DeWayne’s
World
by Robert Yoho, Columnist and Senior Editor
"Eye on Conservatism"
Every week DeWayne Wickham writes an opinion column on the editorial pages of
USA Today. Any careful reading of Mr. Wickham’s work will reveal him to be a
learned and gifted writer. His biography removes any doubt. However, his columns
seldom vary from the usual racial pronouncements of Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.
The most frustrating thing about many liberal writers in general and Mr. Wickham in particular is their limited ability to cover a wealth of subjects. Wickham has carved out a niche for himself, a successful career writing about race specific issues.
Conservatives have a much wider repertoire of subjects in their writing. With equal quality and style, they are able to write about finance, taxes, social commentary, politics, foreign affairs, military issues, and matters of race. The only topics Wickham covers extensively involve racial issues.
DeWayne Wickham is little more than a one-note melody in a world of symphony. I would hate to live in the world he sees around him. In Wickham’s mind, America is an evil and hateful place. Moreover, I cannot recognize the country he so vividly describes.
When Wickham looks out over the landscape of America, he sees racism from sea to shining sea. He cannot look at a tree without seeing a hangman’s noose dangling from a high limb. He cannot go to the lake without seeing every pleasure craft or fishing boat as a slave ship. Wickham cannot look at a school with a seeing an obstinate white governor, standing in the doorway, trying to keep black students from entering the building.
Every municipality or metropolitan area is infected with its dreadful virus.
That is a shame. Worst of all, DeWayne’s world is not an accurate portrayal of America.
Despite the written opinions of men like DeWayne Wickham, America is the land of the brave, not the home of the bigot. A racist country — like Wickham describes — would never generously reward the work and careers of athletes and entertainers such as Denzel Washington, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods.
For further proof of my point, you have only to recognize the immense power and political influence of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, or Secretary of State Colin Powell.
There are any number of great conservative writers and opinion makers in America. Walter Williams, Thomas Sowell, Larry Elder, and Alan Keyes immediately come to mind. Would these Black Americans ever know such success in any other nation?
The answer is a resounding "NO!"
That is also the other thing I find disturbing about the writing of DeWayne Wickham. I have yet to find him writing anything that could even be loosely construed as patriotic.
Maybe he does not love the country as much as the rest of us. Perhaps he only despises the America he sees through blinded eyes.
I proudly wear my partisanship as a badge of honor. However, no matter what may be their political affiliation, relatively few of our readers would ever question my love of country. Democrats and Republicans alike would echo my written sentiments of respect and admiration for the men and women of our armed forces. Where is Wickham’s faith in the goodness and justice of America?
No doubt someone will accuse me of being jealous of the writer’s success. Perhaps I am. But the fact still remains that Wickham, a black American author and columnist, has enjoyed remarkable success in what he largely considers to be racist country.
I cannot possibly understand how Wickham can explain away his obvious success. It would never be achievable in the county that he describes.
A mind is truly a terrible thing to waste. It’s just a shame that the race-baiting Mr. Wickham doesn’t choose to use his a little more. ***
© 2002 Robert Yoho
COPYRIGHT © 2002 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN. All writers retain rights to their work.
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