Black conservatism in the United States

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Black conservatism in the United States is a political and social movement rooted in communities of African descent that aligns largely with the American conservative movement. Since the Civil Rights Movement in the later 20th Century, the African-American community has generally fallen to the left of the right-wing conservative movement, and has predominantly favored itself on the side of liberalism and civil rights progressives. Black conservatism emphasizes traditionalism, strong patriotism, capitalism, free markets, and strong social conservatism within the context of the black church.

Overview

Booker T. Washington

One of the main characteristics of black conservatism is its emphasis on personal choice and responsibilities above socioeconomic status and institutional racism. In the tradition of African American politics and intellectual life, black conservatives tend to side with Booker T. Washington as contrasted with W. E. B. Du Bois. For many black conservatives, the key mission is to bring repair and success to the Black community by applying the following fundamental principles:

  • The pursuit of educational and professional excellence as a means of advancement within the society;
  • Policies that promote safety and security in the community beyond the typical casting of a criminal as a "victim" of societal racism;
  • Local economic development through free enterprise rather than looking to the federal government for assistance;
  • Empowerment of the individual via self-improvement (virtue), conscience, and supernatural grace.[1]

Black conservatives may find common ground with Black Nationalists through their common belief in black empowerment and the theory that black people have been duped by the Welfare state.

On the other hand, some of the policies advocated by Black conservatives are in conflict with some of the key points in the common social, economic, and political positions that a high percentage of African-Americans favor. For example, black conservatives typically oppose affirmative action, which is supported by the vast majority of African American communities. They tend to argue that efforts to obtain reparations for slavery are either misguided or counter-productive. Moreover, black conservatives - especially black Republicans - are often accused of being Uncle Toms. Ebony in their May 2001 "100+ Most Influential Black Americans" issue, did not include a number of influential African Americans such as Thomas Sowell, Shelby Steele, Armstrong Williams, Walter Williams and, most notably, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The Economist, a British libertarian-leaning magazine, described the exclusion of Thomas from the list as spiteful.[2] Black conservatives favor integration of African Americans into mainstream America and, consequently, disagree with Black nationalism. Black conservatives are more inclined to support economic policies promoting globalization, free trade and tax cuts.

The term "Black Republican" was coined by Democrats in 1854 to describe the newly formed Republican Party. Though the majority of Republicans at the time were white, the Republican Party was founded by abolitionists and generally supported racial equality. Southern Democrats used the term as one of derision, believing that a Lincoln victory in 1860 would lead to widespread slave revolts. The use of the term continued after the Civil War to reflect most Southerners' opinions of the Radical Republicans during Reconstruction.[3] Over the next century, the term "Black Republican" would come to refer specifically to blacks affiliated with or voting for the Republican Party and is now a subset of the broader movement of black conservatism.

According to a 2004 study, 13.7% of blacks identified as "Conservative" or "Extremely Conservative"[4] with another 14.4% identifying as slightly conservative. However the same study indicated less than ten percent identified as Republican or Republican leaning in any fashion. Likewise, a recent Pew Research Center survey showed that 19% of blacks identify as Religious Right.[5] In 2004 the Pew Research Center indicated only 7% of blacks identify as Republican.[6] Hence a certain percentage of noted Black conservatives are likely connected to the Democrats for Life of America movement or economic liberalism.[citation needed]

From Reconstruction up until the New Deal, the black population tended to vote Republican as 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 segregation and the Republican Party's roots in the abolitionist movement (see Dixiecrats for more on this). Blacks started to shift in significant numbers to the Democrats with the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt,[7] whose New Deal particularly benefited economically disadvantaged minority communities and helped forge the New Deal coalition which dominated American politics for the next 30 years, and continued with the election of John F. Kennedy.

Another case study of differences between Black conservatives and Black Republicans is an emphasis on personal empowerment versus theological perspectives. Black Republicans like Colin Powell hold to the social ideas articulated by the early Radical Republicans like Frederick Douglass while at the same time supporting the self-empowerment message of Booker T. Washington. Many social conservatives who are black and Republican hold to a biblically based empowerment although they also appreciate Booker's emphasis on personal accomplishment. Conservatives like the Texas minister T. D. Jakes are evangelical African Americans who support policies more in common but not totally in line with many white Evangelicals.

The African-American church has traditionally been an important element of social and political movements in the Black community. These generally have been identified with persons of the Left or liberalism, like Jesse Jackson, but this is not always true. On issues concerning homosexuality, Black Protestants are more socially conservative than other groups, excepting White Evangelicals.[8] Their view on the issue of homosexual teachers changed less than any other segment based on religion or race.

Timeline of events

Tim Scott
Condoleezza Rice
Colin Powell
Alphonso Jackson
Rod Paige
Clarence Thomas
Jennifer Carroll
Allen West
Herman Cain

This is a timeline of significant events in African American history which have shaped the conservative movement in the United States.

1832 & 1845
  • Pío Pico elected as the last Governor of Alta California
1860s
1870s
1880s
1890s
1900s
1910s
1920s
1950s
1960s
  • 1968 – Arthur A. Fletcher is appointed Assistant Secretary of Labor; he will be a candidate for Chairman of the Republican National Committee in '76 and appointed Chairman of the US Commission on Civil Rights in '90.
1970s
  • 1975 – President Gerald Ford appoints the following:
    • William T. Coleman as Secretary of Transportation
    • James B. Parsons is named Chief Judge of the US District Court in Chicago, the first African-American to hold such a position.
  • 1979 – Melvin H. Evans is elected to U.S. Congress.
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s

Politicians

Ken Blackwell

Arizona

California

Colorado

  • Ryan Frazier - Aurora City Councilman (2003-2010) and U.S. House Candidate (2010)

Connecticut

  • Steven Mullins - Commissioner of Planning and Zoning, West Haven, Connecticut (2005–present)

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Illinois

Indiana

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

  • Thomas Stith - Town councilman of Durham, NC (1999-2007) and Governor of North Carolina Pat McCrory's Chief of Staff (2013–present)
  • [Dr. Ada M. Fisher] - NC Republican National Committeewoman (2008-present)

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Texas

Utah

Virginia

Virgin Islands

Wyoming

United States judges

Ambassadors

TV personalities, authors and journalists

Military

Columnists

Athletes and entertainers

Education and Business

Civil Rights and Activists

Organizations

Blogs

See also

References

  1. ↑ 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)
  2. ↑ "Lexington: The school of very hard knocks". The Economist. 2007-10-04. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  3. ↑ "The Republicans And The Civil War". Civilwarhome.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  4. ↑ "Quick Tables". Sda.berkeley.edu:8080. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  5. ↑ Pew Forum: Many Americans Uneasy with Mix of Religion and Politics
  6. ↑ Part 1: Party Affiliation: The 2004 Political Landscape
  7. ↑ "American President: Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The American Franchine". Millercenter.org. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  8. ↑
  9. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=16985494
  10. ↑ http://www.nndb.com/people/586/000173067/
  11. ↑ http://books.google.com/books?id=BPpYDAS_oUUC&lpg=PA141&ots=8HsYFyZ45_&dq=was%20ernest%20wilkins%20conservative&pg=PA141#v=onepage&q=was%20ernest%20wilkins%20conservative&f=false
  12. ↑ http://www.flgov.com/meet-the-lt-governor
  13. ↑ http://www.voteboulware.com/
  14. ↑ Fletcher, Michael A. (2006-08-17). "Lynn Swann, Happy to Be on the President's Team". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  15. ↑ http://www.odjfs.state.oh.us/women/halloffame/bio.asp?ID=119
  16. ↑ http://blackamericaweb.com/44812/judge-lynn-toler-yes-im-republican/
  17. ↑ "Larry Elder - Conservative Columnist and Political Commentator2003 Column Archive". Townhall.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  18. ↑ "WVON 1690 AM - The Talk of Chicago | Weekday Line-up". Wvon.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  19. ↑ White, Chelsea (July 18, 2013). 'I was a 29-year-old virgin': Sister Sister's Tamera Mowry reveals she has only ever slept with her husband Adam Housley. Mail Online. Retrieved July 19, 2013.
  20. ↑ "April 11, 2005". The Nation. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  21. ↑
  22. ↑ http://www.ng.mil/ngbGomo/library/bio/1711.htm
  23. ↑ http://www.129rqw.ang.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123188673
  24. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/01/local/la-me-national-guard2-2010feb02
  25. ↑ Pareles, Jon (December 25, 2006). "James Brown, the ‘Godfather of Soul’, Dies at 73". New York Times. Retrieved December 22, 2013. 
  26. ↑ Hulse, Carl, and Loughlin, Sean (December 20, 1999), "Graham, Clinton agree to agree", Lakeland Ledger: A14 
  27. ↑ "For The Record: Quick News On 50 Cent, Kanye West, Irv Gotti, Beyonce, Zack De La Rocha, Alice In Chains & More - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  28. ↑ "50 Cent Endorses Hillary Clinton, Fears A Black President Will Be Shot". Huffingtonpost.com. 2008-02-05. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  29. ↑ Harris, Gardiner (November 9, 2008). "The Underside of the Welcome Mat". The New York Times. Retrieved April 10, 2010. 
  30. ↑ Browne, David (1991-03-29). "Do the Right-Wing Thing". EW.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  31. ↑ "NEWSMEAT ▷ Karl Malone's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". Newsmeat.com. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  32. ↑ "Minnesota Public Radio". Minnesota Public Radio. 2006-06-13. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 
  33. ↑ Benjamin, Elizabeth (2010-09-16). NFLer: Carl's no racist. Capitol Tonight. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
  34. ↑ Washington, The (2008-10-17). "Q&A With Cowboy Troy". Washington Times. Retrieved 2011-05-17. 

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