I always tell you I am here to help. For you visual learners I am providing the above Black Political Compass 1.0. I made the Compass to help you navigate the landscape of black political thought and to help you ask me better questions so I can write more interesting essays in return.
This is version 1.0. I will be fine tuning it over time and releasing updated versions. Keep them handy so you can follow along in class. Also, from time to time I see my work dressed up and presented on other sites without attribution (you know who you are). I can’t really do anything about that. I’m glad people think my thoughts are worth . . . let’s say, borrowing. This compass, though, DON’T YOU DARE. Readers, please let me know if you see this show up in other places besides here.
Directional Points:
LEFT =. traditional, New Deal, Great Society, Democratic Party platform of 1976 in the center all the way out to Communist. Inclusive of Progressives, Socialists, Fascists et al.
RIGHT = traditional American moral values, customs, and traditions in the center all the way out to faith, family, flag, “these colors don’t run”, Spirit of 1776 types
RADICAL= here meant in the classical definition of fundamental or root. People who want America to reflect (in their versions) the essence of what makes America unique.
REACTIONARY = here meaning people who are disaffected from the current order and want it changed to a version they think is more in line with what is right (however they define right)
Groups Mapped (all definitions mine. Names listed not exhaustive of the group and subject to change):
INTELLECTUALS (magenta): Think Glenn Loury, John McWhorter, Thomas Chatterton Williams, William Julius Wilson, Dave Chappelle
THE HARD MEN (gray): Curtis Scoon, Charleston White
LIBERTARIANS (orange): The Hoteps, particularly Uncle Hotep & Hotep Jesus, Maj Toure, Sonny Johnson, Felecia Killings. Yes, some or all of them, would object to being called Libertarians but this is my compass. I’ll explain later.
FREE MARKETEERS (green): Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams
PARTISAN/IDEOLOGICALLY COMMITTED (red): Candace Owens, Larry Elder, Starr Parker, Jessie Lee Peterson
ROYCE WHITE (purple): Royce White
SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES/CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT HOLDOVERS (blue): Robert Woodson, Shelby Steele, Kendall Qualls, Mark Robinson, Jason Whitlock [secret member who would have the FBI scrub this website and have me imprisoned if she ever saw this - Donna Brazile]
Not categorized but on my radar for future inclusion:
ADOS - American Descendant of Slaves movement. This group could go any direction. I need some time to map them.
FBA - Foundational Black Americans. Same as above.
PAMELA DENISE LONG
SHEMEKA MICHELLE
Alright, y’all. Put your questions in the comments.
Subscribers - don’t get mad at me but I’m making this one free. You are advanced scholars but other people really need this cheat sheet. The more that have it the better. I’ll paywall the updates.