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James Atticus Bowden - body
- The Black community isn't monolithic, but Black identity is singular. Ask Vivian if it isn't true that there is tremendous social pressure on Black peers to 'keep it real' and vote Democrat only. Ask how well it goes at social gatherings to be a known Republican and Black.
I don't think the Black vote for the GOP this cycle will be anything new. But, one by one, hearts and minds are being won as INDIVIDUAL voting citizens, not as 'Blacks', to vote Conservative - which often means Republican.
- comment Vivian J. Paige
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- JAB - why should Shaun ask me anything? Can't you speak for yourself?
- comment Shaun Kenney
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- Point taken, but since Jim asked... :)
What do you make of the pressures on African-Americans to "vote Democratic" in the light of say, Michael Steele or Alan Keyes? Do you think that the peeling away of conservative African-Americans is a transition?
Curious to read your thoughts.
- comment Conaway B. Haskins III
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- JAB: Obviously, you don't know black people. Being a Republican in a black community is not that hard. Being gay, non-religious, or even a country music fan is much harder. How many "social gatherings" of blacks have you been to where we've had to "keep it real?" You're being duplicitous; you can't say in one instance that the black community isn't monolithic, and then make such a broad sweeping statement about black identity being singular and us having to "keep it real."
Shaun: Alan Keyes is/was crazy, plain and simple. Even dyed-in-the-wool white conservatives thought so. Michael Steele is a different animal altogether - he is the model for what a successful black Republican should be. He's a real gem; in the long term, his presence will be good for black people, good for Republicans, and good for Democrats.
- comment Vivian J. Paige
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- First of all, I speak only for myself. I have never seen pressure to "Vote Democratic" just an overall sense that the D party better represented our interests. I just finished watching a piece on Johnson and the Civil Rights movement that was on the Discovery Times channel. The piece talked about how so many black homes had a picture of Jesus and a picture of JFK, but none of Johnson, when he was really the one that pushed through the legislation. My house had those same pictures, but I didn't even think about it until I saw that on TV.
That is, we all absorb our surroundings. And without being exposed to other things, we cannot grow and learn. My cousin, as I mentioned, is voting for Steele, as are most of her friends. Blacks can make their own decisions.
The bigger problem the issue of blacks not voting at all, because they don't feel like ANYBODY is listening.
- comment James Atticus Bowden
- body
- Vivian: I didn't direct my question to you because this is Shaun's site.
"Obviously, you don't know black people." Uh-huh. Sure.
I wish I had the pieces (I am such a lousy archivist and no short term memory at all) written or spoken by Blacks about being Republican and the social cost. I didn't make it up.
Please watch this tight rope I am walking... I know the Black community isn't monolithic, but there is social pressure for solidarity with a singular Black identity (see the comedy at the Apollo, or radio, etc. for examples) which is followed by references in speeches by 'civil rights leaders' etc. Perhaps Black unity is a better description of the pressure than identity.
Scholarly Alan Keyes is crazy? That must be why he features my national op eds on his web site. I wish he would move to Virginia and get elected to the US Congress.
Isn't Michael Steele (R) pro-abortion?
6 Comments:
I don't think the Black vote for the GOP this cycle will be anything new. But, one by one, hearts and minds are being won as INDIVIDUAL voting citizens, not as 'Blacks', to vote Conservative - which often means Republican.
What do you make of the pressures on African-Americans to "vote Democratic" in the light of say, Michael Steele or Alan Keyes? Do you think that the peeling away of conservative African-Americans is a transition?
Curious to read your thoughts.
Shaun: Alan Keyes is/was crazy, plain and simple. Even dyed-in-the-wool white conservatives thought so. Michael Steele is a different animal altogether - he is the model for what a successful black Republican should be. He's a real gem; in the long term, his presence will be good for black people, good for Republicans, and good for Democrats.
That is, we all absorb our surroundings. And without being exposed to other things, we cannot grow and learn. My cousin, as I mentioned, is voting for Steele, as are most of her friends. Blacks can make their own decisions.
The bigger problem the issue of blacks not voting at all, because they don't feel like ANYBODY is listening.
"Obviously, you don't know black people." Uh-huh. Sure.
I wish I had the pieces (I am such a lousy archivist and no short term memory at all) written or spoken by Blacks about being Republican and the social cost. I didn't make it up.
Please watch this tight rope I am walking... I know the Black community isn't monolithic, but there is social pressure for solidarity with a singular Black identity (see the comedy at the Apollo, or radio, etc. for examples) which is followed by references in speeches by 'civil rights leaders' etc. Perhaps Black unity is a better description of the pressure than identity.
Scholarly Alan Keyes is crazy? That must be why he features my national op eds on his web site. I wish he would move to Virginia and get elected to the US Congress.
Isn't Michael Steele (R) pro-abortion?
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