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Black conservatism

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Black Conservatism is a political and social movement within African American culture that aligns largely with the American Right, emphasizing patriotism, independence and self-help, free markets and within some circles Christian Right values. Contemporary black conservatives find common ground with American conservatives of other races, which sometimes put them at odds with the largely "left" majority of African American voters.

Contents

[edit] Overview

The perspective held by many Black conservatives is typically in conflict with some of the key points in the common social, economic, and political positions that a high percentage of African-Americans are in favor of, particularly in regards to reparations for slavery, affirmative action and Black nationalism. While most African-Americans have a neutral stance on Black nationalism and integration (as long as there is an even playing field), Black conservatives are clearly in favor of African-American integration with mainstream America.

For many Black conservatives, in their own point of view, the key mission is to bring repair to the Black community by applying the following fundamental principles: the pursuit of educational excellence as a means of assention 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; and local economic development rather than looking toward the federal government for assistance.

Black conservative politicians, in this regard, are more inclined to be supportive of GOP economic policies (i.e., globalization, free-trade agreements, tax cuts), militarism, regional interventions, or other agendas that the vast majority of Blacks are in opposition of and therefore they are viewed as being promoted to high positions in government due to their supporting views/actions.

A fundamental breaking point between the Black Liberal and the Black Conservative is focused around the balance between a perception of the impact that historical slavery and oppression has on Black people living today versus the power and consequences of personal choices that a person makes in determining his ultimate fate. The Black conservative is more inclined to advance the notion that individual choices toward success and a commitment toward changing one's individual behavior will allow the individual to advance in society with respect to the rights that Blacks have been afforded due to the Civil Rights Movement. The Black liberal counters that collective success in which the least among them are focused upon and brought up to standard is worthy of consideration. Black Conservatives find common ground with Black Nationalists to the extent that they both believe that the black masses have been duped by the politics of condescending white liberals vis a vis the maintenance of the Welfare state.

Black conservatives also tend to be culturally conservative and put a priority on maintaining strong ties to black cultural and family traditions. This would include preferences to Jazz and Gospel music over Hip-hop and so-called Urban Contemporary music. Black conservatives favor traditional nuclear family arrangements and oppose Gay Marriage. They are particularly strong critics of out of wedlock births.

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. DuBois.

[edit] Black conservatism and "Selling out": A historical context

Within the African American community the issue of Blacks exploiting other Blacks for personal gain is an extremely sensitive issue because of the history and impact of some Blacks sympathizing with and directly participating with the racist faction of Whites in the oppression of the Blacks. For instance, during the days of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade some Africans were sold or traded by other Africans to European slave catchers. When the African was enslaved in America some Blacks worked on the behalf of the slave master to keep the captured Africans in slavery by exposing to the slave master escape and rebellion plans. For instance, Denmark Vesey planned what would have been a large slave rebellion had word of the plans not been leaked by Blacks who sympathized with racist Whites. These Blacks who worked on behalf of racist Whites and the slave masters were deeply despised by other Blacks for their actions. On the plantations of United States slave owners created a system that allowed some slaves to work in the house who were referred to at the time as "house Negroes". The "house Negro" worked in his masters home performing domestic household activities while other slaves or "field Negroes" worked the in the harsh outdoor conditions in the fields.

The term "house nigger" is a slur sometimes used by liberals as a metaphor to describe the perceived thought process of a Black conservative. This division of labor between the Blacks who worked in the house and those that worked in field created a rift between Blacks which in the estimation of some people, still impacts the African American community today. Black conservatives tend to be labeled by a segment of African Americans as "Uncle Toms" or other slurs as a informal social control mechanism. The use of the term Uncle Tom has two variations; Version A is the Black person who is a docile, loyal, religious, contented servant who accommodates himself to a lowly status. Version B is the ambitious Black person who subordinates himself in order to achieve a more favorable status within the dominant society. In both instances, the person is believed to overly identify with Whites, in Version A because of fear, in Version B because of opportunism. Version B is more commonly used today when referring to a Black conservative.

[edit] Reasons the ideology has not taken root in the Black community

Some Black conservatives contend that Blacks vote liberal/Democratic because they are misled by current civil rights leaders such as Jesse Jackson who Black conservatives tend to believe are coaching Black people to feel offended. Black liberals counter this argument by citing that Black people, like any other population group, know and comprehend their self-interest. It is argued by some Black liberals that the lack of support in the Black community is due in part to actions and positions of Black conservatives that re-enforce the suspicion among black people that Black conservatives are carrying out the agenda for the White Republican establishment.

Because some Black conservatives such as Ward Connerly have a tendency to downplay their African heritage, they have the image of a "self-hating Black" in the eyes of some people.

Speaking out against racism: Rightly or wrongly, Black conservatives are often seen as defenders of, and apologists for White racism. The perceived Black conservatives failure to respond forcefully enough to White racism only feeds the suspicion that they have essentially declared racism a thing of the past, that it no longer has urgency. The perception of giving aid and comfort to racist views makes it difficult for Black conservatives to make inroads into Black communities.

Minimum Wage and Living Wage: The opposition of some conservative blacks to raising the minimum wage and rejection of living wage proposals across the country puts them squarely at odds with many Blacks. Many Blacks do not typically accept the defense that these regulations stifle business profitability and undermine job creation.

Perceived anti-affirmative action stance: Black liberals view the current anti-affirmative action stance of some Black conservatives as evidence that the Black conservative role within the GOP is to carry out a perceived agenda dictated by White conservatives.

Perceived incompatibility with the African Americans’ struggle for equality: Former black Republican representative J.C. Watts' father’s statement "A black person voting Republican makes about as much sense as a 'chicken voting for Colonel Sanders" captures the sentiment of many Blacks.

Difference in Political Persuasion: Many liberal and/or moderate commentators have noted that the political views of most African Americans simply differ greatly from those of Republicans/Conservatives. These include: Reparations (to both blacks and Native Americans), Educations-Vouchers, Social programs, Government role in providing Healthcare, perceived problems in the Criminal Justice system, etc.

Assimilation to Western "White" values and culture: In a response to a reader who questioned a link to a White separatist blog placed in her posted essay titled "The Weakening West" (5-28-2006), black conservative blogger La Shawn Barber stated in her reply; "Unlike most blacks, I don’t consider “white nationalist” a horrific idea. Few blacks have a problem with black nationalists, and all sorts of black groups get together for purposes of benefited their race. There’s too much hypocrisy and not enough critical thinking going on for my taste. This is why I don’t get along with black liberals. We start from different premises. I’m not afraid of, threatened, or incensed by ideas like white nationalism."

[edit] Black conservatives and Black Republicans

The relationship between Black conservatives and Black Republicans in modern times is close enough they are often deemed identical. That said even now "Black conservative" does not always mean "Black Republican." According to a 2004 study 13.7% of blacks identified as "Conservative" or "Extremely Conservative"[1] 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[2]. In 2004 the Pew Research Center indicated only 7% of blacks identify as Republican.[3] Hence a certain percentage of noted Black conservatives (such as Harold Ford Jr.) are likely connected to the Blue Dog Democrats or Democrats for Life movements.

Added to this from Reconstruction up until the New Deal the black population tended to vote Republican as the Republican Party, particularly in the US South, was seen as more racially liberal than the Democratic Party. (See Dixiecrats for more on this)

[edit] Black conservatives and The Black Church

The African American church has traditionally been an important element to social and political movements in the community. In general these have been identified by figures of the Left or liberalism, like Jesse Jackson, but this is not consistently true. On issues concerning homosexuality Black Protestants are more socially conservative than other groups exempting White Evangelicals.[4] Their view on the issue of homosexual teachers changed less than any other segment based on religion or race.

[edit] Timeline of Black Republican History

1862 President Abraham Lincoln is the first president to meet with a group of black leaders

1864 The Republican National Convention makes the abolition of slavery a plank in its platform

1868 Oscar J. Dunn becomes Lieutenant Governor in Louisiana

P.B.S Pinchback and James J. Harris become the first African-American delegates to the Republican National Convention, held in Chicago

1870 Hiram R. Revels is elected to fill U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Jefferson Davis

Joseph H. Rainey, South Carolina, becomes the first African-American Congressman

Alonzo J. Ransier is elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina before being elected to the U.S. Congress in '72

1871 Robert B. Elliot chairs South Carolina delegation to the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia

1872 John R. Lynch is elected Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives; he will be elected to US Congress in 73

1875 Blanche K. Bruce of Mississippi becomes the first African-American elected to a full term in US Senate

1884 John R. Lynch is the first African-American to preside over the Republican National Convention; gives the keynote address

1901 President Theordore Roosevelt invites Booker T. Washington to dinner at the White House

1920 The Republican National Convention declares that African-Americans must be admitted to all state and district conventions

1954 President Dwight Eisenhower appoints J. Ernest Wilkins as Assistant Secretary of Labor

1960 Jackie Robinson, the first black Major League Baseball player, endorses Nixon for President

1966 Edward W. Brooke (R-MA) is the first African-American elected to U.S. Senate by popular vote

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

1975 President Gerald Ford appoints William T. Coleman 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

1980 NAACP President Benjamin Hooks is invited to address the Republican National Convention

1981 President Ronald Reagan appoints Clarence Pendleton, Jr, as Chairman of the US Civil Rights Commission

1982 President Reagan appoints Clarence Thomas as Chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

1989 President George H.W. Bush appoints Louis Sullivan as Secretary of Health and Human Services

President Bush appoints General Colin L. Powell as Chair of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff

President Bush appoints Condoleezza Rice as Director of the National Security Council

1990 Gary Franks is elected to US Congress (CT)

1991 President Bush appoints Clarence Thomas to U.S. Supreme Court

1998 U.S. House of Representatives elects J.C. Watts (R-OK) to be Chairman of the House Republican Conference

2001 President George W. Bush appoints General Colin L. Powell as the Secretary of State; Roderick R. Paige as the Secretary of Education; Condoleezza Rice as Advisor of the National Security Council; Alphonso Jackson as the Deputy Secretary to Housing and Urban Development; Claude Allen as the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services; Leo S. Mackay, Jr, as the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Larry D. Thompson as the Deputy Attorney General; and Stephen A. Perry as Administrator of General Services Administration

[edit] Notable Black Conservatives

[edit] United States Politicians

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[edit] Canadian Politicians

[edit] Talk show hosts

  • Alan Keyes, radio host, U.N. Ambassador, presidential candidate, author
  • Larry Elder, radio host, Investor's Business Daily columnist, author
  • Jesse Lee Peterson, president of The Brotherhood Organization, television and radio host
  • Kevin Fobbs, president of National Urban Policy Action Council, radio host
  • Deborah Rowe (professor), Chicago talk radio host, adjunct professor at DePaul University
  • Armstrong Williams, author of "Beyond blame", TV host of On Point

    [edit] Columnists

    Economist Thomas Sowell
  • Gregory Kane, Baltimore Sun columnist
  • Deroy Murdock, National Review columnist
  • Ken Hamblin, Denver Post columnist
  • Star Parker, president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, columnist, author
  • La Shawn Barber, columnist, blogger
  • Thomas Sowell, Hoover Institute fellow, economist, author of "Basic economics"
  • Walter E. Williams, economist, columnist, author of "More liberty means less government"
  • Stephen L. Carter, Christianity Today columnist, author of "The Culture of Disbelief"
  • Dell Gines, Omaha Star Columnist, President of the Urban Center for Economic Education & Development, Inc., blogger

    [edit] Athletes and Entertainers

    Image:Jakes wapost himself.jpg
  • Joseph C. Phillips, actor, commentator
  • Yaphet Kotto, actor
  • Jimmie Walker, actor, comedian
  • Karl Malone, basketball player, two-time Olympic gold medalist
  • Lynn Swann, football player, Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate
  • T.D. Jakes, televangelist

    [edit] Other

  • Deroy Murdock, Wall Street Journal Opinon Contributor, Cato Institute Scholar
  • Herman Cain, President of Godfather's Pizza
  • Dana White, director of WRAPP, Communications associate at the Heritage Foundation
  • Ward Connerly, University of California regent, activist and businessman
  • Ezola Foster, president of Americans for Family Values, author of "What's right for all americans"
  • Shelby Steele, Hoover Institue fellow, author of "The content of our character"
  • Clarence Mason Weaver, inspirational speaker, author of "It's ok to leave the plantation"
  • Jason Riley, Wall Street Journal Editorial Board member
  • Gerald A. Reynolds, president of the Center for New Black Leadership, member of Project 21
  • John McWhorter, author of "Losing the race" and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
  • Vernon Robinson, Air Force intelligence officer, business professor
  • Niger Innis, director of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)
  • Roy Innis, Hudson Institute fellow, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality
  • Phyllis Berry Meyers, head of National Center for Leadership Training and Recruitment
  • George Schuyler, journalist, novelist
  • Michael King, National Advisory Board Member of Project 21, former radio talk show host
  • Robert A. George, journalist, pundit and blogger.

    [edit] Fictional Black conservatives

  • Carlton Banks, from the NBC TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
  • Ray Campbell, from the ABC/WB TV series Sister, Sister
  • Thurgood Marshall "Goodie" Cumberbatch, from the CBS TV series 704 Hauser
  • Gordon Davis, from the 1999 novel Protect and Defend by Eric L. Harry
  • William Dent, from the UPN/CW TV series Girlfriends
  • Tom Dubois, from The Boondocks comic strip and the animated series of the same name on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim
  • Augustus Freeman IV, a.k.a. Icon, the titular character from the Milestone comic book
  • Oliver Garland, from the 2002 novel The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter
  • Leo Glynn, from the HBO TV series Oz
  • Jimmy James, from the 2002 film Barbershop, the 2004 film Barbershop 2: Back in Business, and Showtime's Barbershop: The Series
  • Bruford Jamison, Jr., from the 1994 film Drop Squad
  • George Jefferson, from the CBS TV series All in the Family and The Jeffersons
  • Ron Johnson, from the NBC TV series A Different World
  • Russell "Linc" Lincoln, from the Showtime TV series Linc's
  • Matty (Eleanor Emerson's boss), from the Fox TV series Roc
  • Dondi Reece, the U.S. Secretary of State in the Marvel comic book Black Panther, as written by Reginald Hudlin -- (Clearly, she is an analogue for Condoleezza Rice)
  • Maxwell Stanton, from the NBC/UPN TV series In the House
  • Odafin "Fin" Tutuola, from the NBC TV series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
  • Token Black and his family, from South Park, Token's family are the richest family in South Park and are opposed to all hate-crime laws.

    [edit] See also

    [edit] Black Conservative Organizations

    [edit] Black conservative blogs

    [edit] External links

    [edit] Related Artcles

    Retrieved from "http://en.wikivisual.com/index.php/Black_conservatism"
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