Raphael Johnson is one of the MOST QUALIFIED candidate for Detroit City Council. Not because I have known him for 20 years. Not because I consider him to be a vocal voice in the community. But because I know where he stands with the issues, I know where his heart is and I know that he will deliver.
Of course, when you have a man of this magnitude ready to tip over the boat the haters show up. One hater is Mildred Gaddis on WCHB 1200AM. Gaddis's attacks on Johnson has been ridiculous and hypocritical. She can take money from this brother to have him come on her TV Show on WADL-TV 38 in Detroit but then wants to ride him about his felony when he was 17 years old.
Well allow me to explain who Raphael is and why he should be part of the revolutionary change in this city.
First, one out of three Black men in the City of Detroit are convicted felons. Some come out and actually do well in their lives. Raphael Johnson is one of those people. Not only have he has obtained a bachelors and masters degree from the prestigious University of Detroit-Mercy but has also been a national expert on relationships on the Maury Povich Show.
Did I say national expert on relationships? He is not on Maury being a participant of buffoonery but actually SOLVING problems on national television. Mildred Gaddis does not even come close to solving anything. After all, she lies about charter schools and gossips on her daily radio show in the name of "information."
You see, Raphael is for the people not the special interest. He stands on principles not a mask. When you have been in the belly of the beast of prison for 12 years and come out as a father, a husband and community activist God has a higher purpose for this young man. Yet, Mildred Gaddis, who hates young men who are excelling well in life, is trying to bring his character down.
Well, I support Raphael Johnson for Detroit City Council because of his character, his ability to help those who are in need and is always hungry to learn new things.
Raphael is a Muslim. 20 years ago I was a Muslim also. I brought Raphael to Islam while we both were in high school. He eventually joined the Nation of Islam while I was practicing Islam with the Ansaarullah Community. His faith has carried him over the years and I can clearly say if I did not introduce him to Islam 20 years ago he would have either been dead or still locked up.
Today, as a practicing Christian as well as urban conservative, Raphael was one of the first brothers who I mentored. 20 years later he is still learning new things from me one being my Covenant for Detroit platform for change. However, he has evolved into a leader in this community and I saw that when recently he made the call for 50 men to patrol the east side of Detroit to catch a serial rapist. I was one of the 50 men who patrolled this area for a few nights on my own making sure our children and women were safe. Unfortunately, I did not see any church leaders out with us. That is a serious concern for me.
This is the type of quality leadership I have fostered over the years. Leadership that will work for us. Not because of me or ego. I am not seeking anything in return. As a father myself, I want our community to be safe and secured. I want our educational system to work and this is why I am on the frontlines for educational reform. Raphael is on the frontlines to bring jobs to the City of Detroit by pushing for quality education, diversifying the economy here and rebuilding our families by pushing men to go home to their wives and children instead of hanging in the streets.
So please do not listen to the disgruntled, unhappy, and negative poison from Mildred Gaddis on her radio show in the morning. I know my brother, Raphael, very well. We go back to the beginning and I will not leave him hanging these last few days before the primary election for Detroit City Council. It's time to get behind REAL MEN who will serve our community, who are not afraid to fight for us and fight with us, and have shown an example of what family is all about.
Let me end by saying this in Raphael's defense. For those who have a problem with him about his past for taking someone's life please stop being a damn hypocrite. There are no perfect people running for any political office. Most church goers light up a cigarette right after service, partake in domestic violence, smoke weed right in front of their children and drink, practice a down low lifestyle and bring home diseases to their spouses, are freaks and cheat on their spouses and refuse to empower themselves. The difference is what Raphael did yesterday he is NOT DOING today. Again, I see a church on every corner in Detroit and the quality of life does not even exist. And while Raphael is fighting against the prison culture that has consumed our community most people who are criticizing him will not even come out and better their families and community. These are the haters who sit behind door #1 hoping that something will fall out of the sky instead of working towards a goal.
It's like what Dr. Corletta Vaughn has been saying all along..we need to bring in the right spirit for the right season. And she too, understands, as a pastor of her own church, that the church has failed our community.
So before we discuss what Raphael did yesterday let's discuss with his critics what they are NOT doing today.
7 comments:
It's of serious concern if one is willing to vote into an elected position individuals who will continue to support other individuals who represent the same old policies that have produced these results in Detroit.
This is the problem with your angle here, and I've noticed it before.
I'm very disappointed that you haven't checked yourself on this.
Hey Maid:
What same old policies are you discussing here? Please explain.
Raphael Johnson makes it very clear who he supports when he votes.
I don't mean to be partisan but the Democrat Party has had a choke hold on Detroit (and the state) for a long time. The results are clear. How can a (very nice, close friend) politician (or any person) support that agenda, support those who support that agenda...
I'm just saying. I've noticed some very wonderful people to whom you've given your support, but they don't meet the criteria of not supporting those whose agenda has brought us all down.
In the past, you've recommended someone who is a Democrat. In this day and age, that is recommending the same results as has been the case for...how many decades now?
I've not mentioned before but I think we need to address this. There is a difference between compromising versus making a deal. A deal that puts up with a little bit of what's wrong. A deal that will continue to put (quality) education out and indoctrination in, promotes division, hate, and class warfare, and in which there are no incentives except to go bankrupt. Now we have another health care takeover. Can you honestly say that some of these people are clear on these issues? Can you honestly say that some of these people don't vote for those who do?
Is this all we have to offer? Where are the men who can do better? I believe you're one of them, one who can do better.
If it's only about 'skin' in the game then my above doesn't matter. I would note that we've had a lot of skin in the games going on in Detroit, so that's not a valid issue anymore. That old whine isn't being swallowed over here. Those who talk like that are promoting a money maker for the elite to the detriment of 'the' people.
Those who haven't found their way need to find it before they get my vote. Those who've lost their way, I'll try to vote out.
I would appreciate hearing more from you on this matter.
I remain yours respectfully.
cc rightmichigan.com
You said.. "Most church goers light up a cigarette right after service, partake in domestic violence, smoke weed right in front of their children and drink, practice a down low lifestyle and bring home diseases to their spouses, are freaks and cheat on their spouses and refuse to empower themselves."
HUH?
Hey Maidyou know you are my friend so let's go down the line:
(1) I don't mean to be partisan but the Democrat Party has had a choke hold on Detroit (and the state) for a long time. The results are clear. How can a (very nice, close friend) politician (or any person) support that agenda, support those who support that agenda...
First, how do you know for a fact that Raphael is a Democrat or most of the candidates I showcase? The main problem in our party is (1) we do not reach out to the very registered GOP in the city and (2) you would be shocked of the number of people who have embraced conservative values. These people who run for political office in the city are actually running on MY PLATFORMS that I have written here on this blog.
(2)I've noticed some very wonderful people to whom you've given your support, but they don't meet the criteria of not supporting those whose agenda has brought us all down.
How do you know that? Did you actually meet these people? I know Republicans and Independents who lean conservative who I feel cannot relate to anyone outside of their box in the diverse world we live in. Do they meet our criteria in the 21st century?
(3) In the past, you've recommended someone who is a Democrat. In this day and age, that is recommending the same results as has been the case for...how many decades now?
On Facebook there are Democrats who want more Republicans to run in urban areas (including myself). They too are sick of their party and foolishness such as high taxes and the lack of educational reform. In Detroit, I cannot count on my fingers of how many YOUNG Dems reading, critically analyzing and physically walking up to me saying "wow that is deep or your position on education makes sense."
I am using material from people like Russell Kirk and Newt Gingrich without even mentioning their names and they are hooked. This is why I keep asking you how do you know who I am actually promoting are left-wing Democrats?
(3) Can you honestly say that some of these people are clear on these issues? Can you honestly say that some of these people don't vote for those who do?
In this town the people who give me hell are the older people from the Coleman Young era. Again, young people who are running for office are mostly urban conservatives. It is up to them to pick the party they belong to. The values are more important than the party.
If we agree to disagree (like the health care debate) then we move on. I do not agree with my conservative colleagues in Lansing or DC but I will have their back when it comes down to it.
(4) If it's only about 'skin' in the game then my above doesn't matter. I would note that we've had a lot of skin in the games going on in Detroit, so that's not a valid issue anymore. That old whine isn't being swallowed over here. Those who talk like that are promoting a money maker for the elite to the detriment of 'the' people.
I am not into skin color. I am into substance. I can careless about skin color.
However, this is an urban community that needs help. I am here to help.
(5) Those who haven't found their way need to find it before they get my vote. Those who've lost their way, I'll try to vote out.
Me too and there are MANY in this city that we are trying to vote out.
Corletta Vaughn is running for City Council. Not one person from the State GOP has openly supported her and she is a Indepedent Conservative who supports the GOP. See where I am going with this?
Our strategy must change if you want to win here in Detroit. I know for a fact that State Rep. George Cushingberry got GOP dollars from PACs and individual donors when we ran for state rep here in Detroit back in 2004. The same with State Rep. Shanelle Jackson.
That's my 2 cents!!!!!
Your 2 cents are always appreciated.
I know you're here to help. That's appreciated as well.
My rant is just some concerns I have. I have visited some web sites and/or read what some say. Regardless, your efforts to educate, bring people together, and encourage people to think for themselves is a tremendous asset that should only be encouraged.
Mr. Akinyemi, thank you for condescending to my concerns. I always appreciate your input.
May God continue to bless and give you wisdom as you keep up your good efforts.
Hey Maid:
Let me just be honest with you. Our strategy for conservative outreach is totally different than the rest of the state. For example, in Muskegon my close friend Karen Buie is a Republican, who is an African American woman, who appeals to her base because (1) she was raised in Muskegon Heights which is 95% Black and (2) she has worked a long time in the community where Black people's values connected with her.
Also there is less union or liberal influence in an area like Muskegon as compared to Detroit. So what I have to do often is find the most conservative candidates that I can dig up and support because the GOP's influence is weak here. We do not have the number of precinct delegates like the Dems. So most Black GOP or urban conservatives take a different approach to outreach than the traditional model of supporting a candidate that has no chance in hell of winning in a city in Detroit.
For example, Olumba-John Olumba is running for Detroit Charter Commission. He runs as a Democrat but is an urban conservative and shares 95% of our values. There are many other candidates like this in Detroit.
It's our job to position ourselves to seize control of this city and turn this ship around. I look at people like Dave Bing who recently said on a local radio show here that Detroit has an "entitlement" mentality and need to "pull itself from the bootstraps." Sounds pretty damn conservative to me.
But you know I am always here to help you and talk to you. God bless you my friend.
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