The life of the black Republican is pretty lonely these days, but it hasn’t always been that way. Black Americans were deeply rooted in the party of Lincoln for decades to avoid joining a Democratic Party controlled by "devils from below the Mason-Dixon line."
Throughout the 20th century, many influential yet largely-unknown Republican black leaders steered the party toward civil rights and social justice policies beneficial to black Americans. But a lot of that support went away as white Republican politicians made the choice to abandon the cause of civil rights over fear of offending whites.
That’s one of the main themes of The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power, a new book by Leah Wright Rigueur.
Since that time, the GOP has worked in many states to pass voting laws that have the effect of keeping blacks away from the polls. The party’s presidential candidates have largely ignored the issues of racial justice and equality that are important to many African Americans.
Presidential hopefuls may not be worried about appealing to black voters, since they know they won’t win their vote anyway. Ever since Barack Obama gathered the support of 90 percent of black voters in 2008, the GOP has talked about a “bigger tent” that can include more diversity.
Can Republican leaders get back to the party of Lincoln or will the Tea Party rule the day?
GUESTS:
- Leah Wright-Rigueur is assistant professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and the author of The Loneliness of the Black Republican
- David Swerdlick is an assistant editor for The Washington Post’s online PostEverything section and Sunday Outlook section.
- Aundre Baumgardner is a state representative serving the 41st General Assembly District of Groton and New London
- Wayne Winsley is a motivational speaker. He was a 2012 candidate for US Congress in the 3rd District
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Chion Wolf is the technical producer.
