The political nation has gone crazy with the emergence of one Herman Cain as a legitimate candidate for the Republican nod for President. He is even leading in various straw polls across the country. He has now become more of an interesting character in the media since most people don’t know much about him besides he is the former CEO of Godfather’s pizza. There have been so many “legit” black republican candidates such as Cain but I kind of dismissed Cain as another buffoon as Alan Keyes. It’s something about Herman Cain that doesn’t sit well with me and it’s his disposition on a few things and it’s just not his 9-9-9 plan which sounds like a leftover campaign from his days as CEO of Godfather’s Pizza….9 Pizzas, 9 Dollars, in 9 
Minutes…OH YEAH!!…Oh he is serious with that idea huh? *kanye shrug*
The more and more research I did into Herman Cain the more I am starting to believe he is starting to eerily remind me of a covert version of one Uncle Ruckus. Uncle Ruckus is a character from Aaron McGruder‘s award-winning comic strip and cartoon The Boondocks. Uncle Ruckus is a satirical and over the top character that hates everything about him being black. He is the epitome of what people call an Uncle Tom. He even goes as far to say he is really white and has re-vitiligo. Uncle Ruckus downgrades himself any chance he gets to get himself more favor among people. He even has a song he sings about warning white people about black people called “Don’t Trust Them New Niggas”.
Am I ascertaining that Herman Cain is as radical in his thinking as this cartoon character? No, but what I am saying he does have a tendency to separate from his blackness while still carrying his black card. This is the issue many African-American’s have with Cain. Herman Cain is portraying himself as someone who is black but doesn’t want to come off too black so that he can appease much of the Republican base (cough * Tea Party*). First, off I have no problem with Herman Cain being a conservative. I am conservative on certain issues and I am liberal on others (hence the reason I am independent) but I do have a problem with Cain supporting the actions of the Tea Party and his grand sweeping statements about African-Americans. The Tea Party have vehemently shown their acumen for hate repeatedly since their creation (which ironically if we want to believe it or not comes right after the election of a black president).
But much is the question Cain with all of his assertions of African-Americans considering that he doesn’t have much of a track record of helping African-Americans 
himself?
Cain has admitted himself in his own autobiography that he didn’t do anything during the Civil Rights movement but just sat in the back of the bus. Herman Cain tries to flip this and say he was too young to do anything during the Civil Rights movement when he was in college from 1963-1967 in Atlanta at Morehouse College (Martin Luther King Jr.’s alma mater). I am not saying that every black person during that time had to be on the front lines of the movement because a there were many people who assisted with solidarity and background support. But, how was Herman Cain at Morehouse during the height of the movement and didn’t do anything? He would go on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell and try to say he had a sick family member and that’s why he didn’t help out in the movement. Once again there is no mention of this in his book. This same man who said he didn’t do much to help out Civil Rights or any movement in the community is the same person that wants to go forth and tell African-American’s how they should be voting and that they are “brainwashed”?
Who is Herman Cain to make statements about African-Americans when he has admitted himself that he hasn’t done much of anything besides be a hard-working man working his way up through corporate America? That’s great and Cain should be applauded for what he accomplished in his career but running a country when you didn’t make a contribution or work to make a difference “where you came from”. Sounds a little Uncle Ruckus like doesn’t it?
The Uncle Ruckus character is an over the top self-hating person and even though I wouldn’t say Herman Cain is necessarily Uncle Ruckus. I will say his appeasement to the Republican base by non-acknowledge of his race as much as possible is the thing that puts him into those radars. Cain gives the presence of a black man but at the same time never he is never too black to offend his conservative base. It seems like it’s a case of Herman Cain using his conservative idea combined with his “blackne
ss” to make the Republican Party feel that he can be the “Great Conservative Kryptonite” for Obama.
Are Uncle Ruckus and Herman Cain the same? Of course not but they do have some similar qualities. Here are some quotes from Herman Cain that makes you take notice and question his ability to not only relate to Black America but America itself:
If the world market believed that we were serious about energy independence and we were going to utilize all of our own existing resources, the speculators would stop speculating up they start speculating down as we get our own oil out of the ground.
African-Americans have been brainwashed into not being open minded, not even considering a conservative point of view. I have received some of that same vitriol simply because I am running for the Republican nomination as a conservative. So it’s just brainwashing and people not being open minded, pure and simple.
The only tactic liberals have is to try to intimidate people into thinking that the Tea Party is racist. The Tea Party is not a racist movement, period! If it were, why would the straw polls keep showing that the black guy is winning? That’s a rhetorical question. Let me state it: The black guy keeps winning.
I am an American. Black. Conservative. I don’t use African-American, because I’m American, I’m black and I’m conservative. I don’t like people trying to label me. African- American is socially acceptable for some people, but I am not some people.
What are your thoughts on the Herman Cain and his legitimacy?? Does he bear any similarity to the satirical character of Uncle Ruckus?
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Alan Keyes is Uncle Ruckus….and thankfully he’s hiding under a rock somewhere.
Why are you going in on Herman Cain? He has built a great success story with his life and should be an example of how a black person can rise up and make things happen. He is a role model but you can’t see past him being a conservative with actually a great agenda and platform
Which is mind-blowing, since most blacks think conservative. Now in order to stay attached to the Democrat Party, blacks are having to choose between God and Politics. And many blacks have been bamboozled by that sneaky devil to push their morals aside just to continue to receive crumbs from Democrats. Oh yeah, now “Liberal” goes hand and hand with Democrat, do we really want to be associated when being open for anything?
Most black folks can separate their want for social justice with their religious beliefs. MLK was going to work for a social wage for low income people before he was assassinated. Part of embracing the great leader of the civil rights movement is to realize he was steadily moving the community into a socialized concept of politicking. While nothing confirms or makes this the ideal path for Blacks today, the Republican party does not address the most ardent problems with ‘our’ community. They simply while in power make things worse people of color by duping democrats into thinking they are doing something good (crime bill from the 90s) or make it where the democrats can’t campaign on an issue (health care inequality). And while the statistics show the real discrepancy with both of the examples we buy into the fact that the Republicans want the black community to survive? Only if it is survival of the fittest, that was the same concept used in slavery; Let the strong survive and the weak fall. This is Herman Cain.
I think it’s funny people are comparing the two. I think it’s funny because both characters really negate the fact that they are black It’s not like you have to walk around with a flag of your race but it is funny. People have been dismissing him for a while but seems like he’s the hot ticket- but it changes like every week. I think he’s a legit person. I’d like to see how this plays out. Two African American men bidding for President. Very, very interesting. I’m sure the heavenly father will be returning soon for his people…
This has been an interesting phenomenon. Herman Cain has achieved success on so many levels in business as well as other avenues. However with all of this success he cannot seem to capture the attention and support of his own race. Its hard for him to downplay his race when so many have began to downgrade him on behalf of the race. Are WE really the uncle toms? Why Can’t respect the political opinions of those that differ from our own without making disrespectful remarks such as “Tom?” I think the bigger question should not be the satirical comparison to Uncle Ruckus. I think the bigger question is “Why is Black America so closed minded to ideas or political approaches that are different than our own?” or better yet, “Why does black Amercia HATE republicans when the democratic party hasnt done much to help them either?” But good blog as usual. Keep it up!
Great point TKIF!! This is something I agree with as well. The idea of the “fake white” liberal who hasn’t helped out the agenda of black people either. I am going to speak on this a little closer to the election. I thought it was kind of funny their similarities considering Cain’s background and Uncle Ruckus’ over the top nature. I will agree with Uppitty Negro though that Alan Keyes is linearly more Uncle ruckus LOL!
Alan Keyes is NOT Uncle Ruckus…Uncle Ruckus IS Alana Keyes…lol
As much as I dislike Herman Cain’s policies, and which much of the Republican party has been about lately, the comparisons are unfair. Herman Cain has as much write to speak on African Americans, as the next African American even though you may disagree with what he has to say. The fact that he didn’t participate in the civil rights movement is irrelevant. If he presumes to speak for “all” African Americans, there are plenty of public figures that come and and dispute this fact.
You imply he is trying to underemphasize his true “blackness” to appeal to his base. Since when has this been unusual in politics where a black person is trying to appeal to a larger demographic. Some would argue Obama did the same thing.
While the Herman Cain/Uncle Ruckus comparison is easy to make I question the dude’s business acumen for 2 things.
1. His “black people are brainwashed” comment makes me wonder how anyone would just dismiss a whole bloc of voters when you’re trying to get elected to an office.
2. Too many people are focusing on what he said at the end of his views on the Occupy movement and not what he said in the beginning, which was “I don’t have on the facts on this.” That alone makes me ignore anything else he says on the subject.
The fact he has done nothing for the community he claims should be doing a certain thing DOES speak volumes. That is like some one telling the Farmers they are brainwashed for thinking a certain way when you have never farmed or even been in the trenches helping Farmers.
So creating jobs in minority communities through his company is “nothing”? Let’s not be blinded by prejudice toward his party, Cain has done more for employing black youths than any Democrat politician I know. We blacks believe one must preach to us to show he is helping us, but many have preached what we want to hear and have done nothing but entertained us for that brief moment.
Great post to get people talking again! I will have to agree that Alan Keyes is more of Uncle Ruckus. But Cain has a lot to say like he is black because being “black” is the card the Repub think Obama has that makes him seem like the cool guy. Cain speaks on black issues as if he even had something to do with ANY movement like you descibed in this piece. The republicans are really reaching believe in this fool.
Herman Cain reminds me of a runaway slave having tried escaping the plantation; is shunned and ridiculed by the “stay put plantation negro” for trying to escape the “loving arms” of the master (Democrat Party). Now Cain is subject to public whippings and the “stay put plantation negro” is whispering in master ears, “hit him some more”.
Blacks were brainwashed to stay put and love the Master and today Cain is right, things remain the same, it’s just a different type of slavery.
We blacks, yes I said we, need to reexamine our attachment to one party, my old hood has been run by Democrats for over 50 years and it’s still the ghetto. We are an easy lay for the Dem’s, they give us pizza cause they can, no need to give us lobster.
You really believe Godfather’s pizza has really been this cornicuoia or emplyment right? Look at where most Godfather’s pizzas are. Do a google search…the majority of them are NOT in black communtities so where is all this gradious employment you are talking about? Just cause some one preaches to us means I beloeve they are doing something but I tell you this. Some one who had didn’t do too much besides these “jobs” he created in the hood.
Dems aren’t the best for black folks either but hearld Herman Cain as this hero for Godfather’s when it is documented his apathy to black causes for years come on bruh. I get what you are saying about Dems but stretching fist bumping Cain so hard
For the record, I’m not pushing Cain, the white kind or the black. I’m just saying let’s be careful with the public lynching of a brother. If Cain was a Democrat you would give him more leeway. I was once a strict Dem, so I understand. I remember when our elders once preached to us what Cain is telling us today; get out there and work harder, be smarter, be self sufficient, don’t use your color as a crutch, that was normal talk then. Bill Cosby got in trouble for this same thing, but Bill was right as well. You are brainwashed when you can only see one way and will not allow no other view in.
I’m proud to be a pizza aficionado, Godfathers, just as Pizza Hut and Dominoes, all employ minorities in and around the hood where I cohabitated. Don’t knock jobs like working at Godfathers, it’s a hopeful stepping stone unto something better and it helps pay the bills. Hell I worked as a delivery driver for a printing company, now I own my own graphics firm. Oh yeah “The Pounder”, great name!
The whole argument about house slaves vs field slaves could go the other way actually. It could be argued that Cains allegiance to his rich friends and access is like an house negros not wanting to leave massa who blessed us with all this great stuff – why y’all angry? You brainwashed?
Herman Cain is entitled to his opinions. I’m entitled to disagree. Not because I’m black or because he’s not black enough. It’s because he’s about keeping himself rich and his friends rich and a lot of us poor and cheap labor (slaves anyone?) and I don’t agree with that.
By the way. Poor is the new black. A lot of people are black and don’t even know it.
I can’t stand Herman Cain! He is a sell out and a Uncle Tom like Uncle Ruckus on Boondocks!
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Uncle “Ruku” Cain is all he’s chopped up to be! “Uncle TOM revisited!!! I don’t give a damn about him nor his 999 pizza idea….America is not a pizza!!! I have followed him for quite awhile and anyone “black” would be a damn fool to support him or his GOP agenda…Lest we not forget our not-too-distance past…If Cain has anything to do with it, we can expect more of the same. I won’t be swayed by others, only my own instincts, which have not failed me in 50+ years of life..Cain is a GOP puppet, and only talks with a republican/tea party hand up his ass, pressing their agendas forward, while using blacks as stepping stones. Weather he’s black, African American, or negro…it still means the same thing, “Nikka” and just as soon as the GOP gets the necessary mileage out of him, he’ll be taken down a few pegs and placed back on the plantation, along with the rest of us!!!
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