(ThyBlackMan.com) Editor’s note: Samuel Newby, chairman of the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans, wrote the following letter to Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee and David Bitner, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
I wanted to share my very deep concerns on the extremely negative feedback and fallout I am receiving here in Florida. This is in reference to the recent racially offensive initial preamble to the “Marriage Vow” belonging to the group called “The Family Leader” in Iowa and of the two presidential candidates who signed it.
I understand from media reports that the Marriage Vow included initial language in its preamble which suggested that Black children born into slavery 
were better off in terms of family life than African-American kids born today.
It read, “Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA’s first African-American President.”
As if that were not bad enough, a spokesperson for the group reportedly said, “It was not meant to be racist or anything. It was just a fact that back in the days of slavery there was usually a husband and a wife…”
Don’t know history
For the Grace of God! Do they not know anything about American history and slavery? Families were torn apart; mothers were separated and often had their children pulled from their arms to be sold in slave markets and on plantations. As far as trying to be a “two-parent family,” slaves were beaten for even attempting to be husband, wife and a family.
How can these two presidential candidates – who will need the Black vote – allow themselves to have such a need to acquire an endorsement from a state that they would sign something so inhuman?
Although the Iowa group has retracted the language regarding slavery from the opening of a presidential candidates’ pledge, it doesn’t erase the fact that it was put out there to begin with. Most individuals know that once abusive language has been said or written, it leaves a stinging afterthought. It never goes away.
‘Bogus’ response
This is 2011, not 1811. For two of the presidential candidates to sign the candidate vow and say they didn’t read the top page with the Marriage Vow attached to it is bogus. This is an embarrassment to loyal and dedicated Black Republican and conservative leaders who continually fight an uphill battle, and who are vilified by liberal Black and White politicians, the media and their own communities!
If this were not bad enough, it was an embarrassment to those of us laboring in the vineyards to expand the base of the Party, wanting it to be more inclusive to more African-Americans, Africans, Caribbean and Hispanic Americans, etc. Growing numbers of ethnic groups who are registering as Independents are doing so because they do not trust the major parties or feel that they really care. This was a great example of those shortcomings.
Any Black consultants?
How many of the GOP presidential candidates have any Black advisors or consultants? How many GOP candidates for governor or the U.S. Senate? How many even think of appealing to the large numbers of Black and Hispanic Republicans in their primaries? A few “drop-ins” at Black or Hispanic events won’t cut it!
If the Republican Party and the conservative movement continue to ignore the realities of the 2010 Census and the changing demographics of the nation, what will happen in 2012?
I am sure that President Obama and the Democrats just love watching us committing political diversity suicide amongst ourselves. Will the Party and its candidates learn from the Iowa fiasco? Hopefully!
Written By Samuel Newby
