Usually, the news stories in newspapers are more interesting than the ads, but for readers of the High Point Enterprise on Wednesday, May 1, nothing could be further from the truth.
A full-page ad written by District 60 State Rep. Cecil Brockman, a Democrat who’s up for reelection this year, responded with extremely strong words to those in his own party who’ve criticized him for voting too often with the Republicans and making deals with them.
In the piece paid for and written by Brockman, he also went into very personal details regarding a mental breakdown he had last year and he explained why he was now finally ready to share his mental health issues with the public.
He also spoke of the racism he has seen as a state legislator, even from those in his own party.
The full-page ad, which was all text except for a headshot of Brockman, ran with the headline in bold: “Cecil Brockman: My Community needs good policy over partisan politics.”
“A lot has been said about me throughout the years,” it began. “In April of 2023, Triad City Beat published an article titled ‘What’s Up With Cecil Brockman?’ which criticized me for my willingness to work across the aisle generally and described my excused absences as sketchy. My age, my Blackness, and my sexual identity were described as reasons why I should be ‘down for the cause’ before closing with the question in its title.”
Brockman has served in the North Carolina House for a decade.
He explained that, in that time, he’s been “gaveled down on the House floor” for saying he didn’t believe Confederate soldiers deserved the same amount of respect as American soldiers in other wars. He added that he had fought hard for LGBT rights, abortion rights, Medicaid expansion and countless other liberal causes.
But Brockman also voted at times with Republicans on issues where he thought it made sense or when he believed a deal would help out his community – and he came under attack from several Democratic factions who also noted that his absence on some key votes had helped Republicans pass some legislation.
Much of that criticism was from college Democrats and groups centered in other parts of the state.
“Dismissing the work of another is easy from ivory towers in distant communities which do not suffer as ours do,” he wrote. “Here, on the ground, I see my community changing and getting better.”
“I have fought the good fight and will continue to fight the good fight,” he stated, adding, “I am saddened by the tribalism of both sides.”
The fact that the Republicans have a supermajority in the legislature and get anything they want without even talking to Democrats, he wrote, means that compromise for Democrats is sometimes necessary. He also stated that he would rather compromise and get legislation that helps his community rather than just always hold the party line in order to get a “pat on the back” from other liberals.
He stated in the ad that progressive groups and other Democrats have “piled onto me and attacked my voting record for having voted with the majority” while white liberal politicians who did the same were given a pass.
“White liberals and progressives alike peddle a tired racist narrative that a Black man is not working hard enough, while giving away the credit he deserves to the nearest white man they can find,” he wrote.
He added that only white moderates and progressives are allowed to negotiate and make deals without getting attacked.
Brockman also stated that he had decided not to share his personal health information with the public since he’s a private person; however, now, he said, he felt compelled to do so.
He stated that, in 2023, he had a mental breakdown and struggled constantly with whether or not the toll on himself and his family was worth it. He said his psychiatrist told him he needed to take time for himself in order to preserve his health.
His psychiatrist, he wrote, said “I would never be able to fully recover from the breakdown without rest because my work was triggering my trauma.”
Brockman concluded by encouraging others with mental health struggles to seek professional help, adding that he has now learned how to better cope with and process his feelings.
Sad that bipartidism is seen as failure or weakness in modern politics by both Republicans and Democrats. It is what used to make this country great…running our country for ALL people. Not just those that agree with me.
Thank you, Mr. Brockman for being open and honest about your experience.
This is exactly how the Democrats operate. You are not “Black Enough” if you dont vote Democrat. You are an “Uncle Tom” is you vote against the party. Shall I continue? I think most people with their eyes wide open can see how this works……..
This is exactly how Republicans operate. You are not conservative enough if you don’t vote in line with the GOP party line. They even have a name for it….RINO. (Always thought it was ironic that the Rhino times, a conservative news source, was called the Rhino.
Zero Sum Game politics is sadly the norm these days.
Gee, it sounds like Woke Dems demand he “bend the knee” just like MAGAmaniacs do. His story makes me wonder what we moderates did to end up with such pathetically polarized leadership. Like about 70% of the voters, I don’t want either of the leading candidates for President because both prefer attacking their opponents to promoting reasonable policies. And both of them have the gall to claim they are “saving America.”
Amen
So sad. What a commentary. While I’m not a fan or supporter of Brockman I feel empathy towards him during his struggles.
“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. Vote for your constituant, the heck with the rest of them.
Funny you used the singular for constituent…kinda the mindset that got us to the zero-sum political game played by both parties these days. Truth is there are constituents (plural) who hold a wide range of views in each voting distract. The idea is to find compromise when possible. Neither side wins…neither side loses.
You are a typo in my own mind.
I appreciate Rep. Brockman stating the issues he’s had serving in our state legislature. He’s articulated the problems I’ve witnessed with politics that didn’t seem as divisive before Sept. 11, 2001. I’m at the point of not wanting to care, watch, or vote which goes against everything I was taught about my responsibilities as a citizen (yes, I’m that old).
I admire Rep. Brockman for voting based on what he feels is right for his constituents as opposed to what will please those in the influencer crowd around him. That takes courage. But it also takes a huge toll on one’s mental and physical health, especially during these last few years. I’ve found that many of us have been experiencing the same type of mental stress that those who live during a time of war.
We’ve been in an intense war between good and evil, political parties, the government and the people, your way and my way, “THE” science and science, global concerns and local concerns, truth and “my truth”, freedom and tyranny, believers and non-believers, et.al. for over 4 years now. Because another election is coming up we’re about to begin the cycle of 2020 again, it seems, something we don’t want to repeat but looks as if it’s planned regardless. It has caused many to have similar mental health concerns as Rep. Brockman’s. Constant pressure, worry, disagreement, concern, debate, justification, research, and wondering as to what the right choices are wears a person down. Knowing the right choices will make you an outcast and object of ridicule, especially when you’re a public figure, it becomes extremely hard to cope. It’s good he’s found professional guidance.
Those of us who don’t fit at one end or the other need to be strong and understand our voices have merit and reason in a world that’s gone batsh@t crazy.