Many of us are familiar with the five stages of grief. The stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (DABDA) have been widely understood for nearly five decades as the human process of coping with death and dying. I was surprised to learn that Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’ observations about death and dying were not originally developed to help individuals grapple with the loss of a loved one. Rather Dr. Kübler-Ross’ model of grief was based on her work with terminally ill patients whom she witnessed struggling with their own death sentences. Based on Kübler-Ross’ work we understand that everyone experiences grief differently. People may walk through all or just one of the five stages. They may experience them in order or out of order. But what we’re certain of is that when there is loss, at least some form of DABDA will accompany it.
Politically speaking, in terms of loss, Democrats are waking up to the news that their party and its grip on Americans who are black is dying. For decades Democrats have rested on laurels like, no Democratic presidential nominee has received less than 82 percent of the black vote since JFK. He got 68 percent in 1960. Or they have basked in the glow of no Republican presidential nominee in the past 80 years has done better than Eisenhower’s 39 percent in 1956. As a result of this stagnation and ongoing Democrat threats and intimidation of blacks in America, their stronghold has remained unchallenged - until now.
Recently 400 young, conservative black leaders took Washington by storm. They donned red MAGA hats, chanted USA, and cheered the president many of them were taught to despise. Turning Point USA, the conservative organization which targets millennials, facilitated this four-day event. The 2018 Young Black Leadership Summit hosted men and women between 15-35 years old. Turning Point asserts they received 1200 applications! When you consider these black conservatives have largely only known Obama’s America, their presence in D.C. this past weekend was an unapologetic rebuke of what they’ve experienced.
After the 2016 upset, Democrats were in denial. They believed they would push a Russia tale that would thrust Hillary to a perch she coveted. That sham, having become old and tired died slowly while 2017 revealed incapacitating depression. Democrats didn’t even know who they were. Their only goal was to get President Trump out. They allowed radical, violent socialists to take over their party. Antifa anyone? In 2018 we’ve seen anger and vitriol the likes of which commentators say hasn’t been seen since the 60s. Conservatives are attacked in public with Democrats encouraging more. Black conservatives are called coons and traitors to their “race” whatever that means. Charlatans are trotted out to call black conservatives props, a hilarious irony.
If you’re keeping track, Democrats only have two stages left, bargaining and acceptance. The problem with Democrats attempting to bargain with members of #blexit, a growing movement of black Americans leaving the Democrat party, is that open borders, high unemployment numbers, the mass slaughter of black lives, impoverished communities, and bold attacks on the church, make poor bargaining chips. When you couple this black awakening with unfettered access to information, the final stage of grief in the death of the Democrat party is impending.
Democrats will accept that they don’t own black Americans. They will accept that if they want votes they will have to make an actual case for their candidates. Democrats will accept that their party has become the enemy of patriots, common sense, and certainly the church. They will accept that “coon” or “house negro” no longer work as tactics to control and manipulate black voters. They will no longer demand that successful black Americans, “remember where you come from.” Unfortunately for them, having enjoyed the bounty that is conservative leadership, black voters won’t be easily convinced. This is as it should have always been. Congratulations, Trump is making independent thinking great again!
