One of the main characteristics of black conservatism is its emphasis on personal choice and responsibilities above socioeconomic status and institutional racism.[3][4]
Black conservatives typically oppose affirmative action and tend to argue that efforts to obtain reparations for slavery are either misguided or counter-productive. Black conservatives tend to be self-critical of aspects of African-American culture that they believe have created poverty and dependency.[5]
A National Election Pool poll showed that support for California Proposition 8 (2008) (a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as an opposite-sex union) was strong among African-American voters; 70% of those interviewed in the exit poll—a higher percentage than any other racial group—stated that they voted in favor of Proposition 8.[8] Polls by both the Associated Press and CNN mirrored this data, reporting support among black voters to be at 70%[9] and 75%,[10] respectively. African-American support was considered crucial to the Proposition's passage because African Americans made up an unusually large percentage of voters in 2008; the presence of African-American presidential candidate Barack Obama on the ballot was believed to have increased African-American voter turnout.[11]
Historical basis
From Reconstruction up until the New Deal, the black population tended to vote Republican. During that period, the Republican Party—particularly in the Southern United States—was seen as more racially liberal than the Democratic Party, primarily because of the role of the Southern wing of the Democratic Party as the party of racial segregation and the Republican Party's roots in the abolitionist movement (see Dixiecrats).
Blacks started to shift in significant numbers to the Democrats with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt[12] and continued with the election of John F. Kennedy. Among Truman Administration officials, the publication of Henry Lee Moon's Balance of Power spurred Democratic partisan support for African-American constituencies.[13] This shift was also influenced by Herbert Hoover's practice of firing loyal African-Americans from positions within the Republican Party, in order to increase his appeal to Southern white voters.[14] This can be considered an early example of a set of Republican Party methods that were later termed the Southern Strategy.[15][better source needed]
Aris T. Allen – Maryland State Delegate (1991 and 1967–1974), Lieutenant Governor nominee (1978) and State Senator (1979–1982)
Massachusetts
Edward Brooke – United States Senator (1967–1979), Attorney General of Massachusetts (1963–1967), first African-American since Reconstruction in 1874 to have been elected to the United States Senate, first African-American United States Senator since 1881, first African American elected by popular vote to the United States Senate, and first African-American United States Senator ever to have been re-elected to the United States Senate.
Lisa Holder White - Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court (since 2022), Judge of the Illinois Fourth District Appellate Court (2013-2022), Trial Judge Illinois Sixth Judicial Circuit Court (2001-2013)
Anthony Watson (skeleton racer) - is an American-born skeleton racer who competed on behalf of Jamaica in the 2018 Winter Olympics, becoming the first athlete to represent the Caribbean nation in the winter sport.
Kanye West – Rapper and record producer. Endorsed Donald Trump subsequently to the 2016 presidential election. Met President Trump in the Oval Office on 11 October 2018. Independent candidate for President of the United States in 2020 and 2024.
Karl Malone – Olympic Gold medallist and basketball player[45]
George Washington Carver[citation needed] – Agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion
Glenn Loury – Academic, economist, and podcast host
Mary Church Terrell - One of the first African-American women to receive a college degree, she was a journalist and educator. She was an active Republican, campaigning for Warren G. Harding in 1920.
Ezola Foster – Teacher, writer, political activist, and unsuccessful candidate for public office on the Republican and Reform Party tickets
Roscoe Simmons – Orator, journalist, political activist, he was part of the "Old Guard" of Black Republicans in Tennessee. He attended three Republican National Conventions and seconded the nomination of Herbert Hoover in 1932.
Mark Burns (pastor) - televangelist, unsuccessful candidate for United States House of Representatives from South Carolina in 2018 and 2022.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali - Somali-born Dutch-American activist associated with the conservative American Enterprise Institute and Hoover Institution, a former Muslim, she has spoken out against Islamic suppression of women and has criticized American feminists for their failure to speak out on this issue.
Nelson W. Winbush - is an educator, who is notable as one of a handful of African-American members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV).
Mattie Clyburn Rice - was an African-American member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Voddie Baucham - is an American pastor, author, and educator. He serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.
Lemuel Haynes - was an American clergyman. A veteran of the American Revolution, Haynes was the first black man in the United States to be ordained as a minister.
^Diamond, Sara (1996). Facing the Wrath: Confronting the Right in Dangerous Times. Common Courage Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-1-56751-078-2. Christian Right activists allied with black conservatives to make their causes appear more mainstream across racial and class lines. In this vein, the Family Research Council (the lobbying affiliate of Focus on the Family) recently named as vice-president Kay Cole James, a black anti-abortion activist.
^"Lexington: The school of very hard knocks". The Economist. 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^Wright Rigueur, Leah (15 February 2015). "The Forgotten History of Black Republicans". The Daily Beast. New York City. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
^For an overview of these themes, see Stan Faryna, Brad Stetson, and Joseph G. Conti, Eds., Black and Right: The Bold New Voice of Black Conservatives in America, (Westport, CT: Praeger, 1997)
^Brian Greenberg; Linda S. Watts; Richard A. Greenwald; Gordon Reavley; Alice L. George; Scott Beekman; Cecelia Bucki; Mark Ciabattari; John C. Stoner; Troy D. Paino; Laurie Mercier; Andrew Hunt; Peter C. Holloran; Nancy Cohen (2008). Social History of the United States [10 volumes]. ABC-CLIO. p. 360. ISBN 978-1-59884-128-2.
^Pew Forum: Many Americans Uneasy with Mix of Religion and Politics Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^Part 1: Party Affiliation: The 2004 Political Landscape Archived April 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^"Exit Poll Shows Blacks, Hispanics Overwhelmingly Backed Prop. 8". KTVU. November 5, 2008. Archived from the original on September 17, 2012. Retrieved March 29, 2012.
^Morain, Dan; Garrison, Jessica (2008-11-06). "Focused beyond marriage". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2013-11-01.
^"American President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The American Franchine". Millercenter.org. Archived from the original on 2010-11-27. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^Gilmore, Glenda Elizabeth (2016). These United States: A Nation in the Making, 1890-Present (First ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co. p. 24. ISBN 9780393283075.
^Dawson, Michael C. (1995). Behind the Mule: Race and Class in African-American Politics. Princeton University Press. p. 102. ISBN 0691025436. herbert hoover fired black republicans.
^"How the party of Lincoln won over the once democratic south". History.com. September 3, 2021.
^"Meet Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll". Archived from the original on 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
^"'Blessed and highly favored' Byron Donalds wins election for U.S. Congressional District 19, pledges water quality No. 1 priority".
^Moseley, Brandon (2021-07-12). "Kenneth Paschal in HD73 special election on Tuesday". Alabama Political Reporter. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
^"chastang". Mobile Bay Times. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
^"Sharon Jackson For Alaska". Sharon Jackson For House (24). Archived from the original on 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2022-07-25.
^Seipel, Brooke (July 12, 2021). "Conservative talk radio host Larry Elder enters California recall election against Newsom". The Hill. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
^"Peter Boulware". Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
^"Former Chatham Borough Mayor Bruce Harris Named as New Member of State Planning Commission". Chatham TapInto. February 27, 2020. Archived from the original on March 27, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
^"'Ricochet' Goes Behind Scenes of Gun Lobby". National Public Radio. 2007-11-15. Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
^"Roy Innis re-elected to NRA Board", NRAwinningteam.com. Archived October 13, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
^Fletcher, Michael A. (2006-08-17). "Lynn Swann, Happy to Be on the President's Team". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^"Judge Lynn Toler: Yes, I'm Republican". 24 September 2012.
^"CNN TV - Anchors/Reporters:Amy Holmes". CNN International. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
^"April 11, 2005". The Nation. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^"Larry Elder – Conservative Columnist and Political Commentator 2003 Column Archive". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^"WVON 1690 AM – The Talk of Chicago | Weekday Line-up". Wvon.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^Folkenflik, David (20 September 2016). "Trump Calls NBC News Anchor And Fellow GOP'er Lester Holt A Democrat". NPR.
^"MAGA Anton Debates With A Black Liberal/Independent Veteran". YouTube.com. November 16, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
^Sotomayor, Tommy (6 August 2015). "How Democrats & White Liberals Are Destroying The Black American People!". Archived from the original on 2015-08-07 – via YouTube.
^"Brigadier General Mary J. Kight". Archived from the original on 2009-07-29. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
^"Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Brigadier General Mary J. Kight Adjutant General of the California National Guard". Archived from the original on 2015-05-30. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
^Rothfeld, Michael (2010-02-01). "Mary J. Kight continues to be a trailblazer". Los Angeles Times.
^General Russell Honore To Run Vs David Vitter In Louisiana US Race? Archived 2009-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
^Did you know Ernie Banks was a Republican? Archived 2015-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. American Spectator. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
^Pareles, Jon (December 25, 2006). "James Brown, the 'Godfather of Soul', Dies at 73". The New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
^Hulse, Carl & Loughlin, Sean (December 20, 1999), "Graham, Clinton agree to agree", Lakeland Ledger, p. A14
^"Minnesota Public Radio". Minnesota Public Radio. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^Romaine, Jenna (2017-02-12). "Joy Villa Unveils Donald Trump 'Make America Great Again' Dress on the Grammy Red Carpet". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-02-12.
^"NEWSMEAT ▷ Karl Malone's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". Newsmeat.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2011-05-17.
^Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-09-16). NFLer: Carl's no racist Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine. Capitol Tonight. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
Further reading
Blain, Charles J., Black Churches Can't Stand Strong If They Keep Democrats as Their Platform (2017)
Conti, Joseph G & Brad Stetson, Challenging the Civil Rights Establishment: Profiles of a New Black Vanguard (1993)
Eisenstadt, Peter, ed. Black Conservatism: Essays in Intellectual and Political History (1999)
Farina, Stan, Brad Stetson & Joseph G. Conti, eds. Black and Right: The Bold New Voice of Black Conservatives in America (1997)
Lewis, Angela K., "Black conservatism in America," Journal of African American Studies, Vol 8, Issue 4, pp. 3–13 (2005)
Ondaatje, Michael, Black Conservative Intellectuals in Modern America (2010)
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Black conservatism in the United States.
Murray, Mark. "GOP diversity aims at a crucial Democratic bloc." NBC News. April 25, 2006.
"The New Black Republicans." WBUR, Boston's NPR. June 2, 2004.