The Proposal to the Green Council of the Green Party of New Jersey to Recognize, & Accept as an Affiliate the newly formed the GPNJ - Black Caucus

Proposals are usually sent to the Green Council, but this is a special one.  This is a rather momentous occasion for GPNJ, and I think it should be celebrated and shared with the rest of our membership.  I will be moving out of state in a month, and if kick starting identity caucuses is the last thing I do here, I will be leaving knowing the NJ is in good hands.

I also think it's important that all members who identify with disenfranchised groups witness this vote so that they can see that the naysayers are few, and that minorities have the overwhelming support of the Green Council, and are always welcome within GPNJ.  I've been very disappointed with the lack of responses I've gotten after posting my first my message.  Just 1 to be exact.  Yet every time I speak to an individual who identifies with a disenfranchised group in private, they seem overwhelmed with joy at the idea of joining a caucus, and ask me to sign them up.  I can only assume that the insensitive remarks over the past few days have succeeded in bullying the disenfranchised into questioning their own participation.  What is clearly a beautiful and empowering show of tolerance, has been given the appearance of a divisive issue within the membership of a party that we so proudly call, progressive.  Shameful.

And now we have resistance to Julie's mere suggestion that cisheterosexual white males should be limited to just 1 of 3 co-chair seats.  Wow.  Really?  Cis, Hetero, White, Male.  That's 4 fucking privileges!  How could anyone see a problem with reserving the other two seats for people with 3 privileges or less?  Shameful.

I really do think that people fail to realize how differently other groups see the world.  Some talk about class struggle, workers of the world unite, but they fail to realize that's just part of it.  There is a lot more justice to be demanded for disenfranchised groups, and it's incredibly insensitive to deny that, thus limiting the struggle to just your own.  No one denies class struggle, there is even a labor caucus in the suggestions (free for all laboring CHWMs to join), but some people need to consider how the world looks through the eyes of a minority.  Their struggles, often times, are dismissed.

I remember seeing this study once where children were asked to close their eyes and picture an American.  Hair color, eye color, age, weight, everything.  Really get the picture into their head. An overwhelming majority pictured a old white man.  Why is that?  It's because that's the picture that has been entrenched in our heads as to who is American.  Who is normal.  Everyone else is abnormal, different, an immigrant, or pick your word that ultimately implies, inferior.

For starters, the problem with this study is that the majority of U.S. citizens are actually women, so there is that.  Then, non whites make up about 40% of U.S. citizens.  So really, white males only represent about a third of the population.  How is it then that the white male dominates what we view as "American"? These things don't just happen by coincidence.  It's intentional, it's rampant, and it's systematic.  That's how that happens, that's how one-third of the population becomes a psuedo-majority... and you know what, it's happening to Greens right now too.

I'm sure there is a group of readers who are going to claim that they were thinking of a white woman, a black man, a red giraffe, etc.  Unfortunately, this test doesn't work through email.  But the good news is, we don't even really need this test.  We kind of already had it with Julie's proposal.

When you consider the backlash received from Julie's proposal to amend the bylaws to allow only 1 of 3 seats to be held by a cis hetero white male, the effects of systematic racism, sexism, etc. on this party become evident.  Take a look around.  We're not a very diverse party, but still, take a look around.  Even with our overly white membership, you'll find that cis, hetero, white males make up around a third of our membership.  Yup, go ahead, check the membership, it's about a third.  

Julie's proposal simply limits a third of the membership, to a third of the seats.. yet people objected, and even left the part.  When people are this upset with equal distribution, you know that these people are accustomed to the privilege of receiving more than they're owed.  I call it racial capitalism, patent pending, and it's a problem.  So I don't need that test..  the proof is in the previous thread.  Once again, the third becomes a psuedo-majority in the eyes of some.  And if we do indeed have members who will complain about such awful and divisive FAIRNESS.. then clearly, we need such rules, and clearly, we need caucuses.

And so I am honored to be proposing the recognition of GPNJ's first ever caucus; The Black Caucus, and it's only fitting to conclude with this relevant, and summarizing quote by Malcom X:

"Well, I am one who doesn't believe in deluding myself. I'm not going to sit at your table and watch you eat, with nothing on my plate, and call myself a diner. Sitting at the table doesn't make you a diner, unless you eat some of what's on that plate. Being here in America doesn't make you an American. Being born here in America doesn't make you an American. Why, if birth made you American, you wouldn't need any legislation; you wouldn't need any amendments to the Constitution; you wouldn't be faced with civil-rights filibustering in Washington, D.C., right now. They don't have to pass civil-rights legislation to make a Polack an American.

No, I'm not an American. I'm one of the 22 million black people who are the victims of Americanism. One of the 22 million black people who are the victims of democracy, nothing but disguised hypocrisy. So, I'm not standing here speaking to you as an American, or a patriot, or a flag-saluter, or a flag-waver -- no, not I. I'm speaking as a victim of this American system. And I see America through the eyes of the victim. I don't see any American dream; I see an American nightmare."

Brother Malcom had his own, legitimate reasons for picturing the old white man.

Green Councilpersons,

It is my duty, it is my privilege, it is my honor to report the formation of the GPNJ Black Caucus.  Please review the following relevant information:

Founding Members:

Jim Brash -- registered Green

Gary Frazier Jr. -- registered Green

Ahmed Eltouny -- registered Green

Aaron Hyndmann -- dues paying Green

Jake Jones -- registered Green

Shawn Walters -- registered Green

All members are GPNJ members in good standing.

Bylaws: 
Bylaws were voted on by all members, and adopted with a unanimous 6-0 vote.  Members were given ample time to read and contribute.  Bylaws can be read here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h4EEgCmrfVtf8efnK3B8aP_9qZj7wGkcuU-w2KT_7cA/edit#

Officers:

Co-Chairs: Jim Brash, Gary Frazier Jr.

Caucus Liaison:  Jake Jones

All members were given an opportunity to run for a leadership position, and these 3 officers were approved by unanimous 6-0 vote.  The election was transparent and democratic.

Meeting:

The Caucus has held one phone meeting, on February 5, 2017,  where bylaws, officers, elections, outreach, and future endeavors were discussed.  Next meeting will be scheduled in March, and in the meantime, communication will be through a newly formed google group listserv.

Projects:

- Delegates shall be sent to various local Black Lives Matter chapters, Movement for Black Lives webinars, POP, Humanize Black, and other solidarity organizations.

- A Kaper-Dale For Governor focus community will be formed.

- Reach out to local Mosques and see if they need a group to guard and defend through the night when they receive threats.

- Two voter registration drives have been planned; in Newark one weekend, and in Camden another weekend.

- Fundraising shall commence using an already formed email address and paypal account.  Provided the necessary funds are raised, the following are some goals of the Caucus:

- Attempt to get tutors to provide GED prep, how to write a resume, personal finance, and basic reading and writing classes at a few local libraries in our poorest communities.

 - Attempt to adopt a school(s) in poor area(s) and provide supplies to students and teachers for a semester or a full school year. Possibly place our logo on supplies.

- Attempt to sponsor kids sports team or a league for the summer.  Look for folks to referee, coach, etc.

- Attempt to sponsor a Saturday recreation program for kids. Could be built around one of our key values or pillars. It could be a weekend environmental club, something dealing with animal rights or vegetarian/vegan living, etc.

- Attempt to pay for the prep and deliver meals to the elderly and disabled.

I propose we temporarily recognize the Black Caucus, allow their representative to silently observe our weekly council meetings, consider their recommendations for candidates, and consult with their leadership on matters pertaining to Black, African, and African American issues between now and our Annual Convention when an appropriate bylaws amendment may be considered.

Salam,

Ahmed Eltouny

(He, Him, His)

Second Vice Chairperson

Green Party of New Jersey

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