Music mogul and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs has a big announcement: He’s started a new political party.
And why? The entertainer’s deeply troubled over the state of the nation, particularly where race is concerned.
And he doesn’t think Donald Trump is helping.
Hence, on Friday, he tweeted thusly:
“The NUMBER ONE priority is to get Trump out of office. HE HAS TO GO. We can’t allow this man to continue to try and DIVIDE US. The people that have the most responsibility and should be SCARED TO DEATH of this man are white people. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A RACE WAR.”
The NUMBER ONE priority is to get Trump out of office. HE HAS TO GO. We can't allow this man to continue to try and DIVIDE US. The people that have the most responsibility and should be SCARED TO DEATH of this man are white people. WE ARE ON THE VERGE OF A RACE WAR.
— Diddy (@Diddy) October 16, 2020
As part of Diddy’s work toward the opposite, he’s formed “Our Black Party.”
It’s neither Democrat nor Republican — it’s about being black.
Therefore, he said, it will help the “political agenda” of black Americans.
“I’m launching one of the boldest things I’ve ever launched,” he tweeted.
“Things have got too serious. It would be irresponsible of me to have us hold our vote hostage. But it would also be irresponsible of me to let this moment go by and not make sure going forward we are doing what it takes to own our politics. … The mission is to create a platform to help advance a political agenda that addresses the needs of Black people. So, going forward we aren’t in the same position we are in today.”
Things have got too serious. It would be irresponsible of me to have us hold our vote hostage. But it would also be irresponsible of me to let this moment go by and not make sure going forward we are doing what it takes to own our politics.
— Diddy (@Diddy) October 16, 2020
He encouraged followers to get more information at OurBlackParty.org.
The site lists nine tenets:
- Black people have a right to own their politics.
- Black people have a right to a fair and just criminal legal system.
- Black people have a right to economic equity and equality within the United States of America.
- Black people have a right to health equity in the United States of America.
- Black people have a right to educational equity in the United States of America.
- Black people have a right to every unalienable right guaranteed in the constitution of the United States.
- Black people have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
- Black people are not a monolithic group and, therefore, we have a right to advocate for different things.
- Above all, Black people have a responsibility to love each other and accountability is love.
To that end, Sean’s Team Biden — he wants Joe installed and his formerly chlorine-soaked feet held to the fire:
“We need to get Biden in and hold him accountable. Trump has taken things too far. As Black people, we aren’t even a topic of real discussion. We can no longer stand for doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. That’s insanity! It’s time we unify.”
We need to get Biden in and hold him accountable. Trump has taken things too far. As Black people, we aren’t even a topic of real discussion. We can no longer stand for doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. That’s insanity! It’s time we unify.
— Diddy (@Diddy) October 16, 2020
As for demanding POTUS answer to the people, I’m reminded of recent Twitter videos from O’Shea Jackson — AKA actor/rapper Ice Cube.
In September, O’Shea asserted no one is owed the black vote:
“Anybody telling you that you’ve gotta vote, that it’s your duty… … Be skeptical of anybody telling you to vote and not telling you to ask for anything. Or to tell you to just vote and not to get anything for your vote. … That’s not the process — you don’t vote just to vote. You vote because you’re getting something… … People that just want you to vote and not ask for [anything]…[they’re] suspect.”
He’s right, of course — nobody’s inherently deserving of any vote. People should believe their candidate is going to do things that better their lives, whether it be through increased involvement or getting government out of their way.
On October 8th, he made clear his attitude toward politicians: “I don’t trust none of ’em.”
Of that more recently posted clip, RedState’s Jennifer Oliver O’Connell wrote, “Cube is looking for who has the best solutions, and who will render the biggest payout in order to invest in solutions for the Black community. … One thing [he] has been doing differently is actually reaching out to both the Democrat ticket of Biden-Harris and the Republican Trump re-election campaign.”
Back to Sean, it’s true there’s a desperate need for unity — among us all. We’re fractured in multiple ways, and we’re not on course for improvement.
The citizenry, in my opinion, would do well to focus on one identity above all others — that of being American.
It seems to me that so long as we fail therein, we fail fully.
However, the words of both Mr. Combs and Mr. Jackson do serve to indicate a profound transformation in U.S. politics: More than ever before, the black vote can’t be taken for granted by Democrats (see Candace Owens and Blexit here). If either party wants ballots cast by black Americans, it should be expected to earn each one.
And nothing is more American than that.
-ALEX
See more pieces from me:
He Was Born in the U.S.A., but the Boss May Be Changing His Hometown Because of Trump – and You
Man Passes Gas in an Uber, Ends up Charged With Assault
Colin Kaepernick, Essayist: The Athlete Pens a Series on the Superior Safety of No Prisons or Police
Find all my RedState work here.
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