Robert Johnson, founder of Black Entertainment Television, told CNBC on Tuesday that Black Americans should form their own political party to concentrate their electoral influence.
“I’ve been convinced for a long time that 40 millions African Americans who tend to vote as a bloc in one of the two parties limit their leverage in getting action form both parties,” the 74-year-old Johnson said on “Squawk on the Street.”
Johnson, who has previously called on the U.S. government to provide reparations for slavery, said the independent political party would stand for things “principally focused on the interests” of Black Americans.
Last week, Johnson sent a letter to “Black Lives Matter Leaders and Supporters,” suggesting that “Black Lives Matter (BLM) consider establishing a formal independent political party. The party could be founded on the principle articulated by the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971.” He described the Congressional Black Caucus’ founding principle as Blacks having “no permanent friends, no permanent enemies … just permanent interests.’”
Johnson’s idea comes as waves of protests against racism and police brutality continue in cities across the U.S. following the killing last month of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a White Minneapolis police officer, who has since been fired.
“Had African American interests been embraced by one or two of the dominant parties, we wouldn’t have the tremendous social, economic, racial issues that we have now,” Johnson said. He said forming a new party would send a message that Democrats should not take the African American vote for granted and that Republicans should not ignore issues important to Black people.
RandyMarsh
Article URL : https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/23/robert-johnson-urges-black-lives-matter-to-form-a-political-party.html