December 20, 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union because of one simple fact. South Carolina didn't not want to lose the privilege of maintaining the peculiar institution of slavery. This was the beginning of what would become the most fierce battle on this nation's lands. The nation was split by race in 1860 and that split would lead to the Civil War. The election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860 was the final blow for South Carolina. Even though Abraham Lincoln didn't really want to end the institution of slavery in this nation. Lincoln simply wanted to end the future spread of slavery beyond it's current borders. Race has always been a peculiar issue in America. Dubois stated that the problem of race would continue to be the problem in this nation into the 20th Century. It seems that wherever issue that cause confrontation in this nation those primary issues reflect back to the issue of race. Ibram Kenti's book, Stamped From The Beginning discusses how race is stitched into the fabric and weaved throughout America's history from the days of the Revolutionary War up until present day. America always seems to be caught in the snare of the racism and the ills that are manifested by its power. In 1860, the issue of maintaining men, women, and children in bondage for their entire lives and the lives of coming generations was the reason for South Carolina's succession. Even though a bloody war was fought and hundreds of thousands of lives were lost the race issue was never solved. The issue of race was never completely confronted and the inequality caused by racism was simply ignored and allowed to fester. All the Civil War accomplished was the end of legalized enslavement by chains and bondage. The issue of race and racism was never confronted or eliminated. The fact is the race and racism was allowed to prosper for almost another century or more.

Now we still have a nation conflicted with the issue of race and racism. Those being confronted with the hatred and divisiveness that permeates because of race and racism are still people of color but now that color has spread across the rainbow. In fact when America should have entered a post racial period after the election of a President of the color. The actuality is that race and racism has evolved and grown more depth to those on the wrong end of the color line. The inequality gap that is manifested due to race and racism on economic and educational levels has widen. Today, we America is a nation continually split along the color line and that chasm has allowed the election of President who relishes the hate and hatred that race and racism causes. When the nation should be concentrating it's focus on solving the numerous ecological issues facing our planet. America is stuck on a revolving spinning wheel powered by race and racism. When America should be concerned with elevating the needs and wants of those without the great benefits of this society. America is pointing the finger of race and racism to those people of color in need. When America should be sharing the bounty of it's wealth, the country is driven by a small class of economically empowered people who turn of the engine of divisiveness and anger to keep the average citizen focused on those in need rather then those centered on greed.

Now December 20, 2019, 169 years from the date of South Carolina's succession from the Union. We have people in this nation talking again of civil strife. You have state legislators pondering whether its time to do what South Carolina did 169 years which lead to a Civil War between the Northern States and the Southern States. They will say it isn't about race or racism but any person with a sense of history and a sense and understanding fill comprehend that race and racism is motivating these acts and actions. So, the question is this. Has America truly moved the needle to a post racial society? No, because in order to move the needle you have to have actual conversations about the impact that race and racism has had on the American society. America has to make amends for the deprivation that race and racism has caused to those on the wrong side of the color line. Especially, African Americans who were forced into free labor situations to build this nation. African Americans who were brutalized simply because they were on the wrong side of the color line. African Americans who were prosecuted relentlessly simply because they were on the wrong side of the color line. So as we back to December 20, 1860 a date of infamy in American history. We must be form and our demand that our America, yes our America confront the issue and race and racism and make amends for the acts that were allowed in order for race and racism to prosper.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

IT'S IN YOUR HANDS BLACK AMERICA, IT'S IN YOUR HANDS"

YEAR TO DATE 738 KILLINGS IN CHIRAQ, AND OVER 7,400 SHOOTINGS SO THAT MEANS THAT 1 OUT OF EVERY 10 SHOOTINGS IN CHICAGO THE BODY ENDS UP ON A SLAB IN THE CITY'S MORGUE. HOW MANY POTENTIAL FRED HAMPTON'S, HAROLD WASHINGTON'S, REDD FOXX'S, TERRANCE HOWARD'S, BERNIE MAC'S, MELVIN VAN PEBBLES'S ENDED UP ON THAT SLAB OF STEEL IN 2016 NEVER TO FULFILL THE PROMISES OF EXCELLENCE SWORN TO THEM BY HOPE OF TOMORROW?

THIS HAS GOT TO STOP THIS BECAUSE WHEN MALCOLM X ASKED THAT WE AS A PEOPLE NEED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE BALLOT OR THE BULLET. MALCOLM X NEVER INTENDED THAT WE AS A PEOPLE OF COLOR CHOOSE THE BULLET AND POINT THOSE GUNS DIRECTLY AT EACH OTHER OF THE SAME COLOR. WE ARE THE OPPRESSED NOT THE OPPRESSOR YET WE STRIKE OUT AS OPPRESSED AGAINST THE OPPRESSED. DAMN, CHIRAQ HAD A TOTAL OF 481 KILLINGS IN 2015 BUT THAT FIGURE WAS SURPASSED BY LABOR DAY THIS YEAR.

"US KILLING US" SIMPLY MAKES THOSE WHO OPPRESS EVEN STRONGER, AND THAT MAKES "US" THE SUPPOSED OPPRESSED SEEM SO IGNORANT OF THE PLIGHT OF OUR OWN STRUGGLES BECAUSE IT SEEMS WE ARE ALIGNED IN OUR VERY OWN DESTRUCTION. SO, AS OUR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THIS NATION PROCEED TO MOVE INTO A NEW YEAR. THE DEMISE THAT OUR ANCESTORS FOUGHT SO VIGOROUSLY AGAINST SHOULDN'T BE ENABLED BY OUR VERY OWN HANDS. IT'S TIME FOR OUR COMMUNITIES MEMBERS, YOUNG AND OLD, RICH AND POOR, EDUCATED OR NON-EDUCATED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN EITHER BE OUR OWN ALLIES IN THE STRUGGLE TO ACHIEVE COMMUNITY GREATNESS. OR, WE CAN BE OUR OWN ENEMIES TOWARDS ATTAINING ANY MEASURE OF POSITIVE CHANGE. YOU SEE WE CAN BRING DOWN ANY CHANCE FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO REACH ITS HIGHEST PLATEAUS OR CONTINUE TO SETTLE FOR THE DEPTHS OF CONSTANT DESPAIR. JUST AS ADAM CLAYTON POWELL JR. SAID IT STILL RINGS TRUE IT'S IN YOUR HANDS, BLACK AMERICA, MAKE THE EFFORT TO MAKE A BETTER TOMORROW TODAY, NOW THIS MINUTE, WHY WAIT? YOUR HANDS, NOT THEIRS OR ANYONE ELSE'S.

#joesmokethoughts

Rather than focus the impeachment issues today I am bringing some good news to my blog site. You see the black residents of Chicago, Illinois has indeed begun the battle of turning those small weapons of community destruction away from their brothers and sisters. This year the current murder although still high has dropped precipitously since I made this post three years ago.

In 2016, 738 murders had occurred by 12/19/2016 but on 12/19/2019, 493 murders have occurred which means 245 primarily black men are walking and talking in 2019 because of the downtick in Chicago’s murder rate. Although, 493 lost souls is still an extremely high rate of violence. This is the third consecutive year that murders in Chicago have fallen.

To me that is sign of hope for the black residents of Chicago’s black communities. Because if you can drop the number of murders by 245 in 3 years. You will be able to drop the numbers of blacks being murdered in the Windy City by 493 by the end of the next decade.

For that to happen we must remain diligent and faithful to the cause of eliminating us killing us. Truly when that happens Black Lives will truly matter. You see once Black Lives matter to each and every black Chicago resident then we not them solve our own problems. It will come a time when Chiraq is no longer the moniker for Chicago’s inner city residents.

So rather than spend another post on the political stalemate in our Nation’s Capital. Let’s lift up our arms in grace that Chicago is finally beginning to fulfill the words of Dr. Martin Luther King:

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Chicago has been caught in darkness far too long. Maybe it time for a wondrous beam of light to drive out the hate. Yes, as Adam Clayton Powell said so many times it is in your hands, not the hands of the oppressor.

In 1868 Andrew Johnson who was absolutely an unpopular President came within a single vote of being impeached on charges of high crimes and misdemeanors that were approved by a Republican controlled House of Representatives. Historians will tell you that Andrew Johnson's impeachment was precipitated by his firing of Edwin Stanton's as Secretary of War. That Andrew Johnson had secured a commitment from Ulysses S. Grant to take over the cabinet position. The fact that Stanton had the unwavering support of both Houses of Congress was a primary reason for the impeachment actions against Andrew Johnson. In actuality many of Andrew Johnson's actions that were viewed as Anti-Reconstruction and deemed as Pro South were also factors that initiated the impeachment proceedings against him. So unpopular was Andrew Johnson it was reasonable to assume that he would indeed be impeached by a jury of Pro-Reconstruction Senators. It was rough and ready politics during that period of history and many historians claimed that bribery was the only thing that kept Andrew Johnson from being impeached. It was a time when deal making with the promise of jobs and other gratuities were being offered. Simple, it wasn't getting Andrew Johnson cleared. The three articles of impeachment that were defeated by a single vote by the US Senate will go in history as a stain on the governance of this nation. The botch of this impeachment was generated by Andrew Johnson's distaste for the recently freed slaves getting any headway in terms of citizenship of voting rights. Andrew Johnson was a racist, a bigot, and no lover of blacks gaining any economic foothold in the south. It was Andrew Johnson who declared Field Order 15 which guaranteed former slaves 40 acres and a army mule null and void. He returned the land promised to the recently freed slaves back to the Confederate Plantation owners. The reason why Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives was that he was a staunch defender of southern rights. Johnson riled up the northern legislators who wanted to see Reconstruction implemented. With 9 years after the Trial of Andrew Johnson the Compromise of 1877 effectively ended Reconstruction when the Republican Party choose the White House over black equality in the southern states. One vote kept Andrew Johnson from being impeached. One vote kept the US Senate from impeaching Andrew Johnson and reaching the 2/3 threshold needed to secure a guilty verdict.


Now we jump ahead 152 years to 2020 and another Impeachment Trial will be taking place in the United States Senate. Only this time it's not a liberal wing of the Republican Party that controls the power of the vote to convict a sitting president and remove him from office. It's not a case where 82% of the House of Representative in 1868 voted for the Articles of Impeachment. In this case only 54% of the House of Representatives voted for the Impeachment of Donald Trump. It was strictly along party lines. While in 1868, the Democratic largely southern congressmen and senators were in Andrew Johnson's corner. The current House except for two democratic congressman, Jeff Van Drew and Collin Peterson voted to impeach this sitting president. It was a partisan vote clearly along party lines. If even 1 Republican Congressperson had crossed party lines maybe the case for Trump's impeachment would be a little more favorable. The fact that not one single republican legislator in the House voted against Trump spells doom to any chance that Donald Trump will be impeached. Because in the current US Senate the Republicans are in control of the proceedings now. Even with John Roberts in charge of the actual impeachment trail. John Roberts, the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a justice appointed by the a republican president. Mitch McConnell holds the keys to the Senate Leadership. With 53 Republican Senators and 47 Democratic Senators assuming that every Democratic Senator votes for impeachment which is no sure thing. It will take 19 Republican Senators to cross the party line to successfully remove Donald Trump from office. If you look at the current electoral map from the 2016 election results by state. The red states outnumber the blue state which simply means Donald Trump will be on the ballot for President in November 2020's General Election. If the Democrats in the Senate aren't careful they may even botch up this entire trial and provide Donald Trump the momentum he needs to secure a second term. I call this Donald Trump's gambit read my blog from December 18, 2019. The reality if that based on the vote taken in the House of Representatives Donald Trump will be absolved of any criminality by a vote of at least 53 Republican Senators to 47, most likely less Democratic Senators. Anyone who thinks that Donald Trump will be removed from office by this current US Senate is on some weird psychedelic drug or some pretty strong marijuana. It just isn't happening. Yes, Donald Trump will go down as the 3rd President to be impeached (Richard Nixon resigned before he was impeached) joining Andrew Johnson, and Bill Clinton. While Andrew Johnson image was tarnished by his impeachment. Bill Clinton maintained some level of dignity after his impeachment in 1998. As matter of fact his Vice President Al Gore actually won the 2000 Presidential Election but that election was stolen by the Supreme Court then as now controlled by justices nominated by republican presidents. So, those who think that the Orange Man is leaving the scene it simply isn't happening at the hands of the Untied States Senate. That's why Trump can sling his hate and divisiveness via Twitter or via a lengthy letter to House Speaker Pelosi. Wait until he starts on the Democratic Senators. This is a plan to turn on his base, to put him in a martyr's position of being prosecuted for doing what his base wants him to do stir of the pot of hatred and divisiveness. This is the same base that treated each of his speaking engagements in 2016 as an opportunity to spread the virtues of white power and hatred of every minority group in America, especially blacks and hispanics. So get ready for a wild ride for a nation split almost in half. The only way Trump is going to leave office before November's election is if his health fails. We already know that his mind failed long ago but it didn't stop him from winning in 2016. If Americans truly want to see the Trump Train stopped in 2020. It won't be done in the US Senate that derailment can only come by changing just a few of those red states to blue in November. If the same consequences that occurred in 2016 repeat themselves, be assured Trump will be raising his right hand again on January 20, 2021. So get ready and implore everyone who really wants to change in the White House to vote. Because Trump is more than assured of getting 34 Republican Senators to put a halt to these impeachment proceeding once they reach the Senate floor.

This show put on by our United States Congress today shows just how divided this nation supposedly built on democracy and principles of justice have become. This slide towards disunion and disunity in this time period begin during the Clinton administration when the red dog rabid republicans came after Clinton seemingly with one conspiracy after another which culminated in Clinton’s Impeachment for perjury for lying about a sexual relationship with a White House intern. Since that time this nation’s political parties have become adversaries looking to do harm rather than doing the nation’s business of governance. Each subsequent presidential administration has been in conflict with each except for a short period of unity that evolved from the terror attacks of 9/11/2001. Even that unity was torn apart by military misadventures in the Middle East. In 2008 when the nation should’ve been celebrating the election of the first non-white male president. The very next day of Obama’s election the Republican Leadership was conspiring to bring down his presidency even before Obama put his right hand on a bible and took the oath of office. Constantly non-partisan acts flew in the face of any acts of partisan action. If Obama ever crosses any lines the republicans would threaten impeachment. The nation simply was torn apart more so now then at any other time in the nation’s history. Even more torn apart then when the nation itself was at war with itself. In 2000 an election was stolen by the Supreme Court Justices appointed by Republican President in 2016 an election was stolen by an archaic law call the Electoral College. You had better believe that the Democrats wanted revenge and thought they had it when appeared that Trump and the Russians had conspired to snatch the election from another Clinton, this time Hillary wife of the original archangel Bill Clinton. However, after months and months of investigations Robert Mueller didn’t pursue legal actions against Donald Trump. Now maybe emboldened Trump decides to go to another foreign nation to get dirt on a possible 2020 opponent Biden. This is uncovered and now no longer looking for a special prosecutor to muck up the Democratic Congress proceeds to threaten then start impeachment proceedings against another sitting President. With absolutely no possibility of partisanship this is now a case of warring parties making accusations against each other while the nation’s business of governance is neglected. Should Trump be impeached? YES! Will Trump be impeached? NO! Should the Democratic Congress censure Trump like the Senate censured Clinton? Yes! Will Trump face a censure? No! Why not? Because a Republican controlled Senate won’t allow it. So here we go a nation split apart with a general election upcoming. The nation populace is split, the nation’s government is split and there is nowhere on the horizon for this chasm to end. These impeachment proceedings will do nothing but widen the gap of disunion. I see no end to this madness. The Congress vote will be split along party lines ensuring a Senate trial but the Senate trial will be split along party lines ensuring an acquittal. The nation for the next 11 months will be so combative that it will be at a standstill. My concern is this after all the dust is Trump will be the last man standing. Why? Because Trump orchestrated this entire scenario for his benefit. That is all I can write about my feelings on impeachment this evening. My request to the Democratic Party back off because you may be playing right into Mr. Trump’s hands.