Hey everybody,

When I first started this blog, I put up the first MySpace layout that I could find that matched my color palette...

But I never look at my own profile...so I didn't realize that it was truly hideous.

It actually made my eyes bleed.

So, since I redesigned my business websites,

(http://marketing.icjackson.com - yes, this is shameless self promotion)

I figured it was time to give the Black Conservatives Blogspot profile some much needed attention.

But, I decided to ask you all first what you think I should do to it. Its bare now, but what kind of look and feel do you think I should go for?

I am taking suggestions...

And in the interest of being totally lame, (LOL) I will make it a contest.

Whoever has the best design ideas (I can make them happen - just dream something up for me), I will make you guest moderator for a day!

Your post will be published here and at another blog for which I have recently become an administrator - the HBCU GOP - http://hbcugop.blogspot.com

(Self promotion, but not so shameless that time).

So, help me keep this thing interesting, and tell me what I should do to the place.

Alright, I have to get back to work...baby needs a new pair of shoes...

I.C. Jackson

Heeeeeeeeey y'all!

It's been a while, but I'm BACK!

Had a lot of work to do on my website. Got a consultation from a marketing specialist, and realized that I needed a total makeover.

(If you've got a minute, please visit http://marketing.icjackson.com and tell me what you think!)

So anyway, back to business...

I hope Beverly doesn't mind, but I was inspired by a recent blog posting of hers that kicked up a LOT of sand:

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=54688076&blogID=205481425&Mytoken=8A72A626-4DFA-4C3C-9D69ADD411D996C738724501

Of course, she was attacked for labeling herself a "Black-White Girl"...viciously...and it wasn't anything out of the norm, but some of the reader comments got me thinking...

While being told repeatedly that she does not "embrace her race" and that she should have more pride in who she is, one reader asked, ' Instead of calling yourself a Black-White girl, why don't you just call yourself a Black woman with class?'

I could have thrown up my lunch, and then slapped the woman who said that...but of course, I am a non-violent person, of course...

WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY CAN'T SHE JUST CALL HERSLEF A "BLACK WOMAN WITH CLASS"? Yes, I'm shouting, but I'm just angry that the racial pride police doesn't even see how twisted that kind of statement is!

So what, only White women have class? A classy woman is immediately associated with her being White? Why would a Black woman with class have to distinguish herself as a "classy" Black lady, AS IF THAT IS SO RARE AMONGST BLACK WOMEN!

Are you SERIOUS?!!!!

How ironic; the self-hate police hate themselves, too.

Without getting too deep into it, let me put my Black Conservative spin on this, because that is the purpose of this blog, right?

Race is NOT the foundation of anyone's identity - not in real life. Your race is a part of who you are, but it mostly affects your social and cultural habits, and that was God's intent. To give you a few brothers and sisters that you could relate to on an intimate level outside of your biological family. Race helps us relate to each other sometimes, when that kind of relating is necessary and productive. Like here in the Black Conservatives Blogspot - Black conservativism comes with some unique challenges, so we can come here to relate, learn, and grow together.

However, if someone who is Black simply identifies more with White American culture, what's wrong with that?

There's only something wrong with it when you hate who you are (racially) and you are constantly looking for racial affirmation. If you actually buy into the negative connotation that comes along with being Black in America, then you would hate being Black, and you would have to always find some source of superficial pride because you feel like all the cool kids on the playground are whispering and talking about you, and it makes you uncomfortable. Someone who doesn't fully relate to what most Black Americans have coined "the Black Experience" (unrightfully might I add) feel like if you break solidarity then you must be a traitor and maybe those who hate us for being Black are right and maybe White really is better because dang, even Beverly thinks so...

SHEESH!

Grow up, will you? Its almost 2007, and Black America is still stuck in a half-tailed (I don't curse but you know what I'm saying), pseudo-nationalist loyalty to all things "Black", which are usually tainted with the foul odor of all things "ghetto", which should never be associated with a race - poverty has its own culture, and it's not mine just because I was born in the hood.

But then again, I have been accused of being a Black-White girl of sorts myself...but where I'm from, we say that I'm 'bougie' with ghetto tendencies...

Now if you want to attach a race to that, fine. But bourgoisie is NOT White, just like ghetto is NOT Black.

Black and White are more about colors and cultures than identity and loyalty in my book...

but maybe I'm reading the wrong book...

What do YOU think?

Take care everybody,

I.C. Jackson

Greetings Black Conservatives and friends,

As a young entrepreneur, I have been to almost every online networking community there is. Most of them stink...

But they stink because they are too large and they bring in too much riff raff. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not getting snobby on you, but if you have ever tried to network on these sites, you already know what I am talking about. You've got the big whigs and the teeny tiny whigs who more often than not aren't committed to excellence (only to getting rich quickly), so the environment is not one that encourages growth for those who are in between.

And it ends up turning into a bunch of cliques anyway, and the cliques are the ones doing business with each other...but that's real life. Cliques and crews hang together and hook each other up. Just look at the White House...

So since this is our clique, we might as well exercise some of that capitalistic muscle in here and network for the benefit of all. I can place a basic trust in your business ethics because we all subscribe to a similar set of beliefs concerning economy and civility. I hope that you can place that same basic trust in me.

Here is what I want everyone to do; tell us who you are, where you are, what you do, and what you need/want. However, concerning your needs and wants, do not base them on whether or not you think you can afford them right now. You never know, someone in here may know someone else who can get you what you need at the price you need. I will keep this post alive and active ever so often so that it doesn't get lost in the archives.

What's the point in being a group of Conservatives if we don't encourage capitalism?

I am a web designer in Michigan, but I can facilitate nationwide. My niche is the small business community; I cater to those who need simple, streamlined web solutions without all the expensive bells and whistles. You can even get a quick quote on a new website at the home page. I also create animated banner ads.

Visit Jackson Independence Web at http://websites.icjackson.com

I also host an e-commerce shopping mall. We have everything under the sun, but we cater to businesses who market online - I have special products and information for internet and online marketers.

http://marketing.icjackson.com

If you are a business owner, fee free to join our referral network!

http://marketing.icjackson.com/guests.html

Right now, I don't need a whole lot...a marketing guru would be nice. I am looking to make general connections right now...build up the e-Rolodex, preparing for the future. As my needs increase, I will post them here...like in the classifieds, you know?

As the Midwest Regional Deirector of the National United Freedom Alliance, I am looking for conservative thinkers who wish to establish local groups but who need a curriculum and support - our organization provides that.

Check us out at http://www.nationalunitedfreedomalliance.com

That's all I can think of right now...I'm actually about to be running late for Bible study if I don't get up RIGHT NOW!

So, post your ads here...remember, you have not because you ask not...

I.C. Jackson

MySpace,

Let me TELL YOU...(getting comfortable with you...I feel like you and I are at that point now)

I was going to call this post, "The Importance of Banding Together", but that does not really express the sentiment. This thing is more serious than even I thought.

What am I talking about? I am talking about the too often polar opposition of "us" and "them". This isn't about party affiliation - this is about mentality.

You might have heard of a Black business networking site called "Connecting Black". I joined earlier this year, and was a regular. This spring, I took an internet hiatus, and came back to work late in the summer. However, right before I left, I was beginning to feel that Connecting Black was a waste of my time.

Since I've been back, I have brought with me some more business knowledge and support. So, I decided to give Connecting Black another try; except this time, I was going to be strategic in my planning. The kind of business that I am running is most likely patronized by either a warm market or by those who are actually looking for what I offer. That means no more wasting time with any old body, trying to convince them to buy what I sell. If you are feeling me, we can network, and create mutually beneficial relationships. If you're not feeling me, you 're probably not going to buy from me either, so why are we talking again?

You get the point...

So, I performed an experiment on the Connecting Black forum. My platform as a freedom fighter on all levels, both natural and spiritual, is to use the truth to force people to choose. I am not into time wasting with anyone anymore - I am going to tell you the truth in love, but in such a way that you will be forced to either draw closer or shy away from me. For the jobs that I have been assigned, I HAVE to operate that way. I started a thread that I knew would either draw others like myself out or ostracize me from the group entirely, and I was willing to take the chance for the sake of progress.

Oh MY God...its a little crazy in there right about now...you can view the post at this link:

http://www.connectingblack.com/forum_detaillisting.asp?forumID=27591

I might has well have come in there with a Joan of Arc T-shirt on...

But it only reinforced my firm belief in the need for us to band together. If I had been a weak person, I might have begun to doubt myself and my beliefs. The next thing you know, I might have started to 'backslide' into a bound mentality because of the pressures of those around me. I might have decided to keep hanging out there because I didn't have anywhere else to go, anyway.

That's my point.

Since the inception of this blog, many of us who are thinking along the same vein have been surprised to find each other...we all have, at least at one point in time, sort of wandered about the internet, looking for a place where those who think AND look AND socialize like us convene and grow...

This blog is one of those places. Another one of those places is the forum of the National United Freedom Alliance. It is brand new, and we need your help. You don't have to be a member of the organization, but you do have to be able to think your way out of a paper bag (as my country mama would say) to be welcomed there. No dum dums (unless they stay quiet and learn!), and no arguing. This forum is for people who already get it, so that we can talk about the issues and the plans for the movement, continuing to band together and grow stronger.

And the movement is coming....but it won't gain momentum unless those of us who have connected from around the country can "stick together"...like snow...have you ever seen one of those HUGE snowballs or an avalanche rolling down a hill?

The movement needs momentum even before it is launched. That means we need you. So, if you are committed to working toward the growth of "our" community, then please commit to making this forum a success.

You can access the forum from the main website:

http://www.nationalunitedfreedomalliance.com

Alright. I'm off to catch up on my work. I have been trying to get my latest site ready for Cyber Monday. If you shop online, or if you need a website/banner ads for your business, check me out at http://marketing.icjackson.com

Have a great day everybody,

I.C. Jackson

Man,

Today was a little depressing for me. As I updated The North Star (A New Underground Railroad Safehouse - click here to view) concerning OJ's sicko endeavors, I went off a bit about Black male celebrities in the media...you can see it on the topic of the day...and later on, I find a video clip of Dave Chappelle's "Black Bush" that really put me over the edge...

Now I know just like everyone else that Dave Chappelle is known to be a laught riot...but at whose expense? At first the video seemed like it had comedic promise, but then, just as I was getting comfortable (I normally don't watch him...he makes my spirit hurt), he did it again - he reminded me of why I don't watch him in the first place. (See the clip on The North Star). And you should really take a look at the comments that other viewers left (you have to click on the clip to see the comments)... it is absolutely embarassing...the first couple might not tip you off...just keep reading...

So yet again, I am wondering what in the world is wrong with Black male celebrities? Are they really that jaded and unaware of what they look like, or do they just hate themselves? I mean, the cultural whoredoms are beyond belief; do they have any conscience at all? Its not even just a Black thing; don't these guys have any shame, just as individuals?

Now our "Black leaders" have spoken out against Michael Richards for using the 'n' word, (http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Outrage+over+Seinfeld+actor's+racial+slurs&id=96728), but what do they have to say when Dave and all the other Black media moguls capitalizing on ignorance say it? When Hollywood casts young Black men and bid them to season their dialogue with the 'n' word for 'authenticity', where are the Black leaders then? When another rapper or actor plays the ghetto Sambo, what do they have to say then? When OJ goes around ho'ing for a dollar, why don't they speak out against that? Everybody's ho'ing for the almighty dollar...and who's paying the bill?

What do Black men have to say about this? How did we stoop so low without anyone calling for accountability for real?

There are more and more of us who are tired of this...There is a movement stirring...when the call to action comes, I hope those of you who are ready will answer. Until then, what are your thoughts?

[Because I posted this blog entry pretty late, I will leave the current Topic of the Day and Video portion of the site in tact for a little while, to give you some time to see it.]

Stay real,

I.C. Jackson

Greetings,

By now, many of you know that I am a member of a growing national conservative organization, the National United Freedom Alliance. We have a brand new forum, and one very interesting topic currently posted is "Are We Still In Need Of Tribal Chiefs?" This is my formal invitation for you to participate in this forum, and to check out the National United Freedom Alliance as an organization.

The group and forum discussions here have their ups and downs, simply because this is MySpace, and there is no shortage of immaturity and ignorance here.

So, if you would like an intelligent alternative, the new National United Freedom Alliance forum is definitely the way to go. Its not just politics; its about conservative lifestyle. Its about the culture of success - its about you!

There is also a post about New Orleans that I think everyone from N.O. should read...if you know anyone from N.O., pass it on.

See you there!  http://www.nationalunitedfreedomalliance.com

I.C. Jackson

Affirmative Action – The 'Ugly' Truth

Whether you agree with this article or not, please forward it to anyone you know who is concerned with the issue of Affirmative Action in the Black Community. If you love what I have to say and it empowers you, or even if you hate it and think I'm crazy, pass it on for the sake of critical analysis. We must begin to think more critically about Affirmative Action, and not simply assume that since it was created for our benefit that it is automatically beneficial.

If you can't be objective and pass this on, it's probably because you know I'm right and don't want to admit it...

On Tuesday, November 9^th, Affirmative Action was overturned in Michigan. I don't have to tell you how heated most Detroiters were about this. I know that many assumed that the racists in West Michigan passed Proposal 2, and that it was because nobody wants the Black man to get ahead.

However, I supported Proposal 2 as well. Me; a Black woman from Detroit, from the 'hood, not living high on the hog by any means (yet), and not what many of us would call 'an Oreo'. Me, with my Black self, was glad that Proposal 2 passed.

Now here it comes...

'What? How could you be glad about that? Are you one of those Black Republicans that thinks racism no longer exists in America? What about systematic and institutional racism? Did you think that went away? What are you, a sell out?'

I know that racism still exists. Yes, I am a Black Republican, but I used to be a Democrat, and I wasn't a fan of Affirmative Action then, either. And no, I'm not a sell out.

I'm a truth seeker. And the truth is that the issue of whether or not Black Americans should support Affirmative Action has little to do with racism any more at all. The issue is whether or not it's working...and its not.

'How can you say it's not working? There are thousands of Black people who have received opportunities that otherwise would not be afforded them without Affirmative Action. You sound like a house nigger...'

Sigh...Affirmative Action is not working as an agent for change like the architects may have thought it would. Affirmative Action is not creating a more racially tolerant, evenly integrated academic and corporate 'playing field' in this country. Affirmative Action is a 'nigga quota', everybody knows it (except us apparently), and it is actually having the opposite effect on American culture. It's dividing the races; many White Americans resent it and us because of it. Those who foster a paternalistic view of Black America anyway because of their cultural environment feel justified when they examine our love and devotion to Affirmative Action. White students and coworkers often assume that Black attendance at certain schools and employment at certain levels are due to Affirmative Action, and not because those people deserve to be there. What's even worse is that instead of encouraging Black Americans to be more excellent, Affirmative Action actually encourages those who take advantage of it to harbor feelings of entitlement and to accept mediocrity because the competitive playing field must be manually 'leveled' for the sake of their Blackness, regardless of the competence and confidence found in those who exhibit superior performance or qualifications. These sentiments aren't just coming from the mind of I.C. Jackson, but from many recipients of Affirmative Action 'benefits' themselves.

Since many of you still seem to think the world owes you something because your forefathers were slaves, let's cover this now: the only people owed reparations are former slaves, and possibly the immediate children of former slaves. They were the ones who did the work and literally depended on that lost income. Of course I am not calculating the oppression, denial, second-class citizenship, or the racist intimidation when I make such statements; however, those factors are not technically relevant to the point. No one owes you money for work you did not do. While grandchildren of slaves might have some kind of argument because they were in such close proximity to the direct affects of slavery, you my friend are so far removed from those lost wages that you have absolutely no right to lay a claim to them or to any other special treatment for that matter. Just because you are qualified for a job, that does not mean you are supposed to get it! Nobody owes you the debt of hiring you, especially if there is another candidate who might exceed the qualifications. Does that mean whenever qualified Black people are turned down for jobs that there must have been a more qualified candidate? No. Racism in the workplace does very much exist. However, it does not mean that any time a qualified Black candidate is denied that it is because of racism. So how do you determine which is which? Where is the justice? Well, I can tell you one thing; justice will not be found in a forcefully imposed 'nigga quota'. Justice is found in attaining equal rights, not special rights.

So now that we are clear on the fact that no one owes you anything, we can get down the nitty gritty. Affirmative Action is not healthy for the American psyche, Black American or otherwise. It does not promote higher achievement and standards, which are all that Black America should be promoting right now, especially in Southeast Michigan (hate it if you want, but that's real). Furthermore, it promotes government dependency as well. How many Black people in Detroit complained about how now their 'opportunities' were being cut off because of the loss of Affirmative Action. Excuse me? Did you forget how many Black Americans graduated from prestigious White universities BEFORE Affirmative Action? Did you forget how many Black Americans succeeded in corporate America as well as in entrepreneurship BEFORE Affirmative Action policies? And maybe its just me, but if the only reason you are giving me a second look is because you have a 'nigga quota' to fill, I don't want your stinking job or 'opportunity' anyway. I believe in earning my keep, and if I can't fairly and justly earn my keep with you and your camp, then I will go elsewhere.

Humph!

Look Black America, we don't need Affirmative Action to succeed, and its an insult to who we are for anyone to insinuate that we can't go on to greater heights without it. When Proposal 2 passed, you got your true worth back. Even if you have to be smarter, work harder, and far surpass the rest in order to get the respect you deserve, it only makes you better. Didn't you guys see Rudy? Great movie...the underdog of underdog movies, but it is by far the most moving. Rudy wasn't even excellent at what he did, but he refused to give up until he achieved his goal fair and square. Black America, let us exercise some self respect and do the same.

 Be blessed,

I.C. Jackson

Today will probably mark one of the busiest blog days EVER.

I am making a personal commitment to visit political blogs everywhere, leaving my mark. This is the kind of day bloggers live for.

So, the Dems take Congress...

Lord have mercy. America is in for some mess...and according to some sources, it is mostly because of the heightened focus on Republican scandals.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20061108/D8L8MM9G0.html

And of course, there weren't any Democrats involved in any scandalous activity, oh no. If there had been, our completely unbiased American media would have given it equal news coverage. Oh no, the Republicans are just evil, and the actions of a few represent the ethics, values, and actions of the whole.

You know, it makes me sick how America is trusting a bunch of spin doctors and witch hunters who can't even admit that there is dirt on both sides, and that they had to mimic what is best about their opponents to even gain the trust of the American voters. But America has always had to learn her lessons the hard way. This is another one...

The Democrats gained momentum by principles of the Theory of Social Identity, explained here:

The Theory of Social Identity investigates the psychological basis of intergroup discrimination, and is composed of three elements: categorization, identification, and comparison. This theory, formed by Henri Tajfel and John Turner, suggests "that group members compare their group with others, in order to define their group as positive, and therefore by implication, see themselves in a positive way. That is, people choose to compare their groups with other groups in ways that reflect positively on themselves." (Wikibooks, Introduction to Sociology). This logic is built upon the foundation of Leon Festinger's 1954 notion of social comparison, which says that in order to validate ourselves, we compare ourselves with similar others in a discriminatory way. The Theory of Social Identity also suggests that through group association and comparison, one bolsters his or her own self-esteem by associating him or herself with successes within his or her own group, thus sharing in the success as an individual because he or she is a group member, and futhermore as an opponent of other unsuccessful groups.

So, in a nutshell, most people determine much of their sense of success, moral superiority, and other characteristics connected to self-esteem through their association with particular groups.

In laymen's terms, the Democrats used the media to make our group look bad, and it made them feel better about themselves. With that increased confidence came hope for a future more focused on themselves (being all who associated themselves with the Dems this term), and with that narcissism came increased voter turnout among the Democrats.

'Our guys are better than your guys, nah nah ne nah nah...'

And that's how the left was won...

So what did we learn? We learned that these old scandalous farts need to keep their things in their pants, their hands out of the cookie jar, and their eyes on the real problem, which is public opinion. Bush made a big enough mess without us having to come behind others, whom I won't name, and try to juggle all of that with our conservative morality argument as the pedastal we sat upon. The public opinion is that Conservative Republicans are hypocrits, full of crap and out of gas.

They stole our seats, y'all...they stole OUR seats.

How did they manage to pull it off? Study the behavior and the social science...you might see something else of value in there...something that Black America could benefit from greatly.

More on that hidden treasure at a later date in the near future...

I.C. Jackson

I'm going to keep this short -

By now, you should know that the Democratic party preys on the politically immature and illiterate...and America's poor and uneducated (especially those of the Black community) continue to be raped because of their apathy.

Think about it: when a child is seduced online by a pedaphile, he or she is wooed with the promise, whether blatant or implied, of some type of comfort or attention that will serve as a substitute for the legitimate love and attention that the child is missing in their own lives.

The Democratic party promises to "care" and "provide" for communities who are too hopeless and helpless to do so for themselves. That way, people who would otherwise be conservative (based on their proposed values) blindly vote Democratic because they are 'the only ones who really care about my community'...

Honey, let me let you in on something - nobody really cares about your community but you; and they're not supposed to! If they do, God bless 'em, but its usually because they possess a paternalistic view of you and your community, not because they genuinely care about the uplifting of the underexposed and underpriviledged. Some people really do care like that, but they are much fewer in number than you think, and even fewer are rich and sappy enough to devote their time to lifting you up without some benefit in it for them. If the Black community, or any other community for that matter, wants to be "uplifted", they will have to do it themselves. (And it would go a lot smoother and faster if Black families just started uplifting themselves and then put pressure on their extended family and friends to do the same...)

Now don't get me wrong, some people are liberal because their values are liberal. While I don't agree with them, I don't have to. I just hate it when people with conservative values vote liberal because they are too ignorant to READ, RESEARCH, and ANALYZE the issues for themselves. If more supposed Democrats had any idea what the Democratic platform really was, they would be shocked and amazed. (I know this for a fact - I have advised many "Christian Democrats" on what Democrats really believe in, and they couldn't believe it.)

When are people going to grow up and realize that they are prey for those who are willing to play the race card and the poverty card in order to win votes?

What do YOU think?

I.C. Jackson

http://northstar.icjackson.com

There are all types of predators out here. For the sake of our well being and that of our families, responsible Americans need to be on the look out for all types of predators at all times. This "To Catch a Predator" (borrowed from NBC) blog series will discuss matters of predators and prey.


Part One: Online Child Predators

These online predators are really sick...I watched the last installment of "To Catch a Predator", and it only reminded me that when my son gets older, he will NOT be using the internet alone for a very long time (he's just a toddler now).

I see it this way: internet access is so vast a territory, its like letting your child loose in the big city by himself or herself. If you honestly think that your child is old enough, competent enough, and responsible enough to run errands in the big city by themselves and still make it home on time with the agreed upon agenda accomplished, then maybe that child can be trusted alone on the internet. However, not many kids younger than 16 could pull it off, either in the real world or in cyberspace. Most elementary school and junior-high school students just aren't grounded enough to handle such exposure without falling into curiosity and temptation.

So I will be monitoring my child's internet access until he can legally drive. If I am overprotective for that, then oh well. But I tell you what, my baby is not going to be lured into a private chat with a sicko molester because I wasn't there parenting like I should. I hope Dateline has helped many underexposed and undereducated parents realize the extent of their responsibilities concerning children and technology access.


What do YOU think?

I.C. Jackson
http://northstar.icjackson.com