African-Amercan Democrats?

Question

Why do most african-americans vote democrat. The Republican Party started so thier mission was to abolish slavery. Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. They fought for thier freedom years ago. I dont understand.

Answer 1

Many African-Americans leaning towards the Democrats isn't based in the history of either party, but in the present. Historically, yes, Republicans have done a lot for African-Americans in this country. However, the viewpoint of modern Republicans in many African-Americans' minds is that they don't care all that much for minorities today. Some sympathize with Kanye West's viewpoint that, "George Bush doesn't care about black people."

History's important, but if people don't feel that a certain party is doing anything for them in the present, they aren't going to vote that way.

Answer 2

The Republican Party did end slavery (over the strong objections of most Democrats), but that was almost 150 years ago. Since then, the Party has changed and Republicans have done very little to help blacks. Since Richard Nixon committed the Republican Party to the "Southern Strategy" around 1970, the Party has gradually become the home of those who fought against the civil rights legislation of the past 40 years.

Answer 3

This question has been asked a lot of times here, which is very sad. Lincoln was the polar opposite of what the Republican Party stands for now. Just because the name is the same doesn't mean the parties haven't changed in 150 years.

Heck, they weren't even the same 45 years ago. Just look at the Civil Rights Act voting:

The original House version:

Southern Democrats: 7-87 (7%-93%)
Southern Republicans: 0-10 (0%-100%)
Northern Democrats: 145-9 (94%-6%)
Northern Republicans: 138-24 (85%-15%)

Southern Democrats were also known as Dixiecrats. They soon joined the Republican Party, electing guys like Strom Thurmond. Based on today's party affiliations the vote looks like this:

Democrats: 145-9 (94%-6%)
Republicans: 145-121 (53%-47%)

Tell me again, which is the party that wanted to give African-Americans rights?

Answer 4

We do not see or hear ourselves in the Republican Party. Do you think Clarence Thomas resonates in any minority community? He is by definition a Social Conservative. Thomas has both feet in the Heritage Foundation. Here is someone who gets on the Supreme Court because of his conservative views. Is this a reflection of how he arrived? No. He is an Affirmative Action baby just like many, and now he is on the bench and he forgot. This is what we get from the Republican Party. We get the Judge Pickerings, although I must say Judge Reggie Walton has not been to bad. Nevetheless, our issues are mentioned but not addressed. Look at the Republican Candidates for President. What do they all have in common? They are Conservatives. The Conservative agenda does not include minorities as a consideration under the Republican umbrella. If anything, minority issues are a token issue, not a main stream issue. Look at the Democratic Presidential field. It is as diverse as the politics. Therein lies the problem, the Democratic base requires candidates to be all things to all people. The Republican base is homogeneous, just like it's candidate's issues. A Democrat cannot get elected President and not campaign in California, like the Bush election campaigns in 2000 and 2004. They forfeited the State of California because of it's pecking order in the Electoral college. Minorities see this as not being inclusive of our issues and vote. This has been the Republican politics, as of recent years. Like many others, Colin Powell was ignored, General Peter Pace was bounced as Chairman Joint Chief of Staff. If you don't tow the party line, the Republican Party operatives cut you from the team. It's a one size fits all political agenda. To use a figure of speech, everything is black and white. Scooter Libby was loyal to the Republican Party, whatever happens to him will be better than someone of any other persuasion, same with Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, because they do exactly what they are told. Where can a wider agenda squeeze into such tight policy? Drs. Paul Wolfowitz and Rice are not paid to think, they do what they are told by the Vice President's office, hindsight tells us this to be factual based on the Libby investigation. How minorities can fit into such an unimaginative politic stumps even the best of us. To further your understanding as to why African Americans do not vote Republican, review the Reconstruction Period and look at the elected officials and the representation of their issues, then see the systemic elimination of minorities throughout the country, from the Congress, Governor of Lousiannna, to Mayors we were wiped clean off the map. Start with Bruce K. Blanche he should be a person of interest.

Answer 5

Neither do they......
Vote totals Civil rights act of 1964

Totals are in "Yes-No" format:

* The Original House Version: 290-130 (69%-31%)
* The Senate Version: 73-27 (73%-27%)
* The Senate Version, as voted on by the House: 289-126 (70%-30%)

[edit] By party

The original House version:

* Democratic Party: 153-96 (61%-39%)
* Republican Party: 138-34 (80%-20%)

The Senate version:

* Democratic Party: 46-22 (68%-32%)
* Republican Party: 27-6 (82%-18%)

The Senate version, voted on by the House:

* Democratic Party: 153-91 (63%-37%)
* Republican Party: 136-35 (80%-20%)

Answer 6

Excuse me, but the Democratic and Republican platforms have changed considerably over the last 140 years. Originally, the blacks did traditionally vote Republican, mainly because of what Lincoln did for them. However, the Great Depression changed all of that, and when the blacks were suffering its effects and didn't want to live in Hoovervilles, they decided to vote for FDR. Not only that, but since then, the Democrats have been responsible for much legislation that has benefitted blacks, such as the civil rights laws that were passed during the 60s and the social welfare programs that were set up to help the poor.

Answer 7

There was a switch from the Republican party during the civil rights days.

Now we are seeing a switch from the Democratic party to one that is more conservative because now the Democratic party have left with African Americans values.

Answer 8

Not only do they vote as a block (sorry, PC violation), most of them have no clue, like most whites, when they vote. I've worked around a lot of black folks (sorry, PC violation) and have found very few who could intelligently discuss politics. Blacks fail to see how the democrats have manipulated, used them, and taken them for granted for years. They also refuse to acknowledge that the republican option gives their poor a way out of poverty while the democrats use that against them. Call me a racist (its just a word) if it makes you happy, but I'm simply telling you of my experience.

Answer 9

The Republican party did not start out to abolish slavery. They started another party to offer an alternative, basically the same attitudes we have today.

Answer 10

The Republican Party has changed QUITE A BIT since the 19th century.

The Dixiecrats splintered from the Democrats in the middle of the 20th century and eventually folded into the Republican party.

The Dixies big gripe was that the Democrats weren't WHITE enough.