For Summit Friends

Dear Friends,

I very much enjoyed the Beer Summit on Racial Understanding last week, and I was honored to be able to attend and meet so many wonderful people. I am sorry to say that I will not be able to make tonight’s Second Summit, though my thoughts and prayers will be with you all.

I have had a question on my mind to ask. It is a difficult question, and I hope you will give me your thoughts. This comes from a place of having people around me on different sides, in different camps, who regard each other as enemies, even though I believe they could be friends.

You see, it looks to me like that there may be actually two things that people may refer to when they say Black Lives Matter. There is a movement, and there is a particular organization that acts in the name of that movement. I am 100% on board with the movement. With the organization, that group that owns BlackLivesMatter.com, I have much agreement, but I don’t want different ideas that we may have to hurt the places where we can walk together.

It is like the difference in being a libertarian, possessed of a certain love for peace and freedom, and a Libertarian, a member of a political party. Or the difference between Christmas, celebrated with Santa and presents, and Christmas, celebrated with the Lord Jesus in a manger.

I am absolutely on board with saying that Black Lives matter, that they have been undervalued. I recognize the evils and injustices that are faced disproportionately by black people, in civil rights, in criminal justice, and in economic matters. My heart cries out for justice and peace.

I know that many of us agree on many remedies: The end of Qualified Immunity, which undermines accountability for civil rights violations. Drastic reform in policing practices, starting with the end of no-knock raids and demilitarization. And the most important and powerful thing, I think, is open, honest, and heartfelt dialog between neighbors such as you have been promoting with these Summits.

On the other hand, there are some remedies, particularly in politics, that still bear discussion. Let’s take economic injustice. I absolutely agree that it exists, and that it ought not to be tolerated. I am well aware of the trap of generational poverty. Some would say capitalism is to blame, that solutions are to be found in more laws, more regulations, even in the end of capitalism as we know it and in what they call democratic socialism. I’m sorry to say, I am not on board with that diagnosis. I still agree with the problem, but not the way to fix it. As I see it, laws and regulations are the problem, not the solution.

Here’s an example that I would never have known about if it were not for my wife: In Georgia, it is against the law to accept money for braiding hair without a cosmetology license. According to my beautiful wife, whose word I never question, black women for generations have learned the art of braiding and applying weave from family members, school mates, church friends, and neighbors. (It is, dare I say as a white man, a highly impressive skill.) Some are skilled enough to turn their talents to profit. Talents like this should be rewarded, and praised. But for any of these talented braiders to turn their side hustle into a full business, the law creates an incredible burden of overhead, in no small part thanks to that cosmetology training requirement. And cosmetology training teaches nothing about braiding.

This is just one small example of laws and regulations getting in the way of black entrepreneurship. History is full of black communities, artists, entrepreneurs, scientists, geniuses, and more, thriving when the world isn’t trying to tear them down. And as I said, I believe that the solution is not more laws. It is to get overly intrusive government out of the way.

So, here’s the question, and I’m not sure if you have an answer, but I am interested in your thoughts: How do we address the accusers who say that if you say Black Lives Matter, you must be an evil socialist? Or, how do we tell honest socialists that because I do not consent to socialism, that doesn’t mean I don’t value the lives and achievements of black people?

Thank you very much for your time. I look forward to hearing of your next event.

With prayers of liberty and justice for all,

Danny Dolan