Several weeks ago I heard a story on NPR & was turned off to learn that the Republican Party is increasing its Black membership numbers as more hot social/political issues arise. From what I heard, some Black preachers are inviting Republican candidates to speak during Sunday services with hopes of rallying last minute votes (act of desperation) and conservative/Republican preachers are influencing their congregations to move/vote Republican because of the recent gay rights &abortions etc issues across the nation. Apparently Black America is more against gay rights than another other group especially with those who are religious.
I find Black Republicans to be oxymoronic big time; how can you be Black & Republican does that mean that you are actually not Black & do not care about Black-issues-culture-survival. As I was looking for information on Black Republicans, I was really surprised to see how many web sites that are for Black Republicans, like www.theblackrepublican.net & http://www.nbra.info.
Earlier this year, the Washington Post ran a story titled “The Year of the Black Republican?” which detailed the Black gubernatorial candidates J. Kenneth Blackwell of OH & Lynn Swann of PA (former Pittsburgh Steeler), & Black senate candidate Michael Steele of MD. According to the article “Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal first brought African Americans into the Democratic coalition in the 1930s, and Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1960s support for civil rights legislation cemented their allegiance. In the subsequent four decades, Republicans have seen their presidential candidates win a dwindling share of the black vote. It hit bottom in 2000, when George W. Bush managed to garner just 8 percent of the votes of African Americans.”
On NPR’s Ed Gordon program, there was a roundtable discussion with Julianne Malveaux (my girl) – economist/author; Michael Meyers – executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition; and Robert George – editorial writer for the New York Post. During the discussion, George stated “You have individuals that cannot be portrayed as Uncle Toms that are somehow out of step with the black community,” says George. “Steele, Blackwell, both of them have long-standing social and business roots within the black community and that allows them to take what is still a Republican message into the community and get votes saying, ‘I am part of you. We may have certain disagreements here but I have a particular vision and it’s something that you should listen to.”
The roundtable discussion was breakdown of the candidates mentioned above in addition to some of the Democratic counterparts like Kwesi Mfume.
Frankly speaking (as always), the 2 most notable Black Republicans (IMHO) Colin Powell & Condoleeza Rice, were not seen as blacks with a positive light in large & I know they do not own any Ghetto Passes (wait, I do not have a Ghetto pass myself).
I hope that Black Republicans:
- Do not become the new black
- Candidates will not be tokens
- Can bring change on our BLACK communities
Hear the NPR story on Conservative BLack Clergy
Hear the Ed Gordon Roundtable Table discussion
Read the Washington Post story
Shay / June 6, 2006
Interesting. I am a registered voter but when I was 18 (that’s when I registered originally) I could not decide if I wanted to be a Democrat or a Republican although every Black person I knew family, friends, whatever were definitely on the Democrat side. I’m still Non-party Affiliate. I guess I felt like people had been complaining about the same stuff since I was born. I am now 32 and I still see Black folks complaining about the same stuff since I was born and I have often felt that the Democratic party has taken our vote for granted. I also understand that many freed blacks back in the day were Republican bcuz of Abe Lincoln. And many of the southerners who were behind the Jim Crow laws of the segregated south were Democrats politicians and regular folk alike. So to me it’s always seemed like both parties don’t really mean us any good. But I have been re-thinking our allegiance to the Democratic party since a lot of what blacks believe in, in my opinion line up with Republican thinking. Unless you are a staunch supporter of social programs then I cannot undrestand why a Black person would be Republican, but if you believe in achieving things for yourself through hard work; I can understand why a Black person would support the Republican party, but you have to be a person that does not necessarily believe in social programs since so many blacks seem to not benefit despite the fact that the programs are supposed to help us. Then again some folks have benefited from the programs and once they got on their feet looked down on other people who where on welfare, abusing welfare etc. Also, most blacks are against homosexual marriage and other conservative family issues, although we take the cake when it comes to unwed mothers in our community, and broken homes. So anyway, I’m black and I find myself becoming more of a conservative and leaning towards the Republican side as I get older only bcuz it seems that the Democratic way of thinking keeps us in the same B.S. situations we’ve been in for centuries. I haven’t quite made my decision yet, bcuz I’m in the middle still, I’m not poor enough to get help from the Democrat supported social programs and I’m not rich enough to get Republican tax breaks. I’m still in the research mode and I’m still non-party affiliate when it comes to my voter registration card. And heck most black people think I’m an oreo anyway, the first thing they want to know is why I talk like a white girl, but that’s another conversation because I don’t think I can be any blacker, Physically or Spiritually.
Bygbaby / June 6, 2006
You have made some very valid points! Democrats to seem to take our vote for granted but Republicans want to take & cast us aside.
In large Rep’s are not for social programs & it’s a damn shame that our people depend on the so heavily, maybe we do need a reality check!
You are right on the money about broken homes, but lets factor in crime, drugs & secret sexual behaviors (DL) who are we trying to kid. Are we putting on a false front, IMHO yes.
Finally “I haven’t quite made my decision yet, bcuz I’m in the middle still, I’m not poor enough to get help from the Democrat supported social programs and I’m not rich enough to get Republican tax breaks.” Shit me too!
The Oreo conversation is one of my favorite topics. Blacker than thou Negros get on my fucking nerves. They continue to instigate divide & conquer; I consider this self hatred. If you dog me, then you are dogging yourself as we are & should be one.
Bygbaby