I’m a firm believer that however different someone may appear superficially, you can always find that commonality underneath the surface.
But it’s that surface that we’re being discouraged from digging beneath by ideologues and elitists who want to sow resentment and use victimhood narratives to impair our multicultural nation.
Instead, they would prefer that the minority wallow in pessimism and the majority remain resolute in their guilt for the supposed hurdles they placed in front of the minority.
Senator Tim Scott recognizes this attempt to reduce America to only the worst of its actions and rejects it.
In formally announcing his candidacy for the presidency in his state of South Carolina, he gave an impassioned speech about his troubled upbringing to highlight how far he’s come — to show why he’s so optimistic for our country’s future.
“For those who wonder if it is possible for a broken kid, in a broken home, to rise beyond their circumstances, the answer is yes,” Senator Scott stated.
“My family went from cotton to Congress in his [Scott’s grandfather] lifetime,” Scott said. “And it was only possible because my grandfather had a stubborn faith: faith in God, faith in himself, and faith in what America would be.
“This black man who struggled through the Jim Crow South believed then what some doubt now: in the goodness of America.
“For those of you who wonder if America is a racist country, take a look at how people come together. All of God’s people come together! Black ones and White ones, the red ones, and brown ones, working together. Because love, unconditional love, binds hearts together.”
Tim Scott’s announcement was laced with optimism that was reminiscent of Obama’s “Hope and Change.” It’s a welcomed momentary break from the overwhelming negativity and harsh tone of other politicians.
No one will deny that horrible things have happened throughout American history against black Americans, but the most successful mental strategy of the present is to acknowledge these historical wrongs and strive for success in spite of them: this is the “victor mentality.”
Victimhood doesn’t benefit anyone except for the orchestrators of that narrative, because it produces a population of mentally downtrodden who will constantly wait to be saved.
This savior industrial complex is too lucrative of an industry to easily abandon.
However, if Tim Scott wants Americans to move beyond race, he also must not succumb to the demand for his race to be his primary messaging strategy.
Although being black and a Republican makes him stick out like a sore thumb, he shouldn’t listen to political strategists who may want him to incessantly discuss how sore his thumb really is.
If race isn’t nearly as important as he says it is, then he should not let his race overshadow his legislative agenda and the legitimate concerns of Americans for the direction of our country. If he truly believes in meritocracy, then he should allow his resume and rhetoric to do the talking.
Scott will, unfortunately, face racial abuse from Democratic operatives and progressive media pundits (as he always does), but this should not earn him pity votes or special treatment.
If Scott is a “victor” he will push on in spite of it much like his family’s legacy.
Adam B. Coleman is the author of “Black Victim to Black Victor” and founder of Wrong Speak Publishing. Follow him on Substack: adambcoleman.substack.com.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
