HAMILTON COUNTY REPUBLICAN AFRICAN AMERICAN CAUCUS
Samuel Richmond, County Chair Rev. Dr. Shirley Ray, Vice Chair
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January 30, 2011
We Offered Our Very Best, and She was Rejected
I know that the national chair, Dr. Jean Howard-Hill has chosen not to say anything, and in her Invocation at the convention, she invoked the Presence of God and resolved to move forward and work together regardless of the results of the Hamilton County Republican Convention election results, but being the one who proudly nominated her, I cannot be silent. And I won't!
I am not getting this. Here is a woman above women. Eloquent, poised, graceful, kind, loving, fair and gracious. One who graces the room with her humble presence. She is well education. Not many have the educational credentials she has.
I have known Dr. Hill for many years and have had the pleasure of serving under here leadership as a member of the National Board of the National Republican African American Caucus. I have seen this woman make sacrifices that no one in the Republican Party has been willing to make. I have traveled with her. Before her husband passed and as a widow, she has gone all across America on her own dime to recruit Blacks to the Republican Party going back to 1987. No one loves the party more than her. I know she must love the party. Because if she didn't, there is no way she would have continued for 32 years as an African American Republican. Whether it is realized or not, it isn't easy being Black and being a Republican. But she not only loves this party, but she believes in the core values of the Republican Party and have fought many battles to see those values restored.
Back in the 70's she began the Democracy In Action program that was implemented in both school systems, which taught Civics to elementary, junior high and high school students. She teaches American Government, State and Local Government, and International Politics of Non-western Countries at the University of Tennessee and was voted Outstanding Professor of the Year for 2006.
Some of you also may remember her as the UTC Pull Up Pants Professor who was on television for her efforts to get students to pull up their pants and show respect for themselves.
She is one who stands on the principles she believes. That is why she received the Girls Inc, 2010 Unbought and Unbossed Award. She also has received numerous other local, state, national and even international awards and proclamations, include two from our TN General Assembly for her exemplary teaching of State and Local Government.
She is one who is knowledgeable. She is on her game, understands issues from the local to the state to the nation to the global community, because she is a researcher.
She is a political strategist and commentator. You may have seen her on local and national T.V. or heard her on the radio or read her commentaries on the Frum Forum, Booker Rising, Hip Hop Republicans, articles in the Washington Post, and read her national blogs.
I could go on and on, because her bio is three pages long, but I won't do that. But what I can say is that not only is she a brilliant woman, who knows the political process, but she is a humble person and a born leader, who leads by example.
I can tell you this, as our national chair, we are on the ball, not just at the national level, but at the state and local, because she makes sure we treat others right and do the right thing, and when anyone doesn't, she calls a prayer meeting! And we don't leave there until we are hugging, asking forgiveness and back in unity with each other. As our national leader, she does not tolerate confusion and a lot of mess. Everyone is treated fairly and with dignity and respect, and we appreciate her for this. She leads out of love, and with great wisdom. She stands for truth and above all she walks with God and seeks God's will in everything we do as an organization. If anyone adheres to the godly principles we say this party believes, it is her.
I say all of this because, I am just not understanding how it is that as African Americans, on the local level, we can keep offering our very best in leadership and it continues to be rejected? So how can the Hamilton County Republican Party offer any explanation for this, that would cause any of us now, to want to be a Republican?
My eyes teared up knowing that 20 years ago, the Hamilton County Republican Party was the last place Dr. Hill saw her husband, Attorney Bobby Hill alive. That night he went into a coma and later died. Yet there were a few people who knew her from back then, who I observed that never once opened their mouths to speak.
Someone even had the nerves to say to her that it takes time? Time? Isn't 32 years of this kind of mess long enough?
No I cannot just sit back and say nothing. And with all of the White Republicans who came to me saddened and upset because of what happened, I do not believe at this point they either will sit back and let this kind of foolishness go on. I believe there are some good White Republicans in the Republican Party, whose eyes are open now and they see the wickedness and even the prejudice.
But for me? I am having to really pray about this. Because I am bruised, hurt and my belief in the good of some individuals within the party is tarnished and just about completely destroyed. It has made all of us ask the question. If they cannot accept Dr. Hill, then who among us can they accept? She is our very best! This must mean that none of us are worthy in their opinion of leadership elected or appointed in Hamilton County. So why are we still willing to be Republicans and why would any African American in Hamilton County want to be a part of or associated with a local party that can be this full of foolishness, hatred and prejudice?
Dr. Hill if we have ignored your orders to let it go, then we are sorry. But this is something none of us from the national to the local level are willing to just sit back and let it go. We know you are tired. Anyone would be after all you have gone through. For 32 years you have stood and fought this kind of foolishness. But now, it is past time that this kind of mess stops!
Dr. Shirley Ray,
HCRAAC Vice Chair
423-505-2624nraacshirley.ray@gmail.com
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