Candidate for House of Representatives says Blacks get nothing in return for Democratic loyalty

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Editor-in-Chief

 “What has the Democratic party done for Black people?”

 That was the pointed question Lacy Johnson asked while sitting in the dining room of his North Minneapolis home, which also serves as his defacto campaign headquarters. Johnson, 66, is the Republican candidate seeking to climb the steep uphill mountain to unseat Rep. Ilhan Omar in the state’s 5th Congressional District. He is also hoping to change many Black people’s loyalty to the Democratic party, which he says has made Blacks dependent upon government and therefore, less self-reliant. 

 But in talking to Johnson, an affable man with an engaging demeanor, even he laughs (almost an involuntary action) when trying to explain how Blacks could benefit from switching to a party that in increasingly becoming more insular in engaging in (white) identity politics, taking its cues from the occupant of the White House who regularly serves up not-so-subtle racist tropes to his rabid followers. But Johnson says there is still a common ground to be found. 

Republican candidate for Congress, Lacy Johnson in his North Minneapolis home and campaign office. Photo by Harry Colbert, Jr.

 “(Former president) Lyndon Johnson – and he was a Democrat – would use the N-word all the time and yet (the Rev.) Dr. (Martin Luther) King (Jr.) was able to sit down with him and together they got the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act passed,” said Johnson, explaining how Blacks should work with President Donald Trump. “You don’t change people by calling them racist and making them feel bad about themselves. The way you change people is to love thy enemy. It’s hard, I know, but that’s what I believe.” 

 A self-described conservative, Lacy Johnson also believes Black people already have everything they need to succeed in America. They just need a better understanding of economics and politics. 

 “We don’t need any new laws. It’s about understanding the current laws and maximizing that leverage,” said Johnson. “We live in a free enterprise system and (lack of) economic development and wealth is what’s holding (Black people) back. (Democrats) treat us with pity. Because of Democrats, Black people have a victim mentality. I bring a different way of looking at things.” 

 Johnson said Black people’s affinity for the Democratic party is rooted in feeling, but not in tangible gains.

 “If you’re looking for respect and love out of a politician then you’re looking for the wrong thing,” said the Republican candidate. “(Politics) is business; it’s a transactional relationship. Wealthy people are not our enemies, they are our partners.” 

 When asked on policies on such as environmental justice, Johnson’s response could be interpreted as a reason not to embrace the Republican policy, which often tends to side with big business. 

 “People with connections and wealth will always get their way, and unfortunately, in our community we don’t have the connections and wealth, so if a corporation has a smokestack it’s going to go where people don’t have the connections or wealth,” said Johnson. “So, we need to show up at these meetings and let our voices by heard. I’m not dismissing the racial component in these decisions, but it’s less about race and more about economics. Gentrification isn’t about race, it’s about economics.” 

 Leaning upon his faith, Johnson said moral decline in the Black community is at the root of many of its problems today.

 “We had guns when I was growing up but we didn’t’ use them to shoot human beings because ‘The Ten Commandments’ says ‘Thou shall not kill,’” said Johnson. “We had poverty and hard times but we didn’t go around robbing and stealing because ‘The Ten Commandments’ says ‘Thou shall not steal.’” 

 The issue of gun violence hit home for Johnson when one of his canvassers, 17-year-old Andre Conley, was shot and killed Sept. 14. Conley was not canvasing at the time of the murder, but Johnson said the event still rocked him deeply. 

 “I spent my life giving young people those type of opportunities. I know the situation a lot are grown in. And I know they can overcome that, so it hurts when a life is cut short like that.” 

 General Election voting in Minnesota has already begun and will continue until Nov. 3.

 Efforts were made to profile Rep. Ilhan Omar, but an interview was not able to be scheduled in time for press.