Black Tea in HoustonHere's a copy of their flyer.
HOUSTON - It's a tea party unlike any Houston, and perhaps the entire country, has ever seen. The first Black Tea Party held its inaugural meeting Tuesday night in the Third Ward. Organizers of the Crispus Attucks Tea Party are quick to point out that anyone is welcome and it's not a political party.
Their mission statement reads in part:
"To build a strong base of conservative Black entrepreneurs, elected officials and constituents that provide Black conservatives a viable way to express and implement their conservative values politically."
Co-founder Anita Moncrief says the party is also looking to overcome stereotypes.
"We're trying to break the stereotype that the tea party is racist," said Moncrief.
At least half of the 75 or so people who attended the first meeting are white and have been defending the rights of taxpayers for a while.
Then there's Marie Johnson, a longtime Black Democrat. She's fed up with the direction the country is going and wanted to see what the movement is all about.
"It (race) didn't make any difference to me as long as I had a tea party and we get together," said Johnson.
The meeting was held at "This Is It" Soul Food restaurant in the heart of the Third Ward. It's no secret Black voters overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates.
Customers we spoke with are skeptical the Black Tea Party movement will be successful.
"It's just not in my system to want to identify with any party other than Democrat," said John Hollins".
"It's not really about Republican or Democrat. It's about the black community. The minority vote has been misused and manipulated by people for so long," said Moncrief.
Newly elected Texas State Representative James Early White (R-TX District 12) isn't worried about taking any heat for being a Black Tea Party activist. He won in a predominantly white district.
"I've won a campaign, so I don't know about any backlash," he said.
Johnson doesn't feel she has to defend her views either.
"Frankly I'm the type of person that's not afraid to step out of the box. I think Black people need to be more concerned about what our politicians are doing for our community, where is our money going and what are they doing with it," said Johnson.
I will say it seems like the report has an air of skepticism to it ... as if Whites are behind the group and this is not really something begun by a Black person. The reporter points out that half of the attendees were White. I like to think that it was a show of solidarity on the part of both Blacks and Whites. Perhaps it's another reporter who just does not want to believe that Black Americans can "step outside the box" and not always blindly follow the Democratic agenda.
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