There has been a remarkable silence emanating from Rep. John Conyers (D- MI) concerning an issue very dear to his heart: reparations for American Blacks to compensate them for the injustice that was slavery. A serious observer of the political scene in June 2008 must wonder why and perhaps be suspicious of his recent quiescence?

Conyers climbed aboard the Reparations Express in 2000, stressing that the movement was "not coming forward in an accusatory tone toward any citizens or their ancestors," but that "we simply think that Congress should take a look at the lingering effects of slavery so that we may get a deeper appreciation of them and reach some consensus about what the solutions may be. The issue of reparations is not something beyond our understanding," Conyers wrote. "It's a pretty fundamental issue if you look at it. I'm saying it's time we did." (http://www.answers.com/topic/john-conyers)

I have a few disquieting differences with that statement, as well as with Conyers’ apparent de-emphasis of the “issue.” 

First, if his tone was not “accusatory” then what is it? It certainly isn’t laudatory or complimentary to even suggest that anyone or any entity owes compensation to Blacks for a vile, worldwide, institution that was ended in the United States over seven generations ago at a cost of hundreds of thousands of casualties in our Civil War. As for the “lingering effects of slavery,” that contention too is baffling for the same reason, namely that any victims of Black slavery are long dead and any residual effects that carry over for that length of time must surely be attributable to the victims rather than the perpetrators of the evil of slavery. Finally, if the issue is “fundamental,” I would ask, fundamental to what? 

However, more to the point, and aside from the fact that other supporters of the idea of reparations for Blacks include “Reverend” Louis Farrakhan and others of his ilk and aside from the absurdity and impracticality of exacting reparations from Whites when thousands of freed Blacks also enslaved their own in the 1800’s, the whole idea of reparations is as repugnant and as racist as slavery.

I refer the reader to the African-American organization, Project 21, (http://www.nationalcenter.org/P21PRReparations802.html), to a very angry White organization, http://www.wewontpay.com/pl10.html, and to a rabid Black reparations website, http://www.blackcommentator.com/10_reparations.html.

My purpose here is not to debate Black reparations. Rather, it involves my initial rhetorical question: Why are Blacks such as Rep. Conyers so quiet on the issue of late? 

This is just conjecture but could it be that Conyers and his compatriots know that to talk about reparations now, when Senator Barack Hussein Obama potentially could become the next president of the United States of America, would spook the living bejesus out of many White supporters?

It’s just a thought but I think Whites in America should consider what that would mean. It could make $4.00 a gallon—or $20.00 a gallon-- gas prices seem reasonable.

TRANSCRIPT OF PHONE CONVERSATION OVERHEARD BETWEEN ONE BARRY, aka aka BOY, aka BAMA AND ONE JERRY, aka REV, aka REVEREND.  

Recorded May 30, 2008   0815 EDT

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

“Ok, Rev, here's the deal. This chit has really hit the fan now."

"What you mean, Barry? Chit?"

"You know what I mean, Jerry, all the stuff you've been saying for years, about the honkies and this racist country we're stuck with. Now, with Reverend Mike pulling his imitation of you . . ."

"Oh, that. Well, I challenged Mikie to see if he could pull off giving one of my sermons because he said it was easy. I mean, it is easy, sorta, since I believe every word I spew but, dammit, that sonuvabitch actually did it! I forgot that he hates this muthaf….ing country as much as I do and . . ."

"Excuse me, Rev, I have to interrupt. You're not getting my point. I have to bail on Trinity United."

"Bail? Whatcha talkin' 'bout, Bar?"

"I mean resign from the church."

"Resign?  Resign? What the f..k  yo' mean, resign? Done nobody resign from mah church, you muthaf…ing oreo!"

"Hold on, Rev, you resigned, didn't you?"

"Boy, you know Ah retired and only because you asked me to, real nice like. I coulda gone on for a hella years but, no, you had to suck up to the honkies and make yoself look like da man just so's you can be elected da president of this hellhole nation! And then yo goes and tears into me!"

"Look, I explained all that. This country would never be so stupid as to elect me after the media got hold of your sermons.  I got ‘em fooled so far but I had to distance myself. It's like that trade stuff that dumb turd Goolsbee let slip to the Frogs. We had to deny we really meant that my administration would restrict trade with Canada. And, remember, the Secretary of State slot is still yours for the asking."

"Yo can shove yo slots, Bama.  Yo forget, Ah married yo sorry butt to dat Robinson beatch…

“You’re referring to my wife, Michelle.”

“Right--and ah gots to say she’s been sticking her foot in her mouf a lot lately—and ah baptized those pickaninnies of yours . . . what’s their names again?”

“Malia and Sasha, and don’t call them pickaninnies, please.”

“Yeah, Malia and Sasha, and yo sat yo sat in mah church fo’ twenty f…ing years and yo nevah said a word about what I preached, . . . okay, you did say yo loved what I said a slew of times . . . and now yo has to distance yoself?  Yo can just distance THIS!”

“Rev, you know Michelle and I made hefty contributions to Trinity United. In view of that, . . .”

“Hold on, dere, Boy. Until yo decided two years was enuff experience and yo wanted to become Da Head Massa of Honkyland, getting money outta you was like whacking off a dead man, da Trinity ladies used to call you Da Man Whose Check Always Be In Da Mail, and dat time yo donated yo skivvies . . .

“I was merely emulating Bill Clinton.”

“Yeah, whateva!  Dey say yo is so smart, just like dey said dat Da Great White Hope be da smartest lady  on da planet back when she was cleaning up after her bubba.  Best thing I can say about yo is, yo sho not be too dumb if you can get aways with what you’re doing. And no dress stains if she be da vp, ya hear! (sounds of laughter,  guffawing)

“Reverend?”

“Yeah, Barry?”

“You do know this is just a temporary split, right, merely a temporary measure for the sake of expediency?”

“Barry, Ah knows dat! I was just bustin’ yo white gonad!” ( laughter)

“Good.  After all, you’re my mentor, my spiritual guide. You’ve been like a daddy to me, in fact, the only non-Muslim daddy I’ve ever known.  (laughter) When I’m elected, if you don’t want State, you know you can choose any position in government you want.”   

“Barry, yo is just too good to me.  Ah would be honored to be Secretary of Defense. Ah has dese plans to surrender da Jewnited States to Iran. (hysterical laughter)   By da way, could you find a job for Pfleger?   I hear St. Sabina’s finally kicked out that honky. Fo’ some reason, he wants to be assigned to a all-boys school.”

“Sure, Reverend, whatever you want. I can make Pfleger Education Secretary.”

“That’d be fine, Bar.  He just loves dose kids! Well, gots to go prep my next talk. Ah be speakin’ ats da Elijah Muhammed University commencement.”

“Okay. Salaam, Reverend. See you November 6^th!”

“Yo betcha yo will see me! Oh, wait, will yo still be campaigning hard in all dose 57 states?

CLICK

(END OF TRANSCRIPT 0831 EDT)