Some people get nervous when too many blacks gather in one place.
Jay Tea at Wizbang gives the Conservative Brotherhood its props (thanks, Jay Tea). Some of the commenters, however, think that people who associate with each other based on a shared culture (in this case black American) and interests are racist.
I wonder whether these same persons considers this group racist.
Or this one.
Or this one.
Are the above groups “shutting themselves off” from others? Is the Italian writers' group saying that, somehow, being Italian boosts the quality of their writing? (These were the things said about the Conservative Brotherhood's reason for being.) Or have the Italian-American writers merely gathered in one place because they have something unique to say about their experiences of being Italian-American?
Do black Americans get to acknowledge that the culture in which they have often been nurtured and in which they may find themselves in at the moment might be different from that of their countrymen in some respects?
Or have we become so politically correct—even on the right side of the political spectrum—that it’s not said in polite company?
Perhaps the reaction to the Conservative Brotherhood has a far simpler explanation; in the minds of some, anything that is all-black brings unconscious negative connotations. Hence the “cutting yourselves off” assumption and the totally ridiculous assertion that we were equating race with writing ability. No ethnically Hawaiian or Dutch-American association would ever have to contend with such negative stereotypes. (The Arab American group linked above, however, would, but of a different sort.)
I suppose I'm "cutting myself off" when I associate with Milbloggers or Bear Flag Leaguers also.
Consider this: the fact that the CB is conservative should be a clue that many of the other preconceived notions that people have about an all-black group might need to be thrown out of the window also.
But there are always those few who can't/won't get it. Oh well.
UPDATE:
More from Cosenvative Brotherhood members Cobb, Michael King and Samantha Pierce
And the CB has added three new members (see sidebar).
UPDATE:
