Today's political environment is highly charged. It is super easy to set off bombs with just the wrong phrase. It seems people are on a "hair-trigger" anymore. Almost everyone is ready to shout you down at the drop of a hat. I wonder sometimes about the content and the context of most political rancor. I wonder is it ever have much to do with where and how I live. As a conservative Black man, I have long since stopped being a photo-op for politictWhite Republicans that barely knew what part of town I lived much less any of the real concerns of those living in the urban core.
When I was attending meetings and gatherings I would make sure that I was long gone before people started to gather on the stage to take pictures with the guest speaker.
At first, I was of the mindset that it was important that people saw a Black face at Republican meetings. I under the delusion it might encourage more conservative Black people to come out. I was all kinds of wrong and I got tired of being everyone's BBF ( Best Black Friend). So for a long time, I had no ties with tradition outlets for conservative politics other than my work here on BTR.
I also took a long look at my Democrat contemporry and wonder if they though the same thing I had. For some, our thought patterns on these matters were in synch.
So that brings me to the question should Black people still involve themselves in mainstream politics other than maybe voting.