Why has there not been a black senator elected in the south since Reconstruction?

Question

(1877)

There has not been a black senator elected since since Reconstruction.
Blanche Bruce was elected before Reconstruction.

Answer 1

Blanche Kelso Bruce (March 1, 1841 – March 17, 1898) was an American politician. Bruce represented Mississippi as a U.S. Senator from 1875 to 1881 and was the first black to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. Hiram R. Revels, too of Mississippi, was the first to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, but did not serve a full term.

Answer 2

Short version--following Reconstruction, the old slaveholding elite regained control and imposed measues that became known as the "Jim Crow" laws--forcing blacks out of the political sphere.

Today, although those laws are gone, there is still a lot of residual bigotry--the racists haven't died out yet--and most of the South is still controlled by white supremecists (although they are covert about their goals now)--they simply shifted over to the Repulican party when Democrats rejected segrregation and racism.

And yes--I know--I'm saying the Southern Republicans today are closet racists. By and large, that's exactly what they are--at least the ones with political influence in the GOP. And--BTW--I grew up adnd live in the south--but I'm under no illusions about the immoral and corrupt nature of our state and local politicians.

That--in a nutshell--is why you haven't seen any black Senators from the South in 130 years.

Answer 3

Harold Ford made a run for it and lost in a tight battle in a overwhelming black district. Which says, that it wasn't his color that was the reason for his loss, but his politics. He was a moderate democrat and not liberal enough. Maybe he should have run as a republican.

I disagree with Grabby in that look at the House of Representatives and how many Blacks from the South are in it. That would exclude color as a barrier, it's politics and Blacks are typically democrat but not as liberal on issues as the democratic leaders of the party so much harder to win a senate seat canvassing more districts.

Answer 4

The last time a black man ran in Mississippi was from the Lynching Party, which did not have too many electorates, nationally, that year.

Answer 5

I think the Senate is still very much a good ol' boys club, no matter where you're from in the country. There are a few exceptions, but they seem to want to escape the club for the White House.

Answer 6

Because the South has long been socially conservative.

They don't want to rock the boat.

Note also that there are no black Republicans in congress. Dittoheads. Condi Rice is not a black Republican in congress. She was appointed, not elected.

Answer 7

Public Education.

Answer 8

Because of reconstruction

Answer 9

There wer 2 from Mississippi.

Answer 10

They did not get enough votes in comparison to other candidates.