party.
It was conclusive that no matter how I sought peace, and reconciliation, the matter of inclusion was not about to be resolved. I took issue with much of what she said in her e-mail. I did not feel it was appropriate to congratulate me on being in opposition to a black democratic elected official. I had sought to only dispel any rumors, as to a claim made by Commissioner Favors that the RNC was trying to get rid of African-American elected officials. As an African-American Republican, I felt it was my duty to align with issues within the black community, but also to dispel any rumors that were not based upon facts. As far as I knew, there were no such efforts on behalf of the RNC’s to do this. Also, I didn’t issue the statement to dispel the rumor. I did it to state the Caucus’ position on the redistricting issue. It had very little to do with Commissioner Favors, other than to also address the statement she had made. But Robin Smith had telephone me to fuel a partisan fire, and make it seem as if I was at odds with Commissioner Favors.
My statement was not intended to personally oppose Commissioner Favors, as Robin Smith had tried to make it seem. I believe Commissioner Favors and I both shared a mutual respect for each other, and I clearly understood what she was trying to do as an African-American commissioner who was faced with the possibility of seeing predominantly black districts become further diluted to the point of decreasing the chances of an African-American from being elected. She was absolutely correct in this. I applauded any efforts in this regard. But at the same time, I was tired of seeing everything through black or white eyes. I longed for the day when electing candidates had nothing at all to do with race, and that day when candidate would work for the best interest of all constituents. I strongly felt that it was time for whites to start voting for black candidates within not only black districts, but white districts as well. I was so sicken by this kind of political segregation which prohibited blacks who lived in more affluent neighborhoods from offering themselves as qualified candidates, just because the districts they lived in were not predominantly black! This was political enslavement, which worked against us.
Nevertheless, I also felt it was important to retain those black districts, until we reached that point and place in America’s history where the race of a qualified candidate was no longer an issue. Therefore, I had tried to work with the two black county commissioners, Commissioner Favors, and Commissioner William Cotton, acting as a “go-between” with the head of the redistricting committee and the other four Republican commissioners who made up a five-member majority Republican County Commission. I did everything within my power to try to assist in working out any conflicts that arose particularly between them and the chairman of the Redistricting Committee, Commissioner Harold Coker.
Just because I had no evidence, that there was an RNC conspiracy, and chose to refute the statement Commissioner Favors made, did not put us personally or politically at odds with each other. Therefore, I was not about to allow Robin Smith to try use this as they had used everything else. If I made a comment, it was because I wanted to, and not because it was something anyone prompted me to make. I also wanted no parts of any vendetta against Commissioner Favors, which now Robin Smith was trying to attempt to get me involved in. In fact, after seeing how they had used blacks in the Party to spy on the Caucus and me, and as puppets on a string to turn black-against-black, I wanted to have nothing to do with this kind of “slave-time politics”. My politics were on a much higher level than mere race and petty vendettas.
I was sick and tired of race being an issue. But it seemed that everywhere you looked, there was some sort of a racial controversy. Now race had become an issue at a local medical facility, Erlanger Hospital. It was sad to see that the Erlanger situation was filled with the same kind of racial disharmony and inability to come to terms with, which was a-typical of what I was experiencing within the Republican Party. It also was disheartening to see some of the players in this scenario were also Republicans. The allegations read:
Fowler Says Trustees Used N Word, One Complained About Sitting Between Two Blacks Says Chairman Copeland Sought To Have JoAnne Favors’ Post Eliminated
posted July 12, 2003 - News at Chattanoogan.com
Lori Ann Fowler testified in a deposition that two Erlanger Medical Center trustees “used the N Word,” and she said a white trustee complained about having to sit between two black trustees.
The hospital board’s executive administrator said board chairman David Copeland was upset about “the black behavior” of County Commissioner JoAnne Favors and sought to have her Erlanger job eliminated.
Race relations at the hospital “are bad,” Ms. Fowler said in the deposition that Erlanger attorneys sought unsuccessfully to have sealed.
She said some trustees “are not respectful of black people.”
She said Mayor Bob Corker sent word that he had concerns about them. She said, “City Hall had made some complaints about race relations at Erlanger.”
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland “sent Irvin Overton down there to tell him it isn’t true.” Mr. Overton, who is black, is an Erlanger vice president.
Asked if what Mr. Overton was told to tell the mayor was true, Ms. Fowler said, “I was aware there were problems.”
Ms. Fowler, who has been on paid administrative leave since last December in connection with an email investigation at the hospital, said Mr. Copeland “uses the N word.” She said, “I think there’s a different attitude toward blacks. I like to think it’s because he’s from a different generation and he just thinks differently.”
She said Mr. Copeland once showed her a picture of his family genealogy and said the N Word was his family nickname. She said that word was under his picture.
She said, “He laughed about it. I found it offensive.”
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland said he got the nickname because his first job was shoveling coal.
In earlier testimony, witnesses said Mr. Copeland was closely allied with several black board members and officials at the hospital, including board members Dr. Bess Ingram and Dr. Calvin Bell and physician Dr. Alan Hughes, and that he worked well with them. He took Jermaine Harper, another black board member, on a 3-day mission with him to look at personnel files of Erlanger officials.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland referred to “CP Time” when blacks were late for an appointment with him. She said it meant “Colored People Time” and referred to being “slow.”
She said Mr. Copeland became upset with Commissioner Favors, who is administrator of the hospital’s Southside Health Clinics.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland “said she had cost the hospital half a million dollars because her black behavior made the County Commission mad and they reduced the indigent pay by half a million.”
He said Mr. Copeland “said they could eliminate JoAnne Favors’ position. David said they wouldn’t have JoAnne then.”
She said the proposal was to have hospital official Paula Autry, who is black, go into a new position over cultural diversity and the health centers. She said Ms. Autry would be overseeing the centers and there would be no need for Commissioner Favors.
But she said Ms. Autry felt it was a demotion and “wouldn’t go along with the deal.” Ms. Autry eventually was fired by Erlanger, and she now works at a hospital in Virginia. She is suing Erlanger over her dismissal.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland said of Mr. Overton “that he was not going to have any power or authority at the hospital.”
She said Mr. Copeland said Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson “will do what she’s told.” Ms. Woodard-Thompson, who is black, is the current interim administrator at Erlanger.
Ms. Fowler, choking with emotion, said when white trustee Dr. Barry Heywood had first come on the board he was looking over the names of other trustees. She said he came to that of trustee Stewart Jenkins and said he was related to him and that Mr. Jenkins “had a nigger son-in-law.”
She said Dr. Heywood complained several times about having to sit between two black trustees at board meetings. She said he stated “it looked like an Oreo cookie.”
She said she told Mr. Copeland about Dr. Heywood’s complaints, and he said, “Just don’t put him between two black people.”
Dr. Heywood is currently heading up a committee to choose a new CEO for Erlanger.
…Ms. Fowler tearfully said at the close of her deposition, “I think I’m going to be fired for what I said today.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now I could see why Robin Smith called to congratulate me regarding Commissioner Joanne Favors.
The David Copeland that was mentioned in the article was a devoted Republican and former state representative. Despite what I read, somewhere in the back of my mind, I still hoped the allegations were not true. Perhaps because I wanted to still believe in the integrity of those in Republican leadership past and present, even though it was obvious that there also were those in the past as well as in the present who had less than honorary intentions and regards towards blacks. I also wanted to believe that Republican racism was confined to politics.
Ironically, the coalition of six black community groups, which appeared before the Human Rights and Human Relations Commission to register their complaints regarding racism at the hospital, addressed the same Human Rights and Human Relations Commission in which Robin Smith had been appointed as a commissioner. Talking about strange fruit! Of all the people who could have effectively served in this position, Robin Smith was appointed to the City of Chattanooga Human Rights Commission! No one could figure this one out! The fruit was just too strange to get a take on why and how this happened!
Many questioned this decisions, and wanted to know if I had shared what was going on with those in elected positions, and if so, how could, and why would they place someone in this kind of position who had fought so adamantly against blacks and other minorities coming into the Republican Party? I could only tell them that I had advised Mayor Coker, by way of letter, as well as every other local elected Republican officials of the problems we were having with her. But as to the “how” and “whys”, I was just as much baffled as they were. They knew, but apparently the decision was made just the same.
This also was the same Commission, which out of nineteen commissioners, three commissioners whose terms had expired were still serving, and five positions on the commission were vacant, with it having been over a year since anyone new, i.e. Robin Smith was appointed. This showed the level of commitment to race issues in Chattanooga, and the seriousness by which the Commission was viewed. Also with the level of Republican presence at City Hall, there was also an opportunity had Republicans wanted to include Republican blacks, to fill at least one of those vacant commission positions with a representative from the Caucus, just as they had hand selected Robin Smith. At least one of us being appointed would have made more sense.
We all remain puzzled over how Robin Smith was appointed to serve on the Human Rights Commission. It was hard to reconcile how someone who was a pharmaceutical representative, with no background in civil rights, community service, negotiations and mediation, and had openly displayed racist behavior was appointed to a committee that dealt with alleged infractions of civil rights laws. Especially since, those appointed her knew a black female Republican with a law degree, and experience in this area, and who would have been a much better qualified appointee. It just wasn’t adding up. Even if they did not want me to serve, there were other Caucus members without law degrees who could have done well in serving in this position. But nevertheless we were excluded and many with expertise in this area were flatly ignored.
From the testimony of Lori Fowler, it showed a blatant pattern and practice of racial discrimination within the Republican Party’s past leadership, which also was seen in the present local party leadership. Seeing and knowing all of this now, I am not so sure if I would be so vocal to refute any such claims made by anyone against the Republican Party on any level, and since I openly refuted Commissioner Favor’s statement, I take this opportunity to get my foot out of my mouth. I humbly and openly apologize to her. Perhaps she may have known something back then, that I didn’t know. Nevertheless, I had given the Republican Party the benefit of the doubt, even during a time when I was fighting my own battles with racism within the Party. But now, with so much racial bias pointed in the direction of Republicans, this caused me to not be as eager or willing to defend the party’s racial practices.
As to the other parts of Robin Smith’s e-mail, I did not recall our meeting at the headquarters ending with any real resolution to the matter. I only knew, I could not leave with the anger I came in with. Therefore, I did embrace them in forgiveness for what they had done. Neither did I recall her greeting our State Board members with love and interest. I took the time to take them around the banquet hall at the Statesmen Dinner, and introduce them to her and other members of the party. I took them to her table where she was seated, Otherwise, she would have never had a need to be cordial to them at all, and would have probably ignored them, just as she had done me.
I had no idea what she meant by me influencing members of the Minority Outreach Committee. There were only four minorities on the committee, other than Wes Kliner who is white. Two of whom were Caucus members, and the other two included Johnny Horne, and one other Hispanic, who was frightened to death to say a word against them in public. Actually it wasn’t really a committee. There was only one meeting, and after that we never heard any more about “minority outreach”. From that, Robin dissolved the committee, and called it by another name, with Wes Kliner still heading it, to train candidates and “us” as minority Republicans without him having any prior expertise or experience in this area.
With the new committee, Caucus members were asked to attend classes to teach “us how to speak and handle ourselves in public”. To this, I quickly responded that the members of our Caucus already knew how to speak and handle themselves in public. Most of them were in ministry, actively involved in church, educators, businesspersons, PhD, and master’s level, and individuals who were leaders in their communities and intelligent people. Therefore, it was an insult to suggest we needed this kind of training. Also, even if there was a need for grooming Caucus leaders, we had plenty of qualified members within our own Caucus who were capable of providing this kind of training. Certainly Wes Kliner, Robin Smith, Zach Wamp, or anyone else in the Party were not capable of training us in any area in which we could not train ourselves. And what made them think we needed training! Training for what? To be nice, little “token-nigger” Republicans? Of course with me being the outspoken person that I am, this did not endear me to Robin Smith. In fact, it made them mad as hell to see a black woman with some degree of intelligence and courage challenge every wrong and devious move they made that was racially insulting to us, and detrimental to the Party. But I could not keep silent. I was tired of racist white folks acting as if we were idiots or so uncivilized that we needed training. I felt Kliner, at that time might have meant well, but unfortunately he was their little puppet on a string, doing everything they asked him to do, not understanding that he was being used, and talked about behind his back by the very same people who pushed him out there to do their political dirty work!
When I very animatedly and vocally expressed this concern, immediately they changed the training to that of potential candidates, and made it into a candidate’s school rather than for minorities. It was one thing to ask Caucus members interested in running for office to attend a candidate’s school, but since they didn’t plan to support any of us for election, except for Johnny Horne, the candidate’s training for us was for naught.
Back when I sent the e-mail to Robin Smith, I also sent it to the County Vice Chairman, Gerald McCormick. He was the only one to respond with some desire to see the matter resolved.
> ——- Original Message ——-
> From: “Gerald McCormick”
> To: “drhill”
> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 9:59 AM
> Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
>
>
> > Jean,
> >
> > For the record, I am way out of the loop on what is
> > going on at Headquarters and speak to Robin very
> > rarely. I hope you all are able to work this out to
> > your mutual satisfaction and we can all work toward
> > electing good Republican candidates instead of
> > fighting amongst ourselves. Keep up the good work and
> > I believe your perserverance will pay off in the end.
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Gerald McCormick
> > Vice Chairman- Hamilton County Republican Party
> >
> >
From: “drhill”
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
> Thanks Gerald:
>
> I look forward to the same. You have always been very kind to me, and I
> appreciate that.
>
> I won’t give up. Keep me in your prayers.
>
> Love,
>
> Jean
* * * * * * * * * * * *
McCormick was a pretty decent person. But I knew it would not be long before they would attempt to bring him also under their political control. In fact, from that point on they began to scheme to get Gerald under their control. Before then, they ignored him and treated him like he did not exist, and rarely included him in Party matters or decisions, although he was vice chairman of the local party. They could not afford to have Gerald out there welcoming and wanting to see African-Americans come into the local party, while their agenda was just the opposite, and they were fighting hard to keep us out. Good guess this is why they later maneuvered to get him out of party leadership and vowed to support him as a candidate instead.
Despite my own inner party wranglings, I also was very vocal during the redistricting wrangle. My interest was both as a Republican, and as a member of the African-American community. My political mindset, and the mindset of the Caucus were moving towards a day when politically, blacks could operate outside of the “predominantly black district box”, and get elected by whites, rather than solely being elected by African-American constituents. The Caucus made our position clear in this news release, which I think must have been seen as a political threat to Wamp and Smith, and to some white elected officials who felt as black Republicans, we should only run for office in black districts.
NRAAC
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE NRAAC, TRAAC AND HCRAAC ON NATIONAL AND HAMILTON COUNTY REDISTRICTING
The NRAAC/TRAAC/HCRAAC, strongly support minority representation, and especially African-Americans at all levels of government. But it is our goal to move away from solely segregated and carved out political opportunities for African-American leadership, and begin to integrate more into the political landscape where qualified leadership is not based upon the color of one’s skin. We hope qualified African-American leaders can be offered up as candidates in any white majority district, Republican or Democrat, and still be supported. This is the true test of both inclusion and integration. We are opposed to any plan, which seems to suggest that the only way for an African-American to be elected is by creating situations where only a majority of blacks are allowed to elect blacks. Many communities, such as those in Hamilton County, Tennessee have become more racially integrated. The African-American population has become more widely dispersed, making it less possible to find exclusive African-American neighborhoods. While some may see this as a threat to electing African-Americans to office, the positive side is that it creates a greater sense of community and the need to work for the common interest of all residents. It also promotes more opportunities for racial reconciliation and harmony. Carving out specific African-American minority districts served its purpose in acquiring political parity in times past, and now may still be the answer in part, for ensuring minority representation. However, it should not continue as the “only way” for African-Americans to have “their political say”.
We are both saddened and disappointed with statements hurled at the Republican Party that the redistricting problems, on a county level is a part of “a national Republican initiative to take away majority Black seats”. This statement is not only inflammatory, but it is totally incorrect and unfounded. Neither the Republican National Committee, the Tennessee Republican Party, nor the Hamilton County Republican Party have discussed, instituted or even suggested that there should be such an initiative. What should be said, is that the Republican Party’s national, state and local agenda is to actively involve and include minorities, particularly African-Americans into the party, and encourage them to participate at all levels, which include qualified candidates running for public office. For any one to allege there is such an initiative is to gravely misinform the African-American community, in an attempt to gain support for one’s own political agenda, by inflaming African-American citizens with the same old “race” and “Republican Party is out to get us” cards. This does irreparable harm in further dividing us as a community, and keeps us as a race, always operating within the “one party” and “black box only”, not understanding, that we are Americans first. Therefore we must become more politically astute, and look for and encourage opportunities to conduct our political affairs in broader political circles, where we can integrate and be accepted for the tremendous contributions to society we have to offer, regardless of party affiliation. On behalf of the more than 1276 African-American Republicans in Hamilton County, and African-American Republicans nationwide, we assure the African-American community, that no such initiative exists. And if it did, as an organization, we would be the first to openly and vigorously oppose it. For we too are Americans of African decent, who are committed to doing what is just, fair and right.
We encourage our African-American leadership when informing the community, to seek factual information. Otherwise, their cries of “wolf, wolf”, when there really is no wolf, will eventually fall even upon deaf African-American ears.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Also, earlier that same month, I had written a letter to the editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the local paper, which was published, identifying what we felt were the true challenges of the redistricting, and black urban flight.
NRAAC
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
LETTER TO THE EDITIOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 10, 2001
THE TRUE CHALLENGES OF THE LOCAL REDISTRICTING DILEMMA
There has been a tremendous “urban flight” of African-Americans from the inner city and into the suburbs, due to upward economic mobility, and the desire for housing on larger tracts of land. On the other hand, there is a migration of Whites to some areas of the city. The urban flight out of the City has greatly dispersed African-Americans into traditionally “white majority” and “Republican” districts, resulting in more integrated communities. These signs of upward mobility are encouraging, however, it presents both a “negative” and a “positive” side to the redistricting dilemma.
The negative side is a dilution of the concentration of the African-American voting block, which makes it harder to maintain districts that once contained a “black voting majority”. This leads to the present wrangling over where lines should be drawn and in reaching a redistricting compromise. The solutions to this dilemma include: 1) Re-drawing lines to create minority districts that would contain new census tracks, which might cause minority incumbents to find themselves running in districts where they would have to seek the support of a new base of constituents. 2) Getting their fellow Democratic colleagues to give up portions of their districts containing large blocks of African-Americans, in the spirit of party cooperation, and racial accommodation. 3) Or the least popular of the solutions, gerrymandering, which would allow district lines to be drawn in such a way to accomplish the results of maintaining a two minority districts, by diluting the voting strength of the White districts. This would provide an advantage to African-American voters, while at the same time present problems in carving up other districts in order to strike the right minority balance.
The positive side of the African-American urban flight scenario is the opportunity to live in integrated communities and forge new friendships and relationships. Integrated communities mean children are schooled together; parents are brought together through PTA and mutual involvement of their children; and families interact through other church and community activities. Interaction becomes a part of the norm; common issues, presents opportunities to huddle together to find workable solutions; relationships are built; and people are allowed to fellowship and get to know each other as neighbors, friends, and allies, rather than as racial or political opponents. It is from the positive side, that there comes the hope of one day building a Hamilton County and an America where the best representation is not based upon racially concentrated districts or solely upon partisan politics, but in choosing candidates with true vision and an agenda that brings us together as one. Integration has done its part. Now it is our duty to stop the racial and partisan bickering that only serves to divide us and distract us from the real business at hand, ….which is to love each other as neighbors and build strong, vibrant, and healthy communities, that serve the needs of all of its people.
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the National Chair of the National Republican African-American Caucus. The role of the NRAAC is not just to recruit African-Americans and other minorities into the GOP, but also to promote racial harmony, and encourage non-partisan cooperation on issues that affect our community.]
* * * * * * * * * * * *
At that time I had no idea Commissioner Coker’s seat would be up for grabs. Neither did anyone dare share that with me probably because they knew we would have prepared ourselves before hand to place a candidate in the race. Because seemingly this information was kept from us until the last moment, we were not prepared to put a viable candidate in the race. Therefore, I became the “lamb for the slaughter” to test the waters by running as a Republican candidate for the vacant county commission seat in this predominantly white Republican district.
I did not enter the race to win, but it was necessary for us to gage the white Republican support for the inclusion of African-Americans, and to access the damage that the anti-inclusion campaign of Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had on the local political landscape. I had no other choice but to run as a write-in candidate because Commissioner Coker did not announce he would not be running for re-election until just a few months before the election. I had been traveling nationally recruiting for the Caucus, and just happened to be home on the weekend, and saw an article in the newspaper. By then, the deadline to qualify with the Election Commission had already passed. Therefore I had to make the decision to run as a write-in candidate, or not at all.
Also because I had been warned that if I or any other black, wanted the support of the local Republican Party, we had to come through the local party chair Robin Smith, and Congressman Wamp, I knew it would be an exercise in political futility. Nonetheless, we had to attempt a test run of our political acceptance.
What happened next was nothing more than the erection of a solid Republican White Wall of Silence.
CHAPTER TWENTY
REPUBLICAN COLOR FAILURES
“My dearest daughter, when you fail to open your arms to embrace
others in love, you also fail to embrace God.
Because God is love!”
Golden Nuggets of Wisdom to My Daughter LaShunda__
jhh
I am not sure where to begin with my story. It is one in which I would have rather not be told. I did not seek a fight with the Republican Party, only inclusion. However, as I attempted to extend a hand to other African-Americans to come into the Party, there were some within the GOP who sounded the battle cry, and began to wage their own war against those efforts.
As I was directed by God, I waited patiently and prayerfully for the leadership of the Republican Party to come and reason with the Caucus, and me or to extend a welcome to people of color. Only a few words, and a change of heart would have prevented the open divulging of the mean spiritedness and racial sins of the Party. But it seemed the more I fasted and prayed, and the longer I waited, the harder their hearts became, and the less likely they were to repent, change and make amends. My quest for reconciliation was taken with mockery and silence, accompanied by retaliation and continuing persecution. The fleshly part of me found this hard to bear. But I had to do as God had directed, and hold my peace, and leave the battle to God to fight in his own way, and in his own time.
I saw in all of this that as always, God in his tender mercies, faithfully gives those who have wronged us, a time and a season to get it right. Then after that, He exposes those wrongs in a forced attempt to cause those who have gone astray to see the error of their deeds, and reconcile their hearts in repentance.
I held the publishing of this book from April 2002, until January 2004, hoping for a last moment attempt at reconciliation. There was none on the horizon or agenda of the Party leadership, either on a local, state or national level. With that being the case, God spoke and said:
“I AM giving ample time and space to make amends and to get this matter right before Me, you, the Caucus and before man, and you have faithfully fulfilled every requirement I have given you in honorably and righteously dealing with those who claim to be your sisters and brothers in the Lord. For those who are innocent, and have had no hand in this matter, I will protect them to prevent them from harm. Therefore they shall not be impacted, but shall be moved to align with what is right. But for those who have wronged you, and have done it with great indignation, arrogance and pride, I shall expose them and reveal their deeds, so that their deeds can be judged for what they truly are.
Also because many have turned a deaf ear to your cry, and have not dealt in good faith with you, I shall lift their own skirts high above their own heads, and shall reveal all of the vileness that has been hidden, and done behind closed doors, not only regarding you, but in other matters as well. And when they look for those to comfort them, I will cause those who would have come to their rescue and defense to become deaf to their cries, and their lips to be tightly sealed, just as they have done to you.
As you speak truth, not only shall I use you, but I shall bring out armies of others who will confirm what you have spoken, and shall add their own accusations against those who have wronged you. Therefore, you shall not stand alone, and your story shall not be the only one that is told! For I have raised up, and sworn in witnesses of my own, as I stand as Judge, Jury, and Prosecutor in this matter that I have brought against them before Myself to judge. I also call MYSELF as a witness to their deeds, for the record is in heaven, and the evidence which has been presented before Me speaks for itself. I saw it all, both what you did and what they did to you, and will rule according to the facts that I present to Myself. Therefore, divine and perfect justice shall be served.
Also take courage in knowing that you shall no longer be a target of their vengeance, nor shall you be denied entry and passage through any political gates, even those outside of the Republican Party. For I shall tear the doors of prejudice and hypocrisy off the hinges of the Republican Party, and shall cause it to return to its first love, and be reconciled with its divine purpose for which I birthed it.
I shall also open the gates to the Democratic Party and to politics to allow those to walk and sit in places of rulership and authority who will do what is just and right. Then I shall take what has been done, and will use it to bring glory to My name, and to reward you, and others for your suffering and for your faithfulness.
Now, I the Lord your God, issue the orders for you to tell your story, so that others may take courage to come forth and tell theirs, and so that full restoration can begin.”
I prayed for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, but most of all love and integrity to tell the story that led to the writing of this book. With that I begin the story of my painful journey.
Several months before the 2000 Presidential Election, God told me to actively return to politics. I wasn’t eager to do this. I had voted regularly and had continued to bring African-Americans into the Party, but I just wasn’t openly eager to get back into the mainstream GOP political inner loop. Nevertheless, I obeyed. I always had some inkling that my task was not completed, and that at some point and time, God once again would require my active involvement. But until He expressly said get into the loop again, I steered clear. However that time did come.
The morning of the election, God woke me up with these words, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
He spoke with such authority that it awakened me. I sat up in bed shaken from the power of his words. Seldom had I heard God speak in such a sovereign and assertive voice. I wasn’t sure what to make of what He said, so I reached over for my Bible. Before I could open it, God spoke again and said, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
This time his voice was firmer than the first time. I wondered what this could mean. The tone and force in which God spoke made me know the seriousness of what was being said.
He spoke the third time, saying again, “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
I was positive now that this election would be different from any other, and that God was about to intervene in the affairs of mankind to bring about a divine result, which had nothing to do with the will of man. Upon realizing this, God gave me specific directions for the day. He told me three things.
The first was, “Whoever wins the election, this will serve as a confirmation of the party I want you to align with”.
I thought that was strange because I was already a Republican, and wasn’t looking to become anything else.
The next instruction made me wonder if God was telling me to switch parties. His second instruction was, “You are to go to the Democratic camp tonight, to await the election results”.
I was sure now that I was changing parties!
The last instruction was, “While you are in the Democratic camp, there is something I want you to hear”.
Then He gave me the story of Gideon, in Judges 7:9-25. I did not consider the Democrats of Hamilton County my enemies, and neither did God. But just as He had instructed Gideon, there was something He needed for me to see and hear within the Democratic camp.
I obeyed, and did just as God instructed. I called Missy Crutchfield, and told her I would meet her at the Reade House where the Democrats were gathered to await the election results.
When I got there, I was amazed at how many people were sincerely happy to see me. This had been my prayer. When I left the Democratic Party, I left behind many good friends, and had prayed for the day when I could again enjoy the fellowship, and fully restore those relationships. I despised the political lines, which had separated us, and did not realize just how much those relationships meant to me, until I saw the faces of those I had known back in my early days as a Democrat. I also realized just how destructive partisan politics can be, when it impacts upon relationships that are not just political, but are built upon friendship and other kinds of relationships.
I got plenty of hugs, and warm and sincere embraces. However what I heard astounded me the most.
I sat with LaShunda at a table near the door. Subconsciously I may have done this so that, just in case I was not well received, I would have an easy escape route. After all, I was a Republican …and a well-known black one at that, which made my presence very obvious!
One by one, Democratic elected officials, party leaders (past and present), and friends came to the table to say hello, and to share what God wanted me to hear. Without knowing it, they spoke a word of encouragement and confirmation that greatly strengthened me.
One black party member said, “Years ago Jean, we didn’t understand what you were trying to do when you left the Party (Democratic Party). But most of us understand now. It was something you had to do, and you didn’t do it because you were selfish or wanted something just for yourself like most people. You did it because God had a purpose for you being there.”
The person then hugged me, and walked away.
What was said, literally blew my mind! This was the first of the ear full. Then came the second.
“Welcome back! You are coming back aren’t you?” asked one person.
I smiled, without answering, because until all of the election returns were in, I didn’t know which direction God was sending me.
More hugs and confirmations followed that.
“I hope you run again in the 29th district. This time you can win! Cause you can get the black support this time,” another precinct chair said.
My mind went back to the 1980, 29th District race in which I ran. But I had no desire to have “Sam play that tune again”.
A party leader chimed in, “We sure could use you in the Party. We have a lot that needs to be done.”
Jokingly, one person said, “You sure are one brave lady! I have always admired you for being your own person. It took a lot of guts to be a Black Republican! Especially during the time you went in.”
Then another person asked, “Jean I have always wondered, why haven’t they used you more in the local Republican Party after all the work you have done in bringing in blacks? I see Johnny Horne, and the way they push him, but you are the one they really need to put out front.”
I dared not respond to that one. To go there would have taken all night! Instead, I just smiled.
Someone else said, “You sure know how to get people to change parties. I don’t know what it is that you tell them, but black folks will jump ship in a minute, if you ask them to join the Republican Party!” Jokingly he staggered back, making a quick exit from my table and said, “Let me get away from you before you have me wanting to be a Republican!”
In response to this, I had to laugh. He got away from me in a hurry as if I had Republican leprosy, which apparently he thought he might catch!
As it appeared that Gore was lagging behind, I realized that it was time to go. Before I left, I happened to look up, and guess whose face was on the television monitor? Yes! Mine! I thought to myself, this should be interesting, the possibility of God sending me back into mainstream Republican politics, on a night when I am televised “live” at the Democratic camp, watching the presidential election returns! LaShunda and I laughed and talked about that all the way home.
What I did not realize until days later, was that night God showed me favor with those I had left in 1979 to join the GOP. After all these years of being a Republican, it was such a blessing to see there were those who did not hold a grudge against me for leaving, or thought of me as the enemy. They just welcomed me. Republican or not, I was just Jean to them.
That night I also realized that true friendships are not predicated upon party labels, but they are relational, as they should be. It was encouraging to see that I had so many friends in the Democratic Party; those I went to school with, grew up with, attended church with, preached to and pastored, socialized and worked with, counted as friends, and even shared blood ties. To see that my political affiliation meant nothing to them was the greatest gift I could have received that night.
Despite the price it would cost me, if and when I became more publicly active within the Republican Party and they found out I was there that night, I was grateful for the opportunity to be there, and count even Democrats as friends.
I remained puzzled over what God had said earlier that morning. He certainly had proven himself faithful and kind at the Democratic camp. But I still awaited the mystery to be revealed of what He meant by saying. “I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS”. It wasn’t long before the mystery was revealed.
For the next twenty-five days or more, the nation waited in limbo not knowing who won the election. Never had anything like this happened in the history of America! Yet those whom God had revealed himself to, knew it was an awesome display of God, which would prove his sovereign rule, as He intervened in the affairs of man!
Many around the country stood in awe, praying that the will of God be done, because unlike other elections, this one would prove prophetically crucial to the events of the future.
During this time, God issued to me another set of instructions. “Pray for Joe Lieberman because he is My Servant”.
I immediately got on the telephone and called to those I knew faithfully would carry out this instruction. We bombarded heaven with prayers for Lieberman.
The second instruction was, “Sit back and watch Me circumvent every ballot cast, and cause it to come up the way in which I have ordained it to be, for I AM THE GOD OF THE ELECTIONS!”
Sure enough, this is exactly what God did! The Florida election episode will be remembered in history as the Year of the Amazing Election Re-count. But it was God who caused things to be as they were. His purpose was so that President George W. Bush would recognize beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was divinely orchestrated that He was made president, over the will of man. This was important for him to know, so that he would always remember and seek the Face of the God who elected him. Should he seek God’s Face in every decision he made, he would not fail, stumble or error in fulfilling the divine purpose and call on his life. But when he failed to do this, he would. That is why the election turned out the way it did. No matter which way the count went, God circumvented the ballots and over the popular vote, ordained Bush for this Hour to lead America.
Knowing that God’s divine hand was in this, I saw President Bush in a different light. I understood that despite his human frailty, he was God’s choice for this Hour. For whatever reason, God chose him to fulfill a specific purpose. Prophetically God had said that He was called to be a Liberator and a Repair of the Breach. Because of this, I became committed to support him and follow his leadership, as God directed me. He was in my prayers on a regular basis. I understood what it meant to be God’s anointed and chosen, so I reverenced the call that was upon his life, and the mission which he had been birthed to accomplish. I did not want to see him fail, because if he failed, this meant he failed God and America. My task now was to do everything within my power to lift him up before God; give him the prophetic words, so that he would understand his call; speak good of him before men; and do my part to assist him in fulfilling his purpose. Therefore, when the president spoke of inclusion, I knew I had a major part of the key that he needed to unlock the doors to the African-American, religious community, and other minority communities. The recruitment of people for any purpose was a gift God had given me. I never quite understood it, but I always was able to gather together people by the masses for whatever purpose. Now I knew God wanted me to come forth for this hour, and use that gift to strengthen the mission of President Bush, so long as he sought God’s direction, and walked in his counsel.
It wasn’t that God directly opposed Al Gore. It just was not his season or the time of the specific calling that was upon his life. Mr. Gore’s calling was that of preserving creation and natural resources. Because of that calling, he would have channeled his attention more in this direction, than in international affairs, and matters of war and national security. But God knew the terror that would descend upon America, and the resolve that was necessary for that hour. He also knew it would be an hour where Gore’s faith would be tested beyond measure, and had to be firmly rooted in him alone. So in his infinite wisdom and knowledge, God knew which man was best suited for the immediate task of leading America through the hour of her prophetically fulfilled terror.
God also knew it was an hour where America was being weighed in the balance, and the leader had to be someone who had a heart for repentance, and the boldness to take a stand, and call America back to God. Also Gore, along with his wife Tipper had begun to render their support to matters in which God strictly opposed. The position they took in favor of gay rights would have brought America prematurely to its demise, sooner than God had ordained. This was the prime reason why God would not allow him to prevail in 2000, and even would shut the door to 2004.
Just as God had instructed, I also returned to the mainstream Hamilton County and national Republican Party inner loop, bringing with me thousands of blacks from all over the country that I had continuously recruited over the course of many years. This made it an easy task in producing the numbers.
Within Tennessee alone, in less than one year, we had managed to bring in over 5,000 blacks statewide, and a little more than 68,000 nationally. This was because I was personally committed with my time, resources and contacts to make it work. Not only this, but I was not in it for the credit or for any other reason other than I believed in what I was doing, and that this was a call that was upon my life. This is why I had up until then, recruited blacks and other minorities silently and without the political fanfare. But as those blacks who knew this, witnessed the ill treatment I was personally receiving; the failure of the Party to recognize us as a legitimate Republican organization; the back-room racist dirty politics that were being used to discredit those efforts, and personally destroy me; the failure of the Party to address these concerns; the snubbing; and the white wall of silence, many who had been recruited, became disillusioned with the embrace. After all of the hard work I had put into years of recruiting blacks, and even the opposition I had endured from my own race for doing so, I now faced the worse let down, in seeing the Party who preached “inclusion”, now once the altar call had been made, and blacks had come, refused to ingratiate those who had answered the call. Now my job was harder than ever, because I had to face those who were asking the hard question of why didn’t they want us?
As long as I silently recruited blacks outside of the mainstream Republican Party, they voted republican, and remained invisible, there were no problems. However, the moment I attempted to integrate them into full participation within the GOP mainstream, and their presence became visible, immediately I was met with opposition from the Party’s leadership. My troubles began at home, within my home county, and spilled over into the state and national.
It all began with Congressman Zach Wamp.
At first, I thought Congressman Zach Wamp’s personal vendetta against me was because of something that happened in 1992. So I went to him to again make right whatever had gone wrong between us. Despite the fact that I felt he owed me an apology for his hurtful and insensitive call he made to me shortly after my husband’s death, I felt as a Christian, I needed to make sure there was nothing on my part that would hinder our friendship and political relationship.
From 1989 through 1991, I had traveled throughout the United States recruiting
African-American women into the Republican Party. I met with Clayton Yeutter, the chairman of the RNC at that time, and thought that the Party would be pleased to see and know of those efforts. Women from every social and economic background were coming into the GOP ranks. The numbers were unprecedented. My husband was also involved in recruiting black men. While Bobby was living, he footed the bill for those efforts. However, after he passed I was not as financially prepared to do this kind of recruitment on a national level. Rather than see the efforts go down the tube, I went to RNC to see if they had any suggestions on how to keep those efforts alive. The visit with Yeutter was very cordial, but beyond that, it offered no further encouragement or assistance with the efforts to recruit minorities. In fact, RNC made no attempts beyond my visit to do anything further to encourage our recruitment efforts, which was strange if the Republican Party really wanted us.
I also met with Congressman Don Sundquist. This was before he became governor of the state of Tennessee. He was very straightforward, and appeared to have been the most interested and sincere about assisting our efforts. I had just come back from a minority event sponsored by Republican Congresswoman Nancy Johnson in Connecticut. I had financed the trip out of my own funds, which were very limited now that I was a widow. The purpose of the conference was to encourage minority recruitment in Connecticut. On the way back home, I flew into Washington and met with Congressman Sundquist. I explained to him how strapped I was financially, and that I could not continue to fund the efforts for recruiting minorities now that Bobby was gone, without the help of the Party. He gathered up a few souvenirs and gave them to my five-year old daughter who traveled with me. He also gave me a few names of people within Tennessee to contact, which later did not prove fruitful. Then he looked at me and said, “Jean, have you ever thought that maybe they don’t want as many minorities as you are recruiting into the Party?”
This stunned me, but it was something I had felt all along. He then gave me a brief heart to soul talk, and encouraged me not to continue to spend what I did not have to carry out the Party’s recruitment of minorities. I appreciated his advise, because I felt it came not just as a bit of Republican political wisdom, but it was made out of a heart felt concern for the financial and emotional welfare of my daughter and me.
I also met with a Republican female within the Bush Sr. camp, whose name I am sure she would rather I not reveal. She was just as candid in her discussion with me, and gave me the scoop as it related to not just minorities, but the dilemma facing women as well within the Party.
Returning to Chattanooga, I knew I could no longer put on the facade of recruiting black women into a party that did not want them. There also were some women in the local Republican Women’s Club that I knew were not so accepting of blacks. I struggled with what to do. With over 150 women in the Hamilton County chapter, and thousands nationwide, I knew I could not continue to bring them in knowing they might not be accepted. Neither could I continue the recruitment efforts without the Party’s help. All of these women personally had been recruited by me, so I felt a personal responsibility to make sure they were not battered and bruised by racist Republican politics.
I prayed and the answer God gave me was to turn the organization into a non-partisan one for the time being, and allow the women to gravitate to whatever side of the political pendulum they chose. Following God’s advise, the name of the organization was changed from the National Coalition of Black Republican Women to the National Impact Coalition of Black Women. Our mission was the same, to address issues related to the black family. It just would not be done under a party label.
The organization made a decision that now as a nonpartisan women’s organization, we wanted to support a female candidate–that being the incumbent Congresswoman Marilyn Lloyd.
The Congresswoman and I had a good relationship. During my democratic days, she assisted me with the Democracy In Action program, and even as a Republican, I could call her office, and there always was a positive and timely response. Most senior citizens supported her because her office was always extremely helpful to them in matters regarding social security. I admired her, and thought she was a great congresswoman, and a genuinely good person. I had always supported her in the past. However, I knew she would soon make a decision to step down from office, and decided to support Zach Wamp in his quest to replace her.
When Wamp first told me he was running for Congress, I personally introduced him to Elder Rev. C. H. Douglas, the president of the local Clergy Koinonia of which I was a member. I talked with local ministers, and others within the black community about supporting him. At that time I did not know that supposedly he had dropped out of college because of drug use, and that there were some things in his past that were questionable, along with the possibility of having sold drugs. But based upon who I thought he was, and his own words that assured me that he was a born again Christian, I was willing to give him a chance to prove himself as a viable candidate.
When he chose to run prior to Congresswoman Lloyd stepping down, because the organization decided to endorse Congresswoman Lloyd, this placed me in a difficult position. As the head of the organization, I did not feel it was my place or that it was right to sway the organization one way or the other. The women were intelligent enough to make their own decisions. So I remained neutral. However, as the head, I was the one who as a part of my leadership duties went to Congresswoman Lloyd to discuss our endorsement. She was delighted to have our support, and we were pleased to give it. I shared with her that Zach had become a personal friend, and because of that, I had committed my individual vote to him. She cautioned me that if I came out with my personal support of Zach, this might defeat the organization’s endorsement. I agreed with her that it would jeopardize the endorsement. Therefore I made the decision to still support him with my vote, but not with a personal endorsement.
Before I could reach Zach to talk with him about this, the endorsement was made public, along with the announcement of the organization becoming non-partisan. I was also in between a decision as to whether I would return to the Democratic Party, now that I was so weary of trying to get the Republican Party to completely embrace and accept blacks on a national level.
There to welcome me and any other members of the organization, who wanted to return to the Democratic Party were Hamilton County Democratic Chair, Senator Ward Crutchfield, as well as other party officials, and to receive the endorsement, Congresswoman Marylyn Lloyd. Actress Rose Weaver had flown in for this event. She was a member of our organization’s board, and a personal friend.
The event received more media coverage than I expected. The story line read, Changes Horses in Mid-Stream. Whether I had fully decided or not, they had me as a prodigal daughter of the Democratic Party, returning home. At that point, I really did not care. I was tired, broke, had endured being called a “nigger” by a Republican, and totally disappointed with the Republican Party’s lack of interest in recruiting and welcoming African-Americans into the Party. However, although Zach Wamp nor the Party were working with me or the organization to recruit minorities, and did not appear to want us, when this was done, Zach hit the ceiling. He called my house in a fit of uncontrollable rage!
“Jean, I know if Bobby was alive, he would not support your decision to endorse Marilyn Lloyd, because Bobby loved this Party and was a good Republican. I know he would turn over in his grave if he knew of your decision.”
After those words, I don’t remember too much more of what he said. I lost it! It was nearing the anniversary of Bobby’s second birthday since his death, and was one of those days when it seemed like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. His tone of voice was angry, mean, hateful, demanding, callous, and selfish. He seemed to have had no consideration for my feelings, and the emotional impact it would have on me to have him say what he said to me regarding how he thought my deceased husband would feel. I was in shock to hear him tell me that my dead husband would turn over in his grave because I was not supporting him! To even dare say something like this in such a cold and callous manner was enough to make me lose it! I do remember explaining to him that this was an organizational decision, and that I had spoken with Congresswoman Lloyd, and told her that I would cast my personal vote for him. Beyond hearing this, my anger, along with my hurt and pain blocked out everything else.
I got off the phone totally and emotionally devastated. I never shared this with the organization. Only two or three people knew about it. Years after Zach won, I never spoke of this again, even when those who supported him because of me, spoke of him in my presence. It was a wound that had been inflicted, that I covered in grace. It was not easy to do, but if I preached forgiveness, I also had to practice it, even if he never apologized for his rude, insensitive, selfish, self-serving and coldhearted behavior.
The organization gave its endorsement to President Clinton for the presidential election. I was invited to greet Vice President Al Gore, at the airport, and personally deliver that endorsement. However beyond this, I never got involved in Democratic politics, and it was not long after this that the load of Bobby’s death got so heavy that I left Chattanooga. Being away, and less involved in Republican politics on a local level, it was much easier to retain my Republican identity. So I remained a Republican. I continued to recruit minorities nationally, but decided to do it outside of the mainstream Republican Party. I was more interested in getting blacks to embrace the Republican philosophy, than to become visible participants. Either way, my efforts remained highly successful, even if those blacks who were now voting and thinking “Republican” were not visible at the table.
When I returned to Chattanooga, and was considering to again get involve in the local Republican Party in 1999, I called Zach first to talk to him about what had happened years ago. I wanted to make sure there were no lingering hard feelings. He never once apologized for what he had said. I guess he did not feel that tearing the heart out of a widow was an offense worth atoning for. But that was okay. I had done my part. I had forgiven him, and graced his offense.
After my telephone call to reconcile with Zach, I thought everything was fine between the two of us. I kept in contact with his office, and did everything I could to support him, and to keep his name before the black community, as he had asked me to do. I even vouched for his concern for projects within the African-American community, and tried to get him to assist, even when he showed no concern or desire to be involved.
........ (Continued Excerpt)
I was happy to see that seemingly, Congressman Wamp had overcome his past, and was on the right road. As a minister, redemption is the main goal of ministry. Thinking this was what had taken place with him, I did not hesitate to applaud him for his growth, encourage him, and vow my support to work with him as long as he was striving to do the right thing and living the profession of faith he made.
As I anticipated my return to the local Republican Party, I met with an old friend and campaign stumper, Gene Hunt. We had developed a close friendship during our 1980 campaigns. He ran for state senator, and I had run for state representative. He was very happy to hear from me, and to welcome my involvement again in the Party. He overly flattered me in telling me how much my involvement in the local Republican Party had meant. He introduced me to the local party chair, Robin Smith. In first meeting her, she appeared to be very happy to have minorities. She told me that I was a sign to her that God wanted her to serve a second term, in order to bring minorities into the local Party. I vowed to vigorously work with her in those efforts. It seemed that we would have a very good working relationship. Then something happened, and very abruptly things changed!
I heard from white Republican friends that someone in the local party had spoken with Robin Smith, and now there were negative rumors being spread about me. I could not figure out who it could be, or what could have been said. Then I got a sniff of what it may have been. Supposedly Congressman Zach Wamp, despite me having talked to him again to make sure we had ironed out our past differences, and were okay with each other, still had some lingering animosity towards me. This animosity had been shared in a negative manner, which caused some individuals within the Party to resent me. Immediately, as a Christian, I sat down and sent him a personal letter, addressed to his home to make sure he got it. I also had planned to share with him some things that were on my mind. This was a good opportunity to do both. So I wrote:
Sunday, February 26, 2001
Dear Zack:
I want to share some things with you. Usually when we speak, there isn’t the time or opportunity to share anything of a personal nature. So I decided to do it by way of a note to you.
God keeps bringing you to mind. In fact, over the past nine years, since Bobby’s death, every so often you come to mind. I began to ask God why. What he shared with me was that the two of us are tied together. Regardless of what may have happened to make it appear we were at odds with each other, God had placed divine assignments in our hands that connect us together. I believe this and want to make sure there is nothing I have done or are doing that will hinder that call or friendship.
First, I want to bring closure to a telephone call we had back in 1992. You called very disturbed because you saw an article in the newspaper, which showed my organization changing to become non-partisan, and me in a picture with Marilyn Lloyd and others from the Democratic Party. Unfortunately, the whole story has never been told. As a result of that, this has placed a wedge between the two of us of mistrust. So, let me try to tell the story.
Before Bobby’s death, I recruited him into the Republican ranks. He and his family are strong elected and party supporting Democrats. He became a Republican because he supported my efforts and me. Therefore, he allowed me to use our resources and money to fund the National Black Republican Women. I was able to travel across the country, networking and building an organization of over 15,000 women. After Bobby’s death, I remained committed, although my heart was broken into a million pieces. I continued networking. I worked hard, not because I was being paid, getting or expecting some benefit from the party. I did television and radio shows across the country. There was so much excitement among Blacks who felt they could embrace the Party, simply because they believe in what I was doing and me. I met with Clayton Yeutter, the RNC Chair. I attended the National Federation’s conferences. I accompanied Arthur Fletcher, when he visited and spoke here in Chattanooga, and did a press conference with him. I was a faithful member of the Hamilton County Women’s Club and Pachyderms. I brought the largest number of blacks ever to attend the Lincoln dinner, when Sundquist spoke. I went to Nashville and spoke to the Republican Legislative body. There were more blacks involved in the Party then, than ever. I did everything I knew to do to be a part of the Party on a local, as well as national level. But very few thought the efforts were all that important, it seemed. It was not that I was opposed; it was more like being ignored. This grieved me greatly. Nevertheless, I had to keep up a front to keep the rest of the women from knowing what was going on. Most of the Hamilton County women supported me when I ran for State Representative in 1980, and had witnessed the racism of me being called a nigger. So I knew I could not tell them too much, otherwise they would retreat and never want to be Republicans.
The week leading up to the Marilyn Lloyd incident, I had been in Connecticut with Congresswomen Nancy Johnson, of which I paid my own expenses to accept her invitation to come. I also had been in Washington at the RNC. No one there thought the black vote was significant to the Party. Despite all of the numbers and work, it was just not important. When I returned home, I had a choice to make. I could no longer lead women across the nation on a path, which I knew they were not welcomed. Many of the Hamilton County women were growing weary. So to save face, and to keep from fully revealing the problems with acceptance we were facing, I changed the organization into a non-partisan coalition, and decided to leave the Party. Although I wanted to stay, I felt a need to leave, so that I could make a difference. I was welcomed back to the Democratic Party with opened arms, although I never really became a Democrat. I also did not see any need to stay, because the price was too high to ask me to pay at a time when I was so deeply grieved and broken. However, I had made some friends within the Party and did not want to lose those friendships. You were one of them.
The only reason why I took you to meet Rev. Douglas, president of the Clergy Koinonia, that day at Hunter’s Restaurant, was because you were my friend and I had confidence that you would do the right thing if elected. I took a chance in doing that because the Clergy Koinonia is basically made up of pastors who are Democrats. Yet because I was willing to openly support and defend you, they became open to you as well, and many supported you, and still do. I confess, I should have persevered, and come to you before the article ran or before I made my decision. However, there was so much going on at that time. I got back to Chattanooga to hear the final decision that the insurance company had refused to pay Bobby’s death benefits, the bank repossessed my car, and the house slowly was going into foreclosure. All of the financial pressures were crashing down on my head at one time. I thought about all of the money I had spent pursuing a cause for the Republican Party of which, they could have cared less. On top of all of that, there was this rumor that I had been given some money from the Party, and had taken it for my personal use. This hurt me very deeply, especially knowing this was not true and being in the financial dilemma I was in, after having spent so much of my money for the Party. I could not understand how anyone could be so cruel. I was not angry with you, nor had I abandoned you. But before I could get to you the article ran. However, you can confirm what I am telling you with Marilyn Lloyd. I met with her and told her that although the organization wanted to support her, I could not endorse her because of my personal friendship with you. This was not something she wanted to hear. I also told the organization the same. With the exception of only a few, all of the Hamilton County Black Republican women decided to do the same. They remembered you speaking at Bobby’s homegoing services, and knew you were our friend. Therefore they also choose to support you. So, when you called that day, it hurt so much to have you accuse me of doing something in which Bobby would not approve of if he was alive. Those words broke my heart even more, and came at the worse of times. I remember dropping the telephone after we ended the call, and me screaming out in pain. It was too much to bear. I know that none of that makes any difference now. It is a new day.
My daughter and I have gone through some of the hardest times of my life these past nine years since Bobby’s death. But, none of it has been in vain. With every step of the way, God has deposited within us the good that comes from being tried in the furnace. So during this time, with God keeping you on my mind, I knew that whatever happened between us, was Satan’s way of separating us. You were my friend then, you are my friend now, and unless you tell me otherwise, you will remain my friend. I am not like most people. I truly treasure and honor friendship as a gift from God. But, it is more than friendship. It is a call that God has on both of our lives.
I don’t fully have all of the pieces, but I do know that there can be nothing between us, and that we must renew our friendship and trust, in order for God to do in both of us what He wants to do. So, I humbly come to you to ask your forgiveness for any pain or disappointment I may have caused you, and to let you know that the pain I felt that day years ago, I don’t feel it any more. All that I feel is the love of God for you as my brother in Christ, and as my friend.
Jean
* * * * * * * * * * * *
After pouring out my heart to him, taking the time to explain in detail what had happened, and humbling myself to ask forgiveness for wrong I had not done, he never once responded to my letter! I still could not figure out what had caused this abrupt shift or why a man who claimed he had changed his life, and given his heart to God, could still be just as callous as he was in 1992. He just ignored me and continued to do every mean spirited thing he could to block me, and keep me out of Republican politics, using Robin Smith, Marty Fairbanks, and others as his instruments.
I still could not understand why, until God spoke and said, “Remember the meetings. The answer you seek is in the meetings”. I pondered this and then it became apparent. I remembered that I had a meeting with Zach twice. In one of those meeting, he urged the organization that I founded and chaired, to not render their support to one of the gubernatorial candidates. When I did not acquiesce to his wishes, he wasn’t very happy about that. It seemed he had hoped to use the organization for his own political use. But that just was not the purpose of the local, state or national Caucus. He also kept dropping hints that he would be running for the Senate in 2006, and that his office would be up for grabs. He talked about Congressman J.C. Watts and me getting together, as a team in Congress.
I was not lead to respond to this because my role as head of the organization was not to further my own political career by cutting deals with anyone who wanted to use the organization, through me. If I was truly ordained by God to one day serve in Congress, it would happen. But it was not my place to set that in motion by my own doings. Nor was I going to prostitute the Caucus in exchange for personal favors or personal political opportunities.
As further political bait, Wamp also offered me the opportunity to sit on his third district advisory board. I am not sure if that is the correct title, but it was a group of some sort he had created that consisted of community leaders. After I was not willing to play ball in his court, he never mentioned it to me again, and did not follow through in appointing me to serve.
He also attempted to give a job to our vice chairman of the Hamilton County African-American Republican Caucus, who also was my nephew. But when I refused to allow him to use the organization, or Patrick for his personal use, he withheld the job offer from him. This was the beginning of me seeing that this was Congressman Wamp’s usual way of webbing his support by giving a position on his staff to a relative of someone who had influence, so that in return he could later use that to guarantee himself support. Because of me, Patrick was a valuable tool to him. So once he was convinced that I would not be a pawn that he could use, and would not allow the organization to fall into the hands of any politicians to control and change its vision and mandates, he no longer had any use for me. Therefore, he no longer had any use for him. In fact, he began one of the most fierce and deadliest campaigns against me to destroy my credibility within the Republican Party at every level, and to block and close every door and contact I had worked so hard to build.
He began by placing the local party chair as a Gestapo force against me. At first, it was very difficult to believe that Chairwoman Robin Smith could be anything less than a model Christian. She was the one “toting” the biggest bible, praying the loudest prayers, and waving the biggest flag. Believing she was sincere, I pledged my full support to assist her in recruiting minorities into the Party. But I soon learned, she was like a book that could not be judged by its cover. Once the book was opened, I was shocked to see that the inside was not as I had thought and had hoped it would be.
In response to our telephone conversation facilitated by my Republican friend Gene Hunt, I sent Robin Smith a letter, enclosing all of the information on the Caucus. Since she had only been in the Republican Party for five years, and had not known me when I was active in the party, I also sent her information on me, so that we could get better acquainted. Additionally, I sent to her materials and newspaper articles, which showed some of my past efforts to recruit, and past involvement in the party on a local, state and national level. In a letter inviting her to our first organization meeting, and providing her with the progress of the Caucus I wrote:
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill, Nat’l Chair
Chattanooga, TN
February 26, 2001
Dear Robin Smith:
We are very excited about the formation of the National Republican African-American Caucus. All over the United States, from California, to North Carolina, to Oklahoma, to Tennessee, County Caucuses are forming!
The Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus is having its first organizational meeting the second, Monday night in March to elect officers, and to plan our Caucus activities. As elected officials and Party officers, we want to work very closely with you to keep you abreast of our activities and county strategy to increase African-American participation in the Party, as well as welcome the opportunity to work together with us.
Pursuant to the National By-laws, County Republican elected officials and heads of local Republican organizations are asked to sit on the County Republican African-American Caucus Advisory Boards. I have enclosed a copy of the by-laws, so that you can see the function of the Board. We invite you to sit on the Hamilton County Caucus Advisory Board, and know your input will be of great value to us.
Because the organization is so new, I will be serving as County Chair, for the first year, to ensure the Hamilton County Caucus gets off to a good start.
The National web site should be up in a few weeks. It will have links to the County Caucuses, including Hamilton County. Please feel free to visit our web site. The County link also will have a link where you may post information to our County membership. Patrick Favors is the web master for the County site. He will be in touch with you, should you wish to take advantage of this opportunity for Hamilton County African-American to get to know you.
Please let us know if you have other suggestions on how we can work together as one to build the Party, increase the GOP’s presence within the African-American community, and improve our communities as a whole.
We look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/mh
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I also attached information on the Caucus, which included our mission, and recruitment projects. I continued to follow up with letters and e-mails to keep the chairman Robin Smith and Congressman Wamp appraised of our progress, despite evidence that the mean spiritedness and racism had begun already to rear its ugly head.
Then there was a second meeting with Wamp. During that Washington meeting, Congressman Wamp shared with a staff member how much he had enjoyed me singing, and how years back, I had sung at a Republican Lincoln Day Dinner and also had sung and eulogized my husband. Therefore, I volunteered to sing at the up-coming Lincoln Day Dinner. I spoke with Robin Smith about this, and she seemed delighted. I got with some of the Caucus members to form a group called Embrace to sing a melody of patriotic songs for the event, and our organization’s theme song, which also was called Embrace. But three weeks before the Lincoln Day Dinner, when I called Smith, she told me that Congressman Wamp had decided that he wanted instead of us sing, to have a group outside of the county to perform for the dinner, therefore we could not sing.
I had sung before at the last Lincoln Day Dinner before my husband died, and at other political functions, so I wasn’t disappointed. But it was disappointing to the Caucus.
I then asked if she would allow the Caucus to be introduced to the local party, along with the exciting news that Hamilton County was the first county to have the first Caucus organized. We were so elated with our efforts. By then, we had over 260 members, which was 258 more than they had, and more members were joining weekly. Since Tennessee had played such a crucial role in the election of President Bush, I thought this would be something about which she, the local party and Congressman Wamp would be equally as excited. After all, our efforts made them look good. It also would have made good political sense for Wamp to have embraced the Caucus, especially in light of his anticipated 2006 Senate race. But instead of welcoming us into the Party, he was too blinded by racial hatred and his desire to destroy me personally to understand how all of this translated into possible votes and support for him. With whatever attempts they had made to bring in minorities, at best they netted one or two token members. Now we had become successful in our recruitment, almost over night. Without any efforts on their part, except to open their arms and just welcome us in, this would make Hamilton County the first to step to the plate and carry out the mandate of the President for the inclusion of minorities on a noticeable scale.
The Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus also had Hispanics, and we were introducing the Caucus to East Indians, Asians, as well as Blacks. This truly was an exceptionally inclusive effort.
What happened after this stunned me. It caught me totally off guard. Instead of an embrace, Robin Smith tore into me with the vengeance of an alley cat. This woman who was so God-fearing, nice, and willing to work to recruit minorities, all of a sudden took on a quality that was liken unto someone possessed. She accused me of building a power base for my personal use. She told me that absolutely no! Under no circumstance could we be introduced, and that she was not allowing anyone black on the platform that night, except for two black pastors who were not members of the Caucus or Republicans, but were selected by Congressman Wamp. She inferred that I was wanting personal recognition, and she was not about to give it to me. I was in shock! I asked her what was wrong with introducing the Caucus to the local Party? How else would local Republican know we existed? It did not have to be me who made the introduction, it could be someone else, if that was the problem.
Also since Congressman J.C. Watts, the only black Republican congressman in the House was going to be the speaker, this would be an even better opportunity to make a show of embrace to blacks and other minorities. Despite all of this, the answer was a cold, rude and emphatic no!
Later, Angela Sailor at the White House spoke with Congressman Watts, and he was prepared to make the introduction on our behalf. But nothing changed Robin Smith or Zach Wamp’s mind. From that day forth, she continued to pounce on me with accusations that I was up to something. I did not know where she was coming from, or what caused the abrupt, sudden, and ruthless change. However, prior to this I had noticed a visible change in her attitude towards me, but I had chosen to over look it, giving her the benefit of being the Christian she claimed to be.
In an effort to get her to further work with the Caucus, and to address the issue of being introduced at the Lincoln Day Dinner, the Caucus responded with a letter to Ms. Smith.
.......(Continued Excerpts)
We also issued a statement addressing the hostile way in which she had reacted to the Caucus’s request to be introduced to the local party at the Lincoln Day Dinner. Members of the Caucus knew of the efforts I had made to recruit them. As their leader, they felt very strongly that if the Republican Party could bring in blacks who were not identifying themselves as Republicans and place them at the head table, and giving them a place on the program, then I also should be recognized as the head of the Caucus. They also felt that if they were taking the risk to become Republicans, and had become a part of an organized group, then that group should be introduced and welcomed by the local party. It was hard for any of us to understand why this was something which Ms. Smith and Congressman Wamp so adamantly opposed to.
Unitedly, the Caucus issued this statement to Ms. Smith and Congressman Wamp:
STATEMENT FROM
THE HAMILTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS & HAMILTON COUNTY HISPANIC COMMITTEE
The membership of the Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus, do hereby make the following statement regarding the African-American participation at the Lincoln Dinner:
In as much as we are fortunate to have residing within our county and state, the national chair and founder of PROJECT EMBRACE and THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS, we think it is proper protocol to recognize her at the Lincoln Day Dinner, and that she be seated at the head table. Dr. Hill has given of her resources and time unselfishly, and at an enormous sacrifice to spearhead the recruitment of African-Americans in the Party on a local and national level, going back as far as 1979. She is well respected and well known not just within the local community, but within the national community as well, and within many grass roots communities all over the United States. We fully and unanimously support and applaud her efforts and find it unacceptable to have her not play some part in the Lincoln Day Dinner. In the spirit of “inclusion” and in support of the President’s efforts to include minorities, to not offer an invitation to her to sit at the head table, and acknowledge her as our national leader, is a slap in the face to all of us on a local, state, as well as national level.
We have eight tables at the Lincoln Day Dinner, with others still to be counted. Except for the Lincoln Day Dinner in 1991, in which Dr. Hill was responsible for a showing of 18 African-Americans, this is the largest showing of African-American participation in the Hamilton County Republican Party’s history. Also, we have coming in for the event, three of our National Officers who include our National Vice Chair, Bishop “Earthquake” Kelley from Los Angeles, California and National Treasurer, Rev. Glenda McNeal from Salem, Ohio. Being that Congressman J. C. Watts is the speaker, and that President Bush’s major theme has been inclusion, we would think this would be a great opportunity for the Hamilton County Party to show its support in taking the lead to embrace the African-American efforts to embrace President Bush and the Republican Party, by supporting and “show casing” our local efforts, in that it is one of the first 100 caucuses to be formed, under the NRAAC. It is most embarrassing to the Chair and to our local caucus to have these individuals come, and there be no recognition or attention drawn to those efforts.
We also express our concern that no member of our Hamilton County Caucus was included on the program, while non-members of the caucus and non-acknowledged Republican African-Americans have been placed out front to play a role in the program. The Caucus has over ten ordained ministers and five African-American/Hispanic pastors who could have and should have been called upon to perform clergy duties. It also has many individual singers and groups, who could have been called upon as well.
As members of the Hamilton County Caucus our coming out and standing as openly acknowledged Republicans, is not being done without paying a major price. Many of us will suffer exclusion and reprisals for doing so. Nevertheless, we have made a commitment to pledge our open support of the President and the Republican Party. However, we can not make such a commitment and open showing of our party affiliation, if the party is not going to be sensitive to our involvement as acknowledged members of the party. While we still wish to believe that the Hamilton County Republican Party is sincere, these actions have caused us to place in question the local party leadership’s sincerity in including minorities that are willing to openly embrace the party, and pay the price for doing so.
In light of this, we strongly urge the Lincoln Day Dinner Committee to reconsider their actions and take some positive steps to reconcile this error in judgment, so that we can truly feel the welcome mat beneath our feet, as we commit ourselves to standing proudly as African-American and Hispanic Republicans.
This statement is supported by the full membership of the Hamilton County African-American Caucus and Hispanic Committee, on this 26th day of March 2001, and is made a part of the organization’s official records.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Instead of sitting down with us, and working out this matter, their response became even more vicious. Apparently they resented this fresh new breed of African-American Republicans who were both vocal and responsive in dealing head on with issues affecting us.
Weeks later, after the 2001 Lincoln Day Dinner, not only did they attack me, but they viciously attacked a well respected, elderly white party loyalist, Mary Louise Collins, who had heard about what had happened from someone else, and inquired about the matter. When she did this, Robin Smith, along with Marty Fairbanks, the local party’s executive director verbally and abusively attacked Mary Louise Collins, while Congressman Wamp stood there looking on and saying nothing to stop the verbal assault. It was apparent, that their actions were sanctioned by him.
The way in which they treated Mrs. Collins, with Congressman Wamp’s approval was nothing short of being disgraceful and disrespectful. Not only this, but the mean and hateful things that the two said about me were beyond belief. They really didn’t know me, yet they proceeded to defame me in the things they said about me.
Now I understood what God was saying to me.
Finally it all surfaced, and was clear. Apparently, Congressman Wamp had issued orders to block me, and Robin Smith, Marty Fairbanks, and others were carrying out his wishes.
As time went on, I realized that the way in which Congressman Wamp was responding to me, had everything to do with what had happened back in 1992, when he first ran for Congress. Even if he should claim he did not understand, the Congressman by now knew and understood fully well why I had become politically neutral, and the once Republican women’s organization had been turned into a nonpartisan group. The facts were clear. It was because the Republican Party back then, just was not accepting of blacks in large numbers. Therefore, after my husband’s death, I had no other choice than to abandon my massive recruitment of African-American women because of personal and financial considerations. I also needed the time and space to mourn, and to focus on my future as a widow with a small child to care for alone. I also had to do something with the women I had recruited. He understood perfectly clear why I changed the organization into a non-partisan one, and allowed the women to determine who they wanted to support for Congress. He also knew how I had gone to him when I returned and personally talked with him. He also knew, even much later, after I saw he had begun to play these little nasty and vindictive political games with me, that I again had tried to sit down with him and reason things out. I gave him every opportunity to be the Christian brother he claimed to have been. None of my efforts were met with a mutual desire for him to act as a Christian brother to prayerfully and in a godly manner resolve any differences we might have had. It was clear that he was intent upon being at war with me, instead of pursuing peace, even if it was to the detriment of the Republican Party locally, or at the state and national levels or to the President and other Republican elected officials.
After my efforts to reason with him were rejected, I knew then that he had begun his campaign to destroy me. It was when he learned that he could not control me, and use the Caucus like his own political puppet on a string that he really went after me with full force! Unlike those who conspired with him, I was not about to compromise my integrity or the integrity of the Caucus to carry out Congressman Wamp’s dirty work, just to be a part of the local Republican inner loop.
Now that I knew I would not receive any cooperation from my own congressman, I introduced the Caucus to Congressman Van Hilleary. He was delighted and excited to hear about our efforts. He did everything he could to get us the legal clearance Robin Smith had demanded we obtain. I was totally, and pleasantly surprised to know that the congressman took a personal walk down to the RNC to get them to respond to me, after I had spent weeks trying to talk to someone about this ridiculous requirement that Robin Smith had made on our organization to get legal approval from RNC before she or the state would recognize us as a legitimate Republican group, or grant us the right to have information in the local county Newsletter, which was important so that the local party would know of our existence, our recruitment efforts and our projects.
Congressman Hilleary was the only Republican member of Congress who I contacted that would personally meet with me, from the state of Tennessee. He also was the only one who offered any assistance to the Caucus. Although I had sent information on the Caucus and letters to Senator Frist and Senator Thompson’s office, as far as I got with them was a meeting with a member of their staff. Kelvin Moxley, a black staffer, and Tyler Owens in Senator Thompson’s Chattanooga office. Both Moxley and Owens did send me the name of someone to get involved in the Caucus, and appeared to be happy that we were recruiting minorities.
I also met with Bob Davis and Sarah Bryant of Senator Thompson’s office. I provided them with the information on the Caucus, and asked for the Senator’s help. Senator Thompson had a good rapport and relationship with blacks in Hamilton County because of his strong support of the Bethlehem Center, which did excellent work in steering young black boys towards achieving and having self worth. When I met with Mr. Davis, he assured me that he would look over the Caucus materials, and if he liked what he saw, he would help, but if he didn’t, he wouldn’t. I guess he didn’t, because I never heard back from him. After Senator Thompson decided not to run again for the Senate, Sarah went on to work in Congressman Wamp’s office, which I assumed explained the shut-out in Senator Thompson’s office.
Emily Reynolds met with me in Washington, from Senator Frist’s office. She was very cordial, but just as was the case with Senator Thompson’s office, they did not appear to be excited about our efforts, and offered no further support or had any further contact with us. I did share with her surfacely some of the issues we faced in Hamilton County. But I am sure as was the case with everyone, Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had managed to shut us out there as well. Just as the case with Senator Thompson, this was hard to believe since Senator Frist had a reputation for being a man of integrity and fairness. But I guess when faced with the issue of race, and the word of a fellow congressman, Wamp’s word would be taken over mine, even to the detriment and tarnishing of Frist’s own reputation in the eyes of African-American Republicans.
I was so accustomed to meeting with members of Congress personally from other states, but my own congressional delegation remained gated. Other than meeting with staffers, that was the last I heard of any congressional commitment or interest in our efforts to recruit blacks and other minorities into the Party. I started to give Senator Arlen Spector a call. I had met with him in 1992 during the Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas ordeal. But I felt those within my own state should be the first to welcome and support our efforts. It was something how easy it was for me to meet face-to-face with members of Congress from other states, while in Tennessee as far as I could get was a chief of staff or just someone in the local office. I even could get to democratic members of Congress easier than those in my own party!
Only Congressman Hilleary took the time to personally met with me, talk to me personally on the telephone, return my calls, and saw the value of the organization. Perhaps this also was because he saw the value of having the black vote for his governor’s race, which was something Wamp failed to see or understand. He also was responsible for a $1000 check, which was given to offset some of the expenses for the reception we hosted in Memphis, during the faith based initiative meeting.
At one point, I feared even Congressman Hilleary may had become slightly affected, as neither the Caucus or I were asked to play a part in his gubernatorial election efforts, while those who were opposed to us, and even working against him behind the scenes were included. Wamp made sure he had his people infiltrate the Hilleary camp to keep him informed and to sabotage his campaign efforts. At least we would have rendered genuine support and would have been friend, instead of foe.
It appeared no matter which way I turned, everyone was being a little or extremely guarded because of Congressman Wamp’s and Robin Smith’s campaign against us. All of this made the Caucus and me feel very uncomfortable, unwanted, and unwelcomed as we watched Republican leaders in Washington give lip service to inclusion, while at home in their own state, they ignored us, and treated the local and state Caucuses as if we had committed the unpardonable sin, by just wanting to become Republicans. Perhaps they all had failed to see that charity starts at home, and then spreads abroad. I wondered. If you could not embrace blacks within your own local backyard and home state, welcome them, and treat them like human beings, then how could you truly advocate for inclusion some place else? But in all of this, I discerned something more was working behind the scenes to cause this kind of reaction. It was like an army of locusts following me, and devouring any in routes I attempted to make into the Republican Party. I had experienced some degree of prejudice and some opposition in the past, but this was nothing in comparison. Back then, we could at least become a Republican. But now, I wasn’t even getting through the door! It was almost a complete shutout, even by many of the local elected officials, who could have used the support of the black vote.
Congressman Wamp also met with me, but each time I met with him, it was more for the purposes of helping him get a foothold in the race for the 2006 U.S. Senate seat, or using the Caucus to carry out his personal vendettas. Each time he made it clear that he did not want the Caucus to support Congressman Hilleary for governor, because he didn’t believe Hilleary had the charisma, was qualified, or had what it took to be governor, and asked me to get the Caucus to work against him to support another person, Bill Baxter who had not yet decided to enter the race.
I knew Baxter because we were in law school together. He was two classes ahead of me, and from all that I knew about him, he was good people. There also is no evidence that he knew how Congressman Wamp felt about Hilleary, or what he had tried to get us to do. Not willing to go along with Congressman Wamp, I made it clear that as a Caucus, we would not endorse any Republican candidate in the Primary Election, unless it was a minority member of the Caucus. However, we would meet with both potential candidates to present them to the Caucus, so that each member could make their own decision who to support in the Primary. Then in the General Election, we would gladly get behind that winning candidate. This was the only fair way to do it. I did meet with the potential candidates, Bill Baxter, Congressman Hilleary, and later Jim Henry.
I became a little leery when Congressman Wamp gave me names of people to steer clear of. High on that list was the Tennessee State Party Chair, Chip Saltsman. Because of the Congressman’s confessed personal dislike for him, I was told he would not be someone who would work with me and the Caucus on the state level. I did not quite understand all of his reasons for disliking him. But I was told that he did not support women and gave them a hard time, and would not be open to blacks. I knew nothing about Saltsman, and wanted to form my own opinion of him, as I interacted with him and got to know him. Also, I had heard just the opposite from a black Republican in West Tennessee. Regardless, I did not intend to get involved in the Congressman’s personal grudges and political cat and dog fights. I only wanted to recruit minorities, and steer clear of dirty and petty party politics.
Besides this, I was a minister and was obligated to seek peace, and not to be a part of any form of confusion. If I could not accommodate a reconciliation between him, Saltsman and Hilleary, I certainly wasn’t going to be involved in their conflicts.
Despite the warnings from Congressman Wamp, I contacted Mr. Saltsman and sent him information on the Caucus:
January 8, 2001
Mr. John “Chip” Saltsman Jr.,
Republican Party State Chairman
1922 West End Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Dear Mr. Saltsman:
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter I sent to President Bush and RNC Chairman Jim Gilmore regarding Project Embrace, which is an effort to recruit minorities into the Republican Party.
I look forward to working with you to fulfill the vision within the State of Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/pf
Enc(s):
* * * * * * * * * * * *
I did share what Congressman Wamp had said and attempted to get the Caucus to do with Congressman Hilleary in a conversation with him in Washington. I did it because he was positive Congressman Wamp was one hundred percent behind him, and I thought he should know that behind his back Wamp secretly opposed him, so that if there was a problem, he could clear it up with him.
When it was apparent that I was not going to use the Caucus to carry out Congressman Wamp’s personal agendas, this is when the tide completely turned, and fierce battle lines were drawn. For the next two years, I lived a nightmare of some of the most vicious and mean attacks, and disparate treatment based upon race, which included dirty, mean spirited, and vicious politics that were used to defame me and those who dared to stand with me, and support the inclusions of blacks within the Republican Party.
With Congressman Wamp’s help and sanctioning, his supporters successfully did everything under the sun to kill off any influence or power I may have had on a local, state, and national level. I saw this from the White House, to RNC to the State Party to the local. It is amazing the power that a congressman or a person with political power can have when he sets out to destroy you! This was a Political Science lesson I quickly learned. After this, I could never again get Wamp or Smith to meet with me to try to get things right, so that we could work together. He ignored my telephone calls and letters requesting an opportunity to sit down with him to talk.
Nevertheless, as a last attempt, I even approached him face-to-face while we were at WGOW radio to do the Jeff Styles Talk Show, and personally handed his Chief of Staff, Doug Fisher a copy of the letters I had sent to his office requesting to meet with him, along with copies of the other letters I had sent him in the past, just in case they may have claimed to have not gotten them. But even that fell on deaf ears. The last letter I wrote trying to reconcile with him was in September 2001.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
CONFIDENTIAL
September 26, 2001
TO: The Honorable Congressman Zach Wamp
Attention: Paulina Meaderis, Scheduler
FROM: Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
Congressman Wamp, I kindly request an opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to put to rest some divisive rumors that have been floating around, that could affect the Party’s ability to maintain African-Americans within the local party.
For months I have been told rumors of things that have been said, that have been disturbing. But I have chosen to ignore them, simply because as I told you in a note to you earlier this year, I am your friend, and until I come to you and say differently, that does not change. Although you never responded to my note, I assumed you felt the same way. However, there are so many rumors that are surfacing and won’t go away, which suggest that we are at war with each other. This is causing some concern among members of the caucus and other fellow Republicans. The only way I know to dispel those rumors or to work out any problems that may be between us, is for the two of us to sit down and talk. As Christians, we have an obligation to come together in a humble and loving way, to reason.
I prayerfully look forward to the opportunity to work this out as Christians, as friends, and as two individuals who love the Party, and want to see it grow inclusively.
Thanks.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Meantime, the Hamilton County Party chair, Robin Smith continued to block me and the local Hamilton County Republican African-American Caucus from taking its roots politically within the Party. After successfully using her power to prevent us from being introduced at the 2001 Hamilton County Lincoln Day Dinner, she was persistent with requiring us to get legal clearance from the RNC and Tennessee State Party before she would recognize us as a Republican group. It was like she was standing at the birth canal to prevent the Caucus from coming forth, and when it did, she pursued its life to destroy it in any way she could. She reminded me of a modern day King Herod who was intent upon killing any efforts we made to organize at the Caucus’ inception. I was told without that legal clearance, we could not make announcements of our meetings or activities; we could not have any announcements or activities printed in the monthly Hamilton County Republican Newsletter; and we could not be legitimately considered as Republicans. This sent me on trips at my own expense, to Washington, D.C. to the RNC, and to Nashville to the State Party in pursuit of this legal clearance. First, I contacted the Tennessee State Party. Then following their recommendations, I sent a letter to the RNC.
January 10, 2001
Chairman James Gilmore
Republican National Committee
310 First Street, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20003
Dear Chairman Gilmore:
Congratulation on your new appointment as chairman of the Republican National Committee. We have a lot to look forward to, and accomplish over the next few years.
Please find enclosed a copy of the letter I sent to President Bush regarding Project Embrace, which is an effort to recruit minorities into the Republican Party.
I will be in Washington, the week of January 17th – 20th, and then again the following week. I look forward to meeting you and discussing how we can work together to increase minority involvement in the GOP.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
JHH/pf
Enc(s):
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Later I called the RNC to inquire about the legal requirements of becoming a Republican group. They seemed shocked to learn that they had such a requirement.
Every step of the way, I advised Robin Smith, and sent her copies of my correspondence. Later I realized that she used this as a means of tracking what I was doing, and the opportunity to circumvent every effort I made.
I also made direct contact with the White House in an effort to work with the President in his minority inclusion efforts.
January 8, 2001
The Honorable George Walker Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20016
Dear President Bush:
As a Republican and an African-American, I congratulate you on becoming the nation’s 43rd President. It is with great excitement and anticipation that I embrace you as my president.
In your post-election speech, you asked for our prayers and vowed to make your administration one of unity and inclusion of all Americans, working together for the good of our nation. I share your vision, pledge my support, and extend my hand to you to help accomplish those goals.
First, let me assure you that you have my prayers that God will grant you divine wisdom, knowledge and understanding to lead this nation, as well as strength of body, mind and soul to be able to withstand the rigorous and surmountable task that is before you. I will continue to keep you, your family, your administration, and the nation in my daily prayers.
Secondly, I want to help in obtaining your goals of inclusion, unity and healing of our nation, across both partisan and racial lines.
I came into the Republican Party in 1979, at a time when inclusion was not a major goal of the party, and being Black and a Republican did not necessarily endear one to the greater black community. Nevertheless, I worked vigorously and was very successful in recruiting blacks into the Republican ranks under President Reagan and your father’s administrations. Using my own resources, I was able to network all over the country and bring into the Republican Party, former Democrats, and those who were not politically active. [Please see newspaper articles that show some of those efforts.]
Page Two: Letter to President Bush
However, at that time, although I was very successful, it was very difficult to get the Republican Party to see minority recruitment, and especially the recruitment of African-Americans as a priority, or to assist me in my efforts. Therefore, after having worked so hard, having expended so much personally, as well as having to deal with the death of my husband, I became weary, ceased my efforts, dropped out politically, and began to focus on other ways to make a difference. As a result of that, many of those recruits fell by the wayside. I still feel as strongly as I did then, that blacks must become active participants in both parties, and to do any less relegates us to second-class citizenship. There are blacks who embrace some of the same ideology and beliefs of the Republican Party, and there are ways to bring them into the party. All of this is apparent from the tremendous success of my past efforts. I strongly believe the doors are still open for even greater success, through joint efforts, despite the present racial divisive climate. However, unless the Republican Party and your administration are serious about inclusion, which I believe you are, it would be a fatal mistake to embark upon this, without being truly sincere, and willing to put every effort into it to make it work.
I have created Project Embrace, which outlines a national campaign to recruit African-Americans and other under represented minorities into the party. A copy of the project is enclosed. Again, I approach the Republican National Committee and now you, to extend my hand to help to accomplish your goals of inclusion. If your administration and the Republican Party are truly sincere about the inclusion of under represented minorities, you have my full support and willingness to assist you in those efforts.
I also have enclosed information on the “Democracy In Action” Program. It is a non-partisan national and global civics educational project. Because it is an educational, and not a political initiative, it invites and encourages partnerships across party lines. The program began in 1976 and in 2001 will become a national and global project, that integrates the use of modern technology in teaching government and good citizenship, and in interacting with students of other cultures, to learn how governments function within other global communities. I solicit your involvement and support.
Information on other national projects that I am working on is also included. Among those is the Digital Divide Parity and Enablement Project, which seeks to bridge the digital divide for Black, Hispanic and Tribal schools, K-12 and higher education; and special needs groups, such as veterans, senior Americans, and the disabled. Because of the many projects, and positive relationships I have with so many minority individuals and groups across the country, such as the DDPE Project, I have found many opportunities to share and exchange dialogue regarding the need for minorities to take a serious look at the Republican Party as a viable political alternative.
Project Embrace already has obtained an overwhelming number of commitments from business and religious leaders; entertainment and sports celebrities; women’s organization; and individuals to work with the project. Especially within the African- American community, this is not only an excellent start, but it is an unprecedented
Page Three: Letter to President Bush
beginning for true embrace. We also have commitments from 100 high profile individuals, to attend the Inauguration to offset the Shadow Inauguration activities. This includes some of the heads of the largest Black churches in the country.
I look forward to working with your administration in repairing breaches, building bridges, and bringing this nation into the glory of the new millennium.
Again, I congratulate you on the election.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
In April 2001, I was called to the White House to discuss the recruitment of minorities and to talk about the Caucus. During that visit, I met with White House Public Liaison, Angela Sailor, and discussed some of the roadblocks we faced in Tennessee in our efforts to recruit minorities. Later through written correspondence, I also sought the White House’s guidance in this matter.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
FAX
DATE: April 23, 2001
TO: Ms. Angela Sailor,
White House Public Liaison Director
FROM: Dr. Jean Howard-Hill, National Chair
Thank you so much for meeting with us on last week. You were very helpful and encouraging. I am sending you (or dropping off to you) the tape from Fox News covering the NRAAC. It was a great piece! I am faxing a copy of one of the articles.
I still have not heard from RNC as to our affiliation status, therefore we are waiting still to be recognized in Tennessee as a legitimate Republican organization. Despite all of that, things are going remarkably well across the country, with many County Caucuses waiting to charter under the NRAAC. So this is good news!
We also are in our fund raising drive, to raise money for the National headquarters/museum/conference facilities. I will send or drop off a copy of the proposal. If you have any ideas for funding, please let me know. …Also, I will be in Washington, Wednesday-Friday of this week, following up on some of the contacts you gave me. If you have any other suggestions, I am open.
Will we be able to meet with Congressman Watts while he is in Chattanooga? While we were there, you had telephoned his office to make the request. (We appreciated that!)
I will be in my office most of the day, and will be leaving for Washington later tonight.
Thanks again!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Even with Robin Smith fighting so hard to keep us out of the party, she nevertheless used the opportunity after my visit to the White House to make it appear that she was in support of the Caucus by volunteering to offer a statement to the local newspaper. This really puzzled all of us, especially because she was so adverse to us. I figured this was a way of hedging her and Congressman Wamp’s bet, just in case the White House became friend, instead of foe to the Caucus or me. This way, they could look clean, and stay in the good graces of the President, should he favor our efforts. Until they saw which way the political winds at the White House were blowing, they had to appear to be supportive. But it was not long before they returned to their normal behavior of blocking and relentlessly pursuing us.
After Robin Smith claimed she spoke with the Tennessee State Party, she informed me that they had advised her to have me directly contact the RNC’s general legal counsel before they would recognize us as a legitimate and honorable Republican organization. Therefore, I wrote the State Party and RNC.
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
April 3, 2001
Brian P. Eastin,
Executive Director
Tennessee Republican Party
1922 West End Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37203
Dear Mr. Eastin:
Our Hamilton County Party Chair, Robin Smith passed on to me the information from you regarding obtaining approval for affiliation with the RNC. We have sent the information to the RNC and are waiting to hear from them with further instructions.
We look forward to meeting with you, obtaining affiliation with the RNC, and working with the Tennessee Party to bring inclusion of Africa-American and other minorities in the Party across the great state of Tennessee.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
NRAAC national Chair
HCRAAC Chair
Cc: Ms. Robin Smith,
Hamilton County Chair
* * * * * * * * * * * *
NRAAC
The National Republican African-American Caucus
EMBRACE
April 3, 2001
Mr. Joe Jaso,
Director of State and Local Affairs
Republican National Committee
First Street
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Jaso:
Our State Party Executive Director, Brian Eastin indicated that he had spoken with you regarding the proper procedure for obtaining approval for affiliation with the RNC. Upon your recommendation, we tried reaching the Chief Counsel’s office, but have not been able to speak with anyone. Therefore, we have sent the information on the organization directly to you, and will wait to hear from you with further directions. I hope this is okay.
We look forward to obtaining affiliation and working with the Party to bring inclusion of African-Americans and other minorities into the Party.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
NRAAC national Chair
HCRAAC Chair
Cc: Mr. Brian Eastin
Executive Director
Tennessee Republican Party
Ms. Robin Smith,
Hamilton County Chair
* * * * * * * * * * * *
It was unreal what the Caucus was made to do, just so that we could become Black Republicans! Nevertheless, I did everything I was asked to do. But needless to say, even with the help of Congressman Hilleary, we never got this so called legal clearance or recognition from either the state Party or RNC that Robin Smith insisted we needed to become “legit Republicans”. In fact, no one I spoke with at RNC or the Tennessee State Party had the foggiest clue what it was that she was asking me to obtain. However, she assured me it was all pursuant to the Hamilton County Republican Party’s charter, of which she would not provide me with a copy, so that I could use my own legal expertise to carefully review to make a determination of exactly what was required in order for us to become legally recognized. Both the State Party, and RNC were seemingly willing to work together with the Caucus, until this anti-campaign began. But once it was set in motion, they also closed the door to us or remained silent.
As a last attempt to jump through the political loops of Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith, I traveled to Nashville to personally present the Caucus, providing the State Republican Party with a detailed strategic plan for recruitment within the 95 counties in Tennessee that I had developed.
After a very positive, and welcoming meeting with Lance Frizzell, at the state headquarters, the newly elected State Chair Beth Harwell sent me a letter of support for the Caucus. From the personal conversation I had with her, this was done in an effort to perhaps put a cap on some of the confusion that we were having in Hamilton County.
The State Party also made mention of the Caucus in its fall 2001, statewide newsletter.
MINORITY OUTREACH
We are very excited about growing interest in the GOP in minority communities. Republican fiscal policy and our stands on social issues are breaking through the liberal media roadblock
Democrats in Tennessee and nationwide are very worried about the inroads we are making into the Hispanic community. Hispanic opinion leaders have praised President’s Bush education plan while criticizing Tennessee Democrats for stopping Republican Charter Schools legislation 4 years in a row. In the coming weeks, look for the Tennessee Republican Party’s website to be available in Spanish.
We also want to recognize Dr. Jean Howard Hill for her work on behalf of Republicans in the African American community. Her Tennessee Republican African America Caucus [TRAAC] is a comprehensive grassroots outreach program designed to take the republican message to African-Americans.
I immediately responded to Beth Harwell with a letter of gratitude for her support, and expressed a willingness to work together, to get the job done. Also in the letter, I explained that we also needed their support in other ways, because I had exhausted my resources just trying to get legal clearance for the organization.
I also sent her our September/October Caucus Newsletter, and a tentative outline of the TRAAC’s Setting the State Republican African-American Agenda for 2002 to 2004 Leadership Conference, which was planned for November 23rd and 24th 2001. We were moving along with tremendous momentum despite the roadblocks set up by Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith. This was the case, in part because I had not told the Caucus locally or the state and national caucuses the problems I was having in just getting the Caucus to be accepted. I knew if they found out about this, they would become discouraged, and would not want to be Republicans. Except for a few local, state and national board members, I said nothing.
At the 2001 Statesmen Dinner, State Chair Harwell made a special effort to make her way to find me in the crowd to introduce herself, and to personally thank me for the efforts of the Caucus. Lance also had promised to assist us in finding funds, of which would be mostly in-kind contributions, to assist with our recruitment efforts. This was a sigh of relief, because you cannot ask blacks to come into the Republican Party, tell them they are not wanted, and then ask them to fund their own efforts to be a part of something that has closed its heart to them. I was very pleased with the State’s tangible commitment to bring minorities into the Party. It was the first real effort I had seen to embrace us.
But immediately when Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith found out about the letter, Smith claimed she called Beth Harwell, and now the state chairman was no longer willing to support us. In fact, she claimed that she was furious because I had shared the letter of support, and that Ms. Harwell had told her that she had not given it to me for this purpose. I shared the letter at the Pachyderm Club when I introduced to them the Caucus. This left me very confused. Why else did I need or did she write the letter? I never discussed this with Beth Harwell, so I do not know if she said it or not. But this was told to me by a reliable Republican that Robin Smith had said this. With everything else that was happening, I assumed what Robin Smith had said was true, so I stopped circulating the letter from the state chair.
I also saw a change in the State Party. I had invited Lance Frizzell to the reception we hosted at the Faith Based Conference in Memphis. He was there. He sat at my table. He saw. He heard. He observed that the Caucus was in fact a legitimate organization that was successful on a national as well as a state level in recruiting African-Americans into the Party. He had the opportunity to meet some of our local, state and national board members who had flown in for the reception. However, shortly after that when I attempted to discuss with the State Party the problems I was having in obtaining recognition from my local county chair, and congressman, and some of the racist and mean things they were doing to block us, the attitude of the State Party seemed to change. Seeing this, to try to iron out whatever problem that may have arisen that we were not aware of, I requested that they meet with our state Caucus TRAAC board of directors, to see if we could work this matter out, and work together for the good of the Party. But notwithstanding that most of the Board members were pastors or members of the clergy, that request was flatly denied in an interesting e-mail exchange between the Caucus and the State Party, which clearly showed that again, something was working behind the scene.
——-Original Message——-
From: drhill [mailto:ilercttc@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, October 26,2001 7:52 AM
To: Lance Frizzell
Cc: Judy Hill
Subject: Dr. Hill – NRAAC-TRAAC – October 25, 2001
Good morning Lance:
Sorry I was not able to call you when I was in Nashville. I was there as a presenter for the National Title VI Conference, for the Charitable Choice/Faith Based Segment. My session was from 4:-6:00. Because of lively discussion, my session ran over. By the time we finished, and I hung around for questions, it was too far into the evening to call. I left there for Tulsa, OK for the announcement for Bishop Carlton Pearson, who is running for mayor as a Republican, and is a member of our national board. The rest is travel history!
I do want to speak with you, but the board has decided the discussion needs to include them as well. The TRAAC Board would like the opportunity to meet with Beth, Matt and you, so that we can clear up any problems we may be having; determine if there is a true embrace of African-Americas within the state of Tennessee by the Republican Party; get some perspective on where we are going and what the State Party expects of us; how we are going to work together; and how we can work to mutually support each other to accomplish worthwhile and meaningful goals.
We are concerned with the present anti-recruitment climate in Hamilton County, which seemed to have been reinforced by the visit of the executive director during his speech at the Pachyderm’s club a few weeks ago. Not only are we concerned, but there are many good, solid and party supporting white individuals who are equally concerned, and willing to step forward to try to put a cap on what is happening before it reaches a point where the Party is embarrassed or labeled as racists. Not only that, but we owe it to the President, who has put himself out there in the forefront in including minorities in the Party. I believe he is sincere and is a man of principle and integrity. Unfortunately, his vision has not trickled down or it is not always shared by others within the Party. This is why grass roots efforts such as NRAAC/TRAAC are experiencing difficulties in gendering state and local support in places like Hamilton County and Tennessee, despite visible efforts to recruit minorities.
As an organization, we are at the cross roads of how we should proceed with the state of Tennessee. However, as long as the President’s arms are open to us, we will and shall continue to build across the nation, and in those areas within Tennessee where there are good people, who can look beyond race, and get beyond foolishness, and build strong party ties with open arms of embrace.
So if you can facilitate a time within the next week or two, I will advise the board, so that we can travel to Nashville for the meeting. Also this would be a good time for the State Party to meet members of the TRAAC Board.
Thanks Lance. I do appreciate the meetings and conversations I have had with you. You have always been willing to listen, and to try to assist me in finding amicable resolutions. I certainly appreciate that.
I look forward to the meeting. If you need to chat with me regarding the request for a meeting or for any other reason, please feel free to give me a call –423-510-1397.
Dr. Hill
cc: TRAAC Board Members
* * * * * * * * * * * *
——-Original Message——-
From: LanceFrizzell
To: ‘drhill’
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 7:38 PM
Subject: RE: Dr. Hill – NRAAC-TRAAC – October 25, 2001
Hello Dr. Hill,
Sorry for the slow response time on this one. I’ve been deliberating on it for several days. I’m not sure what can be accomplished by another meeting with the state party. Frankly, I thought a lot of the misunderstandings in Hamilton had been worked through some time ago. I’m not sure what you mean by the reference to Matt’s visit to the Pachyderm Club.
On our part, we feel like we have been supportive of you and your organization. We said some very positive things about you in our newsletter. That was our only statewide mailing this year. It went to 60,000 households and cost several, several thousand dollars. My advice would be to move forward. You have the ability to work for and elect Republicans. Like Reagan said, “there’s no limit to what you can achieve if you don’t care who gets the credit”
Please feel free to call on me if I can ever be of service. You are doing worthy work and I urge you to continue. It is a very good cause.
Sincerely,
Lance
* * * * * * * * * * * *
——Original Message——
From: drhill
To: LanceFrizzell
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 1:26 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill – NRAAC – October 25, 2001
November 7, 2001
Lance
TN Republican Party
Thank you for your response. However, I am not sure why you used the quote from Reagan. This is not a task where anyone is seeking credit, and certainly not me. But for whatever reason, this seems to be what is thought to be the case by a few in Hamilton County, and I see it is now being echoed from the state party. This is very unfortunate. Nevertheless, the call is certain and the task is far too great to be distracted by anything. I appreciate the comment in the newsletter. But I also have made a tremendous sacrifice to support the party with my time, resources [to the tune of over $15,000 and climbing], and by not making public a lot of the things that have happened that could be labeled anti-inclusive and even racist. But I do not give up on the task God has called me and this organization to do, and that is to raise the level of African-Americans, so that they can understand they too share some of the same philosophy of the Republican party.
And since you mention Matt’s visit to Pachyderms, I will explain to you how that impacted upon the situation in a negative way. I had e-mailed the state party asking for advise on how to deal with the problems I was having in Hamilton County. I was totally ignored, and no response was made. However, two weeks after I spoke at the Pachyderm’s club, sharing with them the support I thought we had from the state party and the excitement we had in traveling the 95 counties, the executive director comes to Chattanooga, never once mentions the TRAAC’s efforts, and on top of that gives raving reviews of everyone I mentioned I was having problems with, with me sitting there, and with most people knowing they are giving me problems! Not once in his speech did he address inclusion of minorities as a priority or on the agenda of the party. I did not care if he did not mentioned my name. That is not the point. The point is, if the executive director of the party does not see this as a priority, and recognizes a state-wide effort in his own state that is successfully bringing in African-Americans, then how can you truthfully say the party is supportive of the efforts? It was what he didn’t say that caused people to question if the state party really wants minorities. I am sure you cannot understand the point I am making, and will treat it like all of the other issues I have tried to get your help in resolving. But this is a new day, where the African-Americans coming into the party are not willing to just have issues sweep under the rug just because they may step on the foot [of] someone who is in a position of power. I am for doing what is right, and expecting that out of others as well, regardless of who they are, or the position that they hold. But at this point, I really don’t have the energy to expend on trying to get the state party to understand the importance of doing what is right towards African-Americans. So let’s just let time do it’s job. And in time, perhaps the party will become more sensitive to [the] double standard and “white wall” of silence that is used when dealing with us on issues we consider worthy of crossing the line and becoming a part of the party, even if their philosophy is aligned with the party. It’s a “fairness” and “trust” issue. Situations such as this one, keeps convincing us that we simply cannot always trust you to deal with us fairly, and with the same respect afforded other republicans.
I also think it is a big mistake not to sit down with the TRAAC Board members. But that is your choice. At least we can say we have tried everything within our power to try to reconcile what we see as issues that present barriers to inclusion of minorities within the state of Tennessee
Again, thank you for your response.
cc: TRAAC Board Members
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Frizzell was right. Prior to this matter being raised again, they had mentioned the organization in a favorable way in the statewide mailer. We were certainly appreciative of any mentioning of our organization. But I also was right. Something had changed, and it was necessary to sit down and work this out if the Caucus was to be successful. It also was a mistake not to meet with the board, and to just blow us off, as if we meant nothing.
The Matt King matter was in reference to his visit to Chattanooga, after I had apprized the State Republican Party of the problems I was having, and asked for their assistance, and a meeting with the TRAAC Board. About a week or two after I spoke at the local Pachyderm meeting, and seemingly was well received by them, Matt King, the Executive Director of the State Party spoke to the same group. During his speech, as I indicated in my e-mail response to the State Party, he apparently had met with the county party chair, and the executive director, and others opposed to me, but not once as much as even acknowledged my presence as I sat in the meeting while he spoke. In fact, he went out of his way to ignore me.
That day I made an announcement regarding the Caucus, which was the last time I was allowed to do so, therefore it was not like he did not know I was there or who I was. Besides that, there were only two of us there, other than my daughter who were black! So with only three flies in the bowl of buttermilk, it was easy to figure out who I was, even if I had not stood to make the Caucus announcement. Clearly knowing who I was, he ignored me, and did not have the good manners or common decency to at least greet and pretend to be cordial. Instead he treated me as if I wasn’t there, but proceeded to praise everyone of the individuals whom I had mentioned to the State Party that we were having problems with. It wasn’t just the ordinary recognition. It began with Congressman Wamp, then Robin Smith, and even included Marty Fairbanks! The praise was so thick and flowery that even some who didn’t realize what was going on thought it was a little lavish under the circumstances. They also knew I had visited with the State Party and wondered why he never made mention of the recruitment of minorities, and particularly our efforts as a part of the State Party’s agenda. This was the most classic display of the Republican White Wall of Silence or ”Ignore the Nigger” treatment I had ever witnessed. Not one mention of minority recruitment was made, as he set forth the State Party’s agenda. This said to me, blacks are not a part of our state agenda or priorities-at least not those in the Caucus. The way he intentionally ignored me, if I had not known that I was there myself, I would have sworn under oath, not only was I not there that day, but I did not exist and neither did the Caucus! This was the most humiliating and hurtful thing that could have been done by the State Party. I felt so violated and discouraged. I thought maybe it was just me. So I asked my best friend, Melinda Smith who is white, and also attended the same church as Robin Smith, if I had misinterpreted what had just happened. Her take was the same as mine.
“He just flat, out and out, ignored you, while he made it clear he was on their side”, she observed.
My friend Betty Rice got so upset because of this, that she grabbed Representative Jack Sharpe by the arm and told him he needed to say something to Matt about what had happened or they might lose me in the Party. I don’t know if he did or not. I waited around, but Mr. King never introduced himself to me, or even bothered to talk to me after he finished speaking. He avoided eye contact or any other form of interaction with me. Seeing this, and how hurt and devastated I was, several white Republican friends surrounded me after the meeting, along with a newspaper reporter who was there, to try to make sure I was okay, and to assure me that they did not feel the same way about blacks. Even with their encouragement, I was devastated!
It was apparent that the negative, hate and racial campaign against the Caucus and me was working from Hamilton County to Nashville. Judging from this, and the refusal to set up a meeting with the State Party, I had to wonder if anyone was home at the Republican Ranch! Anyone with any kind of political common sense would realize that if you are serious about recruiting African-Americans within the Republican Party, the most potent source is the African-American church, headed by African-American clergy! To dismiss and brush off a board consisting of African-American clergy or to treat me as a member of the clergy as they had done, being that I was well known, was political suicide for the Party no matter which way you cut it! Yet they did it, and did it with absolutely no respect for the clerical dignity of some of our board members or even respect for me as head of the organization. My request for the meeting was denied and ignored. This was amazingly scary.
When this happened, I knew that as long as Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had power, and there were those who would conspire with them, blacks in Tennessee were in trouble if they were relying upon the local, or Tennessee State or national Republican Party to be racially conscious, sensitive, fair, or inclusive.
I kept wondering what could I have done to have caused the wrath of Congressman Wamp, Robin Smith, and others to descend upon me. All I wanted was the opportunity to see blacks who had similar ideology become a part of the Republican Party.
As 2003 came in, one by one, I saw from the local to the state level, people who I had talked with and had turned a deaf ear, and ignored me, taking positions of leadership within the Republican Party at all levels. That was a clear signal that the Party was going deeper into racial opposition of African-Americans who did not conform as they thought they should, and they seemed to have no intentions of changing or making things right with the Caucus or with me. This was ever so disheartening and discouraging for those of us who still wanted to be counted among the Republican ranks. It was more than I could bear. So I left the matter in the hands of God. I knew in time, He would command a change, and cause every man or woman to be accountable for their deeds. But I could not help but be grieved to see so many of those who professed to know and serve God be involved. Now I knew that the gods of the Republican Party did indeed see color, and did not have a mind to reason.
They also spread the rumor that all I wanted was money. After having spent so much of my personal funds, which I did not have to spend, to grow and maintain the organization, throughout the years and especially during the dry seasons of my widowhood, even more deeply hurt and disturbed me. It was as if they expected me as a widow, to place a burden upon my own household, and neglect my daughter, just to recruit blacks and other minorities into the Party. The success was evident. Each time I began a black Republican organization, that was true. When I first ran for office, many blacks crossed over with me to the Republican Party.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s when I created the National Coalition of Black Republican Women, thousands of African-American women became Republicans. Then as I created the National Republican African-American Caucus, with state and county chapters, the numbers were exceptional! The proof was in the pudding. With this being the case, I would have thought the Party would have been happy to assist in anyway possible to keep the momentum going in recruiting blacks and other minorities into the Party. Other than Congressman Hilleary’s check, and one local Republican’s donation of $25 and $10 from Mike Olin, these were the only funds anyone within the Republican Party gave to carry out our recruitment efforts. This left the burden on me, because how well do I know that when you are recruiting black people into the Republican Party, you have to wait a while before you ask them for money to help with recruitment. It is hard enough to get them in, and then to ask them for money is a no-no!
They tried to make such a big deal of me asking the State Party to search around for in-kind contributions they may have had to assist us with the setting up of our national headquarters. While on the other hand, we were expected to pay our individual $200 per year to the Statesmen Dinner, and $55 or more per person to the annual Lincoln Day Dinner, as our financial contribution to the Party. Not to mention the mailers with numerous requests for campaign donations from Republican candidates, including Congressman Wamp. Adding to this are the almost monthly telephone calls, and constant flow of financial requests for donations from the RNC. Nevertheless, when we made a simple request for help to accomplish the inclusionary goals in which the Party had set forth themselves as a priority, it was made to seem like all we wanted was money. Yet no one complained about any of the other requests for money. Neither did they mention the $1000 contribution Johnny Horne, the only other local black Republican they favored, had requested from fellow Republicans in his letter to them for his campaign for state representative for the 29th district, which they gladly poured money into.
The last straws that broke my back, was the back room politics involved in the election of Wayne Crop as the next county party chair to replace Robin Smith. Behind all of this was Congressman Wamp. Once again, he was using his political maneuverings in order to retain his stronghold over the local and state party. Many in the Party knew this, but kept silent, while it was rumored how Congressman Wamp cut a deal to have his crony, Wayne Crop replace Robin Smith as the local party chair, and cut a deal with the vice chair, Gerald McCormick to support him in his run for state representative, if he did not push the issue of becoming county chair. This was a sure way to continue their control over the local party, being that Crop was a close ally of Wamp.
The “good” Republicans could have used this opportunity to stop Congressman Wamp’s racist and mean spirited regime. However, those involved in cutting the deal, and those looking on, did not feel it necessary to act, or to spare the Party or the President of the embarrassment of being at the head of a party, which could be labeled as racist. Maybe they did not see or understand what was happening. I hope that was the case. Or at least I would like to think it was.
For me, it didn’t take a lot of brains to figure out the political maneuverings
that had taken place. Wayne Crop was one of the names given to attest to me having bad character, although he didn’t really personally know me. But I knew he probably was not particularly fond of blacks, from a case where my husband had represented a client in a discrimination action against him, while he was at the Air Pollution Control Board. Perhaps this is why even with not knowing anything about me, he did not have anything favorable to say about me.
While continuing to block and accuse me of building a power base, there also was rumor that Robin Smith was vigorously vying for the appointment as the Chairwoman of the 2004 George Bush Tennessee State Re-election Campaign. Apparently the Bush campaign wasn’t interested in the black vote. Or they did not understand the damage Robin Smith had done not only in Hamilton County, but throughout Tennessee, and across the country in successfully denying the President the votes of a strong block of African-American Republicans, who but for what was going on as a result of Congressman Wamp and her, would have not only voted for him, but would have actively campaigned on his behalf across the nation to encourage other blacks to support him in 2004. This was even more of a reason why those blacks who had attempted to become Republicans were skeptical of the Party’s true commitment to the inclusion of minorities. You certainly do not ask a racist to head a presidential re-election campaign, if you are truly serious about courting the black vote! We waited to see if the rumor would materialize.
I also watched them as they used other local black clergy, even those who were not Republicans to personally circumvent my efforts with the faith-based initiative, and to exclude me from any further participation at the White House level.
An article in the Monday, July 28, 2003, Chattanooga Times Free Press, showed this to be true. Two years later the same two local pastors that Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had used to give the illusion of black inclusion, and to prevent the Caucus
I have done my part as a Christian to try to reconcile with you in love. I am sure you know why I sent the e-mail requesting an opportunity to talk to you. There are things you have done, in which we have already talked about, that were not right, i.e. calling the election commission to check my voting record. If you had any doubt, as to whether I was a republican, why couldn’t you have just called and talked with me? But you did this underhandedly, not realizing that someone from the election commission would tell me you had called. This is not a black vs. white issue. The person who told me you had called was a white republican, who has said, she doesn’t mind if I tell you she told me. She has known me since the 70’s, and knows the price I have paid to be sometimes the only black republican that was out there, taking the heat from the African-American community. She was very upset over the inquiry. There are more than a dozen other white republicans who have shared negative things you have said or have come out of the headquarters. From the Republican headquarters, all kinds of petty rumors have been spread. You also have told people that you received information from Congressman Wamp that I was not to be trusted, and that he was not sure I was a republican. You told this to Marty and she has had a field day with it! Along with as many mean and hateful things she could conjure up, she has poisoned the air with gossip. This is not the way a headquarters should be operated, and it certainly does not make for any kind of embrace of the minority community. The pettiness of what is being said, goes on and on. This along with statements that I wanted to grand stand at the Lincoln Day Dinner by singing, just as I did at my husband’s funeral when I song to him, was so cruel. You have no idea how difficult it was to preside over my husband’s homegoing. But by the grace of God, I don’t know how I made it. You cannot tell me this is the kind of behavior that is becoming of a Christian. Even someone who is not professing to know God would not have said anything this hurtful. It seems there is a concerted effort to kill my influence and credibility, and to make it look like I am a trouble maker. And had it not been for those white republicans who know me, and are not so gullibly led, this would have happened. Yes, the Caucus is being hurt by all of this. There were lies even about members of the caucus sneaking out plates at the Republican women’s picnic. We bring groups to events, and afterwards mean things are said. This should not be the case. I would think you would be excited that finally you have minorities in the Party. We have asked to be included in the newsletter. At one point you told me, the state party would not allow you to do that without getting legal clearance from the RNC. We have asked again, and you still will not include us. This has caused local republicans and Caucus members to ask me why? Without hurting the party, I have had to dance around this issue.
I have sat back quietly trying to see if all of this would eventually go away. I know I am being set up to look like the “bad” guy and the “troublemaker”. But I can no longer keep quiet, because what is happening affects the welfare of the Party, not only locally, but on a state and national level. Do you not realize how detrimental this can be for the Party, and the embarrassment it would cause the State Party and the President? All eyes and ears are on Tennessee. The White House is carefully following the progress of the NRAAC, and the TRAAC embrace.
Inclusion is something that is dear to the President, and is something he is striving to make as a national mandate for the party. Everything we do, the White House knows about it. Do you even realize how this can affect the Governor’s race? Democrats intend to regain the Governor’s seat. So we are going to need all of the extra votes we can get! Am I missing something as to why you have created a circle of influence, and the headquarters to fight something that everyone else seems to be for? I don’t understand it.
Robin, all I want is peace. I do not like confusion or gossip, and will not be a part of it. This is why I have come directly to you. Just be the Christian you say you are. If there is a problem with me or the organization, lets sit down and try to work it out, and stop all of the gossip and confusion. If I am doing something wrong, let me know. And if we can’t work it out between the two of us, let’s ask for help from the state party. We need to work together to build the party, and not tear it down. I am not looking for a fight with you or anyone else. My energy needs to be used for the task that is before me.
As you said, truth shall prevail. If I did not truly believe that, I would throw up my hands, give up and become discouraged. But because I do not believe God will allow a lie to overcome the truth, I stand firm and determined to finish the task he has assigned me to do, either in peace or with opposition, believing in my heart beyond a shadow of a doubt that “truth shall prevail”.
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——- Original Message ——-
From: Scott Smith [Robin]
To: drhill
Cc: VMorris347@aol.com ; McCormick ; Madaris, Paulina ; hcgop@usa.net ; Wes Kliner
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 9:11 PM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
Jean,
I have sought counsel from a pastor who has given me the following scripture and is standing in agreement with me on the matter that is at hand:
1 Corinthians 4:3-5
“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.”
I have not spoken any untruth of you. I have not accused you of any of the statements below nor have I repeated any information in relation to you.
The ONE truth is that on March 27, 2001 I requested your voting record be checked after learning of the dissension you had tried to inject in a Minority Committee that had its initial meeting that day during lunch. After I had learned of your attempts to influence members of the committee who met with me to “demand your presence on the program at the Lincoln Day dinner” when I had already informed you that our dinner did not at the time feature any other officially affiliated Republican club on the program and had extended an offer to recognize you if you were successful in obtaining that status from our National or State Party. To my knowledge, this status has not yet been given. On the afternoon of March 27, 2001, you, your daughter, Wes Kliner, Valerie Morris and I sat and discussed the situation of that day and your strenuous opposition of my requesting your voting record. I explained to you that as Chairman of the local party it was my duty and responsibility to address dissension and confirm the “fruit” of those who sought leadership within our Party, particularly after you had publicly stated that you had been at the local Democratic headquarters on the night of the Presidential elections. As I recall with these witnesses, our words were harsh, direct but we ended a two-hour meeting with prayer, hugs and tears and I pledged to you that as far as I was concerned that day was over and the matter was settled.
I have since referred you to the Chattanoogan.com for media contacts, I have called and congratulated you on your very eloquent remarks in relation to Joanne Favors and the County Commission and have greeted you and your colleagues at the Statesman’s dinner with sincere interest and love.
I will no longer address this matter. I have been and will continue, with the help of my Lord, to serve our Party and this community to win races, foster good citizenship, grow our local party with those of all and any color and heritage and will work with all who share our Republican philosophy and seek the good of our Nation, our state, our community and our Party.
I strongly encourage the work you are doing to serve the Republican Party. I strongly encourage you to work in supporting our elected officials and qualified candidates of races to come. I strongly encourage you to work in recruiting qualified Republicans of all heritage to run for office. I will continue to support the bylaws of our national, state and local party and work with all who support our Party. I welcome your service and appreciate your commitment to our Party.
Serving our Party,
Robin Smith
* * * * * * * * * * * *
From: drhill
To: Scott Smith [Robin]
Cc: VMorris347@aol.com ; McCormick ; Madaris, Paulina ; hcgop@usa.net ; Wes Kliner
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2001 1:33 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill
——Original Message——
Robin:
I have no further comments. I stand on the words that truth shall prevail.
Jean
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I wasn’t sure what pastor Ms. Smith had received counsel from, since she was careful to say she had sought counsel from “a” pastor, rather than “her” pastor, who was a man known for tearing down walls of racism. Hopefully it was not Pastor Ron Philips who had given her counsel. However, whoever this pastor was, he failed her in not saying to her, “Go to your sister in peace and love, and prayerfully work this matter out between the two of you in love.” This should have been the godly advice he gave to her. Not some unrelated scripture about judging. What was happening had nothing at all to do with the issue of judging. It was about reconciliation and peace.
At least in her e-mail, she admitted denying us the right to be Republicans. In her own words she says she would only be willing to recognize us if we were successful in obtaining official status from the national and state Party.
It was conclusive that no matter how I sought peace, and reconciliation, the matter of inclusion was not about to be resolved. I took issue with much of what she said in her e-mail. I did not feel it was appropriate to congratulate me on being in opposition to a black democratic elected official. I had sought to only dispel any rumors, as to a claim made by Commissioner Favors that the RNC was trying to get rid of African-American elected officials. As an African-American Republican, I felt it was my duty to align with issues within the black community, but also to dispel any rumors that were not based upon facts. As far as I knew, there were no such efforts on behalf of the RNC’s to do this. Also, I didn’t issue the statement to dispel the rumor. I did it to state the Caucus’ position on the redistricting issue. It had very little to do with Commissioner Favors, other than to also address the statement she had made. But Robin Smith had telephone me to fuel a partisan fire, and make it seem as if I was at odds with Commissioner Favors.
My statement was not intended to personally oppose Commissioner Favors, as Robin Smith had tried to make it seem. I believe Commissioner Favors and I both shared a mutual respect for each other, and I clearly understood what she was trying to do as an African-American commissioner who was faced with the possibility of seeing predominantly black districts become further diluted to the point of decreasing the chances of an African-American from being elected. She was absolutely correct in this. I applauded any efforts in this regard. But at the same time, I was tired of seeing everything through black or white eyes. I longed for the day when electing candidates had nothing at all to do with race, and that day when candidate would work for the best interest of all constituents. I strongly felt that it was time for whites to start voting for black candidates within not only black districts, but white districts as well. I was so sicken by this kind of political segregation which prohibited blacks who lived in more affluent neighborhoods from offering themselves as qualified candidates, just because the districts they lived in were not predominantly black! This was political enslavement, which worked against us.
Nevertheless, I also felt it was important to retain those black districts, until we reached that point and place in America’s history where the race of a qualified candidate was no longer an issue. Therefore, I had tried to work with the two black county commissioners, Commissioner Favors, and Commissioner William Cotton, acting as a “go-between” with the head of the redistricting committee and the other four Republican commissioners who made up a five-member majority Republican County Commission. I did everything within my power to try to assist in working out any conflicts that arose particularly between them and the chairman of the Redistricting Committee, Commissioner Harold Coker.
Just because I had no evidence, that there was an RNC conspiracy, and chose to refute the statement Commissioner Favors made, did not put us personally or politically at odds with each other. Therefore, I was not about to allow Robin Smith to try use this as they had used everything else. If I made a comment, it was because I wanted to, and not because it was something anyone prompted me to make. I also wanted no parts of any vendetta against Commissioner Favors, which now Robin Smith was trying to attempt to get me involved in. In fact, after seeing how they had used blacks in the Party to spy on the Caucus and me, and as puppets on a string to turn black-against-black, I wanted to have nothing to do with this kind of “slave-time politics”. My politics were on a much higher level than mere race and petty vendettas.
I was sick and tired of race being an issue. But it seemed that everywhere you looked, there was some sort of a racial controversy. Now race had become an issue at a local medical facility, Erlanger Hospital. It was sad to see that the Erlanger situation was filled with the same kind of racial disharmony and inability to come to terms with, which was a-typical of what I was experiencing within the Republican Party. It also was disheartening to see some of the players in this scenario were also Republicans. The allegations read:
Fowler Says Trustees Used N Word, One Complained About Sitting Between Two Blacks Says Chairman Copeland Sought To Have JoAnne Favors’ Post Eliminated
posted July 12, 2003 - News at Chattanoogan.com
Lori Ann Fowler testified in a deposition that two Erlanger Medical Center trustees “used the N Word,” and she said a white trustee complained about having to sit between two black trustees.
The hospital board’s executive administrator said board chairman David Copeland was upset about “the black behavior” of County Commissioner JoAnne Favors and sought to have her Erlanger job eliminated.
Race relations at the hospital “are bad,” Ms. Fowler said in the deposition that Erlanger attorneys sought unsuccessfully to have sealed.
She said some trustees “are not respectful of black people.”
She said Mayor Bob Corker sent word that he had concerns about them. She said, “City Hall had made some complaints about race relations at Erlanger.”
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland “sent Irvin Overton down there to tell him it isn’t true.” Mr. Overton, who is black, is an Erlanger vice president.
Asked if what Mr. Overton was told to tell the mayor was true, Ms. Fowler said, “I was aware there were problems.”
Ms. Fowler, who has been on paid administrative leave since last December in connection with an email investigation at the hospital, said Mr. Copeland “uses the N word.” She said, “I think there’s a different attitude toward blacks. I like to think it’s because he’s from a different generation and he just thinks differently.”
She said Mr. Copeland once showed her a picture of his family genealogy and said the N Word was his family nickname. She said that word was under his picture.
She said, “He laughed about it. I found it offensive.”
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland said he got the nickname because his first job was shoveling coal.
In earlier testimony, witnesses said Mr. Copeland was closely allied with several black board members and officials at the hospital, including board members Dr. Bess Ingram and Dr. Calvin Bell and physician Dr. Alan Hughes, and that he worked well with them. He took Jermaine Harper, another black board member, on a 3-day mission with him to look at personnel files of Erlanger officials.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland referred to “CP Time” when blacks were late for an appointment with him. She said it meant “Colored People Time” and referred to being “slow.”
She said Mr. Copeland became upset with Commissioner Favors, who is administrator of the hospital’s Southside Health Clinics.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland “said she had cost the hospital half a million dollars because her black behavior made the County Commission mad and they reduced the indigent pay by half a million.”
He said Mr. Copeland “said they could eliminate JoAnne Favors’ position. David said they wouldn’t have JoAnne then.”
She said the proposal was to have hospital official Paula Autry, who is black, go into a new position over cultural diversity and the health centers. She said Ms. Autry would be overseeing the centers and there would be no need for Commissioner Favors.
But she said Ms. Autry felt it was a demotion and “wouldn’t go along with the deal.” Ms. Autry eventually was fired by Erlanger, and she now works at a hospital in Virginia. She is suing Erlanger over her dismissal.
Ms. Fowler said Mr. Copeland said of Mr. Overton “that he was not going to have any power or authority at the hospital.”
She said Mr. Copeland said Charlesetta Woodard-Thompson “will do what she’s told.” Ms. Woodard-Thompson, who is black, is the current interim administrator at Erlanger.
Ms. Fowler, choking with emotion, said when white trustee Dr. Barry Heywood had first come on the board he was looking over the names of other trustees. She said he came to that of trustee Stewart Jenkins and said he was related to him and that Mr. Jenkins “had a nigger son-in-law.”
She said Dr. Heywood complained several times about having to sit between two black trustees at board meetings. She said he stated “it looked like an Oreo cookie.”
She said she told Mr. Copeland about Dr. Heywood’s complaints, and he said, “Just don’t put him between two black people.”
Dr. Heywood is currently heading up a committee to choose a new CEO for Erlanger.
…Ms. Fowler tearfully said at the close of her deposition, “I think I’m going to be fired for what I said today.”
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Now I could see why Robin Smith called to congratulate me regarding Commissioner Joanne Favors.
The David Copeland that was mentioned in the article was a devoted Republican and former state representative. Despite what I read, somewhere in the back of my mind, I still hoped the allegations were not true. Perhaps because I wanted to still believe in the integrity of those in Republican leadership past and present, even though it was obvious that there also were those in the past as well as in the present who had less than honorary intentions and regards towards blacks. I also wanted to believe that Republican racism was confined to politics.
Ironically, the coalition of six black community groups, which appeared before the Human Rights and Human Relations Commission to register their complaints regarding racism at the hospital, addressed the same Human Rights and Human Relations Commission in which Robin Smith had been appointed as a commissioner. Talking about strange fruit! Of all the people who could have effectively served in this position, Robin Smith was appointed to the City of Chattanooga Human Rights Commission! No one could figure this one out! The fruit was just too strange to get a take on why and how this happened!
Many questioned this decisions, and wanted to know if I had shared what was going on with those in elected positions, and if so, how could, and why would they place someone in this kind of position who had fought so adamantly against blacks and other minorities coming into the Republican Party? I could only tell them that I had advised Mayor Coker, by way of letter, as well as every other local elected Republican officials of the problems we were having with her. But as to the “how” and “whys”, I was just as much baffled as they were. They knew, but apparently the decision was made just the same.
This also was the same Commission, which out of nineteen commissioners, three commissioners whose terms had expired were still serving, and five positions on the commission were vacant, with it having been over a year since anyone new, i.e. Robin Smith was appointed. This showed the level of commitment to race issues in Chattanooga, and the seriousness by which the Commission was viewed. Also with the level of Republican presence at City Hall, there was also an opportunity had Republicans wanted to include Republican blacks, to fill at least one of those vacant commission positions with a representative from the Caucus, just as they had hand selected Robin Smith. At least one of us being appointed would have made more sense.
We all remain puzzled over how Robin Smith was appointed to serve on the Human Rights Commission. It was hard to reconcile how someone who was a pharmaceutical representative, with no background in civil rights, community service, negotiations and mediation, and had openly displayed racist behavior was appointed to a committee that dealt with alleged infractions of civil rights laws. Especially since, those appointed her knew a black female Republican with a law degree, and experience in this area, and who would have been a much better qualified appointee. It just wasn’t adding up. Even if they did not want me to serve, there were other Caucus members without law degrees who could have done well in serving in this position. But nevertheless we were excluded and many with expertise in this area were flatly ignored.
From the testimony of Lori Fowler, it showed a blatant pattern and practice of racial discrimination within the Republican Party’s past leadership, which also was seen in the present local party leadership. Seeing and knowing all of this now, I am not so sure if I would be so vocal to refute any such claims made by anyone against the Republican Party on any level, and since I openly refuted Commissioner Favor’s statement, I take this opportunity to get my foot out of my mouth. I humbly and openly apologize to her. Perhaps she may have known something back then, that I didn’t know. Nevertheless, I had given the Republican Party the benefit of the doubt, even during a time when I was fighting my own battles with racism within the Party. But now, with so much racial bias pointed in the direction of Republicans, this caused me to not be as eager or willing to defend the party’s racial practices.
As to the other parts of Robin Smith’s e-mail, I did not recall our meeting at the headquarters ending with any real resolution to the matter. I only knew, I could not leave with the anger I came in with. Therefore, I did embrace them in forgiveness for what they had done. Neither did I recall her greeting our State Board members with love and interest. I took the time to take them around the banquet hall at the Statesmen Dinner, and introduce them to her and other members of the party. I took them to her table where she was seated, Otherwise, she would have never had a need to be cordial to them at all, and would have probably ignored them, just as she had done me.
I had no idea what she meant by me influencing members of the Minority Outreach Committee. There were only four minorities on the committee, other than Wes Kliner who is white. Two of whom were Caucus members, and the other two included Johnny Horne, and one other Hispanic, who was frightened to death to say a word against them in public. Actually it wasn’t really a committee. There was only one meeting, and after that we never heard any more about “minority outreach”. From that, Robin dissolved the committee, and called it by another name, with Wes Kliner still heading it, to train candidates and “us” as minority Republicans without him having any prior expertise or experience in this area.
With the new committee, Caucus members were asked to attend classes to teach “us how to speak and handle ourselves in public”. To this, I quickly responded that the members of our Caucus already knew how to speak and handle themselves in public. Most of them were in ministry, actively involved in church, educators, businesspersons, PhD, and master’s level, and individuals who were leaders in their communities and intelligent people. Therefore, it was an insult to suggest we needed this kind of training. Also, even if there was a need for grooming Caucus leaders, we had plenty of qualified members within our own Caucus who were capable of providing this kind of training. Certainly Wes Kliner, Robin Smith, Zach Wamp, or anyone else in the Party were not capable of training us in any area in which we could not train ourselves. And what made them think we needed training! Training for what? To be nice, little “token-nigger” Republicans? Of course with me being the outspoken person that I am, this did not endear me to Robin Smith. In fact, it made them mad as hell to see a black woman with some degree of intelligence and courage challenge every wrong and devious move they made that was racially insulting to us, and detrimental to the Party. But I could not keep silent. I was tired of racist white folks acting as if we were idiots or so uncivilized that we needed training. I felt Kliner, at that time might have meant well, but unfortunately he was their little puppet on a string, doing everything they asked him to do, not understanding that he was being used, and talked about behind his back by the very same people who pushed him out there to do their political dirty work!
When I very animatedly and vocally expressed this concern, immediately they changed the training to that of potential candidates, and made it into a candidate’s school rather than for minorities. It was one thing to ask Caucus members interested in running for office to attend a candidate’s school, but since they didn’t plan to support any of us for election, except for Johnny Horne, the candidate’s training for us was for naught.
Back when I sent the e-mail to Robin Smith, I also sent it to the County Vice Chairman, Gerald McCormick. He was the only one to respond with some desire to see the matter resolved.
> ——- Original Message ——-
> From: “Gerald McCormick”
> To: “drhill”
> Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 9:59 AM
> Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
>
>
> > Jean,
> >
> > For the record, I am way out of the loop on what is
> > going on at Headquarters and speak to Robin very
> > rarely. I hope you all are able to work this out to
> > your mutual satisfaction and we can all work toward
> > electing good Republican candidates instead of
> > fighting amongst ourselves. Keep up the good work and
> > I believe your perserverance will pay off in the end.
> > Thank you.
> >
> > Gerald McCormick
> > Vice Chairman- Hamilton County Republican Party
> >
> >
From: “drhill”
To:
Sent: Wednesday, October 03, 2001 10:22 AM
Subject: Re: Dr. Hill - NRAAC Attachments
> Thanks Gerald:
>
> I look forward to the same. You have always been very kind to me, and I
> appreciate that.
>
> I won’t give up. Keep me in your prayers.
>
> Love,
>
> Jean
* * * * * * * * * * * *
McCormick was a pretty decent person. But I knew it would not be long before they would attempt to bring him also under their political control. In fact, from that point on they began to scheme to get Gerald under their control. Before then, they ignored him and treated him like he did not exist, and rarely included him in Party matters or decisions, although he was vice chairman of the local party. They could not afford to have Gerald out there welcoming and wanting to see African-Americans come into the local party, while their agenda was just the opposite, and they were fighting hard to keep us out. Good guess this is why they later maneuvered to get him out of party leadership and vowed to support him as a candidate instead.
Despite my own inner party wranglings, I also was very vocal during the redistricting wrangle. My interest was both as a Republican, and as a member of the African-American community. My political mindset, and the mindset of the Caucus were moving towards a day when politically, blacks could operate outside of the “predominantly black district box”, and get elected by whites, rather than solely being elected by African-American constituents. The Caucus made our position clear in this news release, which I think must have been seen as a political threat to Wamp and Smith, and to some white elected officials who felt as black Republicans, we should only run for office in black districts.
NRAAC
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 5, 2001
OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE NRAAC, TRAAC AND HCRAAC ON NATIONAL AND HAMILTON COUNTY REDISTRICTING
The NRAAC/TRAAC/HCRAAC, strongly support minority representation, and especially African-Americans at all levels of government. But it is our goal to move away from solely segregated and carved out political opportunities for African-American leadership, and begin to integrate more into the political landscape where qualified leadership is not based upon the color of one’s skin. We hope qualified African-American leaders can be offered up as candidates in any white majority district, Republican or Democrat, and still be supported. This is the true test of both inclusion and integration. We are opposed to any plan, which seems to suggest that the only way for an African-American to be elected is by creating situations where only a majority of blacks are allowed to elect blacks. Many communities, such as those in Hamilton County, Tennessee have become more racially integrated. The African-American population has become more widely dispersed, making it less possible to find exclusive African-American neighborhoods. While some may see this as a threat to electing African-Americans to office, the positive side is that it creates a greater sense of community and the need to work for the common interest of all residents. It also promotes more opportunities for racial reconciliation and harmony. Carving out specific African-American minority districts served its purpose in acquiring political parity in times past, and now may still be the answer in part, for ensuring minority representation. However, it should not continue as the “only way” for African-Americans to have “their political say”.
We are both saddened and disappointed with statements hurled at the Republican Party that the redistricting problems, on a county level is a part of “a national Republican initiative to take away majority Black seats”. This statement is not only inflammatory, but it is totally incorrect and unfounded. Neither the Republican National Committee, the Tennessee Republican Party, nor the Hamilton County Republican Party have discussed, instituted or even suggested that there should be such an initiative. What should be said, is that the Republican Party’s national, state and local agenda is to actively involve and include minorities, particularly African-Americans into the party, and encourage them to participate at all levels, which include qualified candidates running for public office. For any one to allege there is such an initiative is to gravely misinform the African-American community, in an attempt to gain support for one’s own political agenda, by inflaming African-American citizens with the same old “race” and “Republican Party is out to get us” cards. This does irreparable harm in further dividing us as a community, and keeps us as a race, always operating within the “one party” and “black box only”, not understanding, that we are Americans first. Therefore we must become more politically astute, and look for and encourage opportunities to conduct our political affairs in broader political circles, where we can integrate and be accepted for the tremendous contributions to society we have to offer, regardless of party affiliation. On behalf of the more than 1276 African-American Republicans in Hamilton County, and African-American Republicans nationwide, we assure the African-American community, that no such initiative exists. And if it did, as an organization, we would be the first to openly and vigorously oppose it. For we too are Americans of African decent, who are committed to doing what is just, fair and right.
We encourage our African-American leadership when informing the community, to seek factual information. Otherwise, their cries of “wolf, wolf”, when there really is no wolf, will eventually fall even upon deaf African-American ears.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Also, earlier that same month, I had written a letter to the editor of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the local paper, which was published, identifying what we felt were the true challenges of the redistricting, and black urban flight.
NRAAC
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAUCUS
Embrace
LETTER TO THE EDITIOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 10, 2001
THE TRUE CHALLENGES OF THE LOCAL REDISTRICTING DILEMMA
There has been a tremendous “urban flight” of African-Americans from the inner city and into the suburbs, due to upward economic mobility, and the desire for housing on larger tracts of land. On the other hand, there is a migration of Whites to some areas of the city. The urban flight out of the City has greatly dispersed African-Americans into traditionally “white majority” and “Republican” districts, resulting in more integrated communities. These signs of upward mobility are encouraging, however, it presents both a “negative” and a “positive” side to the redistricting dilemma.
The negative side is a dilution of the concentration of the African-American voting block, which makes it harder to maintain districts that once contained a “black voting majority”. This leads to the present wrangling over where lines should be drawn and in reaching a redistricting compromise. The solutions to this dilemma include: 1) Re-drawing lines to create minority districts that would contain new census tracks, which might cause minority incumbents to find themselves running in districts where they would have to seek the support of a new base of constituents. 2) Getting their fellow Democratic colleagues to give up portions of their districts containing large blocks of African-Americans, in the spirit of party cooperation, and racial accommodation. 3) Or the least popular of the solutions, gerrymandering, which would allow district lines to be drawn in such a way to accomplish the results of maintaining a two minority districts, by diluting the voting strength of the White districts. This would provide an advantage to African-American voters, while at the same time present problems in carving up other districts in order to strike the right minority balance.
The positive side of the African-American urban flight scenario is the opportunity to live in integrated communities and forge new friendships and relationships. Integrated communities mean children are schooled together; parents are brought together through PTA and mutual involvement of their children; and families interact through other church and community activities. Interaction becomes a part of the norm; common issues, presents opportunities to huddle together to find workable solutions; relationships are built; and people are allowed to fellowship and get to know each other as neighbors, friends, and allies, rather than as racial or political opponents. It is from the positive side, that there comes the hope of one day building a Hamilton County and an America where the best representation is not based upon racially concentrated districts or solely upon partisan politics, but in choosing candidates with true vision and an agenda that brings us together as one. Integration has done its part. Now it is our duty to stop the racial and partisan bickering that only serves to divide us and distract us from the real business at hand, ….which is to love each other as neighbors and build strong, vibrant, and healthy communities, that serve the needs of all of its people.
Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
[Dr. Jean Howard-Hill is the National Chair of the National Republican African-American Caucus. The role of the NRAAC is not just to recruit African-Americans and other minorities into the GOP, but also to promote racial harmony, and encourage non-partisan cooperation on issues that affect our community.]
* * * * * * * * * * * *
At that time I had no idea Commissioner Coker’s seat would be up for grabs. Neither did anyone dare share that with me probably because they knew we would have prepared ourselves before hand to place a candidate in the race. Because seemingly this information was kept from us until the last moment, we were not prepared to put a viable candidate in the race. Therefore, I became the “lamb for the slaughter” to test the waters by running as a Republican candidate for the vacant county commission seat in this predominantly white Republican district.
I did not enter the race to win, but it was necessary for us to gage the white Republican support for the inclusion of African-Americans, and to access the damage that the anti-inclusion campaign of Congressman Wamp and Robin Smith had on the local political landscape. I had no other choice but to run as a write-in candidate because Commissioner Coker did not announce he would not be running for re-election until just a few months before the election. I had been traveling nationally recruiting for the Caucus, and just happened to be home on the weekend, and saw an article in the newspaper. By then, the deadline to qualify with the Election Commission had already passed. Therefore I had to make the decision to run as a write-in candidate, or not at all.
Also because I had been warned that if I or any other black, wanted the support of the local Republican Party, we had to come through the local party chair Robin Smith, and Congressman Wamp, I knew it would be an exercise in political futility. Nonetheless, we had to attempt a test run of our political acceptance.
What happened next was nothing more than the erection of a solid Republican White Wall of Silence.
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