Caught in the middle

By Maurice Washington

Throughout the years, I have often found myself caught in the middle.

As a black conservative, that may not surprise some people. But what many do not understand is why.

I grew up in Charleston, in a community that helped shape who I am. I learned values there. I learned resilience there. I learned the importance of faith, family, education, hard work and personal responsibility there. Those lessons did not disappear because I became a Republican. If anything, they became stronger.

That is why I have always struggled with the idea that black conservatives must somehow choose between their principles and their community.

I refuse to make that choice.

Throughout my years in public service and community leadership, I have sought to use whatever influence I have had to create opportunities for others. Whether helping minority-owned businesses gain access to capital, advocating for fair participation in government contracting, supporting qualified African Americans for appointments to boards and commissions, fighting educational achievement gaps, or recognizing community leaders through Black History Month celebrations, my goal has always been the same: to leave the community better than I found it.

Yet those efforts often place black conservatives in a difficult position.

When we advocate for African American communities within conservative circles, some conservatives question our loyalty.

When we advocate conservative principles within African American communities, some question our identity.

We are told by one side that we are not conservative enough and by the other side that we are not black enough.

Caught in the middle.

The irony is that many of the same people who criticize black conservatives privately seek our help. They call when they need an appointment secured. They call when they need access to decision-makers. They call when they need assistance navigating institutions controlled by Republicans. They call when they need opportunities opened for their businesses, churches, schools, or communities.

And many times, we help.

Not because they are Republicans. Not because they are Democrats. But because they are our neighbors. Because we come from the same communities. Because their success matters to us.

This raises an important question: Why should any community limit itself to hearing only one side of a conversation?

Political independence is not betrayal. Listening is not surrender. Evaluating candidates and policies on their merits is not disloyalty.

Communities often gain the greatest influence when leaders of both parties know their support must be earned rather than assumed.

For too long, politics has encouraged us to see one another through labels instead of relationships.

Republican. Democrat. Conservative. Liberal. Black. White.

Yet the challenges facing our communities rarely care about party labels.

A child struggling to read does not care whether help comes from a Democrat or a Republican. A family seeking affordable housing does not care whether solutions come from the left or the right. A small-business owner seeking capital is not concerned with partisan talking points.

They want results.

Too often, black conservatives are expected to remain silent about issues affecting the communities that raised them. We are expected to avoid uncomfortable conversations for fear of political consequences.

I believe that is a mistake. The communities that shaped us deserve our voice.

Our responsibility does not end simply because our political affiliation differs from that of the majority of our neighbors. Likewise, African Americans should never be discouraged from engaging with people who hold different political views. A strong community should be confident enough to hear competing ideas, ask difficult questions, and make informed decisions without fear or intimidation.

Progress does not come from isolation. It comes from engagement. It comes from dialogue. It comes from building relationships across lines that others insist must divide us.

To my fellow black conservatives, I offer this encouragement:

Do not abandon your principles. But do not abandon your community either.

You do not have to choose.

You can advocate conservative values while fighting for better schools, stronger neighborhoods, greater economic opportunity, and expanded pathways to success for African Americans.

You can challenge failed policies while still loving the people affected by them. You can stand firmly in your convictions while extending your hand to those who disagree.

And to those who may not share my political views, I offer this thought:

Do not judge people solely by the letter beside their name. Judge them by their character. Judge them by their actions. Judge them by their results. At a time when our nation seems increasingly divided, perhaps what we need most are not more people choosing sides, but more people willing to build bridges.

Bridges, after all, are always found in the middle. And without them, people on opposite sides never meet.

Maurice Washington is the former executive chairman of the Charleston County Republican Party and a former Charleston City Council member. He is the president and CEO of Trust Management, LLC, a financial and consulting services firm based in Charleston. He is committed to a life of public service.