Black Conservatives talk GOP outreach, education, and racism from the left

It was just a couple years ago that Glenn invited Americans from all across the country to join him in the nation's capital from Restoring Honor. Dana Loesch was there covering the event. While filling in for Glenn last night, she explained that she witnessed a group of "trust fund socialists"…you know, the white Angle-Saxon Protestant "hipsters" who can afford to preach about wealth redistribution, because they're busy spending their parents money. While interviewing Michael Warns and a large group of black Republicans after the event, this group of "socialists" came over and began shouting out the conservative group, saying "you should be ashamed of what you're doing to your people."

Dana also shared a story from the summer of 2009 when she was attending a town hall meeting in her home state of Missouri. As she was leaving the event, she witnessed the beating of a man named Kenneth Gladney. An African-American man who was being attacked by union members who profiled him as a black conservative for selling Gadsen flaws and pins. The thing is, the first time Dana saw Gladney was outside of an Obama event where he was selling Obama merchandise.

"He's a capitalist. What he believed was irrelevant. He was beaten in a parking lot for coming across as a black conservative," Dana said. "He never received justice, and I haven't seen him selling his wares at an event since."

And that's just two of many examples in recent history of how black conservatives are treated by the left. They're labeled traitors, frauds, and worse simply for speaking out against the growing size of the government — the very thing their ancestors fought so hard to free them from.

Last night on the Glenn Beck Program, Dana was joined by ZoNation's AlfonZo Rachel, blogger Wayne Depree, President of the Frederick Douglass Republicans K. Carl Smith, and actor & conservative commentator Joseph C. Phillips to discuss the labels and tactics the left has used to defined the black community and how conservatives can begin to win the propaganda battle.

"Everything is racist nowadays. Do you feel that the word has almost kind of lost all meaning?" Dana asked. "It seems any sort of dissent with any policy, anything, is somehow suddenly racist."

While racism obviously still exists in America and around the world, Dana's point is that, the individuals experiencing real racism in our country being marginalized because of the faux racism being painted on everything by the far left. It's shutting down the conversation of policy in struggling inner cities and painting the entire concept of conservatism as racist.

As pointed out by the guests, the truth is that most African Americans poll conservatively — they just don't vote that way. Despite the overwhelming polling data that shows the black community as pro-life and for traditional marriage, President Obama was elected with an overwhelming percentage of the black vote.

"Let’s just say what’s really going on here is that the left understands something that we on the right, the Republican Party specifically, has yet to get through its thick skull, which is that black people speak the language of race. Black people vote primarily on one issue, which is the issue of race," Phillips stated. "Since when I came into the party and was campaigning with Bush, Ken Mehlman was head of the RNC and did something very similar as to what the GOP is talking about doing now, spending a lot of money going out, trying to reach into the black community. They’re going to talk about values. They’re going to talk about all of these things. It will not work, because black people do not vote on values; they vote on race."

"They don’t vote conservatively," he added. "The only poll that matters is the one on Election Day, and let me just finish this, black people will go to church, and they will say they oppose abortion. They will say they oppose homosexual marriage, that they are for gun rights, that they are for school vouchers, etc., etc., etc. And then they will go to the voting booth, and they will put in office Democrats who will vote against all of those issues."

Another important factor playing into this is education. Real African American history isn't being taught in America's public schools. Students aren't learning who Frederick Douglass is or the events that lead up to the Civil Rights act — who was for it, who was against it.

"You know, when you look at the places that have high school dropouts, high high school dropout rates, high incarceration rates, high teen pregnancy, so on and so forth, low test scores, and all these sort of things, well, who do you think is running these communities, these things that you have this state of discontent? It’s the Democrats, and you get a chance to, you know, like one thing I’ll say about, you know, how we’re promoting this stuff in the communities, the problem is going up against groupthink," AlfonZo explained. "You know, you go into a big discussion, you know, we want to go in there, we’re going to, you know, ride in, and we’re going to talk to these people. It ain’t gonna happen, because who wants to be the first to step forward and say let’s do this? Well, they don’t want to be the Uncle Tom in the group, right?"

It's obvious what the problem is, what's the solution?

Dana pointed out that there is almost no Republican presence in the inner-cities. And because of that, no Republican outreach. However there are OFA offices and DNC outreach offices all over the cities. Because of gerrymandered districts and almost a zero possibility of winning an election, the GOP doesn't even try to have influence in these areas.

How does the GOP begin to spread some seeds in an area where it isn't welcomed?

"Innovation, it’s a party of supply and demand and commercialism. If we’re going to do these things, and we’re going to sell it, you know, then you have to figure out creative ways to say, Okay I’ve got to exercise my creativity to be able to connect with you. You know, but there’s also – I mean, and there has to be ways to, you know, I understand, it’s like they go in and say, Okay, well, you’re the evil businessman, and you must have some other agenda, and you must have some sort of ulterior motive. I understand that there’s a whole bunch of suspicions to deal with," AlfonZo said.

"Guess what, everybody’s got a cross to bear, and everybody’s got some sort of cross to bear that’s going to feel like it’s unfair, you know? Hey, it was unfair that, you know, we were slaves. But, you know, I don’t have a chip on my shoulder about that, because I think everybody around the world has experienced some sort of servitude, so, you know, let’s not, you know, carry any of that.

But there’s always going to be somebody, some faction, some organization, some race, some religion, that’s always going to have some unfair cross that they have to bear. Get over it, get your behind in there, and get into this fight."

But that's not always realistic. Joseph Phillips points out that the Republican Party isn't going to invest money in areas that cannot win. It's going to be up to organizations in the communities, in media, and people who can put boots on the ground in these neighborhoods.

Without civic action, America faces collapse

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Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

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We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

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Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

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Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

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When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

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Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.