Black Republicans: A Black Christian Republican Rapper Tells All (2024)

This is a “News With Nicola” story.

Why do Black Americans join a political party that has historically been hostile to their race?

I came across a very interesting video by Mother Jones from their video correspondent who attended the Republican National Convention and spoke with Black Republicans about their motivations for joining the GOP.

The correspondent, Garrison Hayes, raised a great point near the end of the video that reminded me of my previous interview for Faithfully Podcast with Black Christian Republican rapper Aspiring Mogul.

Hayes essentially said that a more diverse and racially inclusive Republican Party could be a good thing if it makes racists who have long associated with the GOP uncomfortable.

“Make American politics inhospitable to racists,” he says in the video.

Aspiring Mogul got a bit of fame in 2016 when Dr. Ben Carson used one of his rap songs in a campaign ad. The rapper said at the time that he viewed himself as a sort of “revolutionary” for wanting to represent the interests of Black people and challenge racial stereotypes held among the predominantly White Republican party.

The Faithfully Podcast interview features me (Menzie), Aspiring Mogul, and former co-hosts Keisha Boston and Vincent Funaro.

Listen to it here.

Facts About Black Republicans

According to findings published by the Pew Research Center in 2022, “only about one in ten Black adults identify with or lean toward the Republican Party.”

In addition, Black Republicans “tend to support individualistic approaches to addressing racial inequality, while Black Democrats tend to support institutional approaches,” according to Pew.

Here are a few more facts about Black Americans and the Republican Party, which had a radical shift in ideology and approach during the Civil Rights era.

Historical Roots: The first Black Republican in the U.S. Congress was Hiram Revels, elected to the Mississippi Senate in 1870 during the Reconstruction era.

Key Figure: Clarence Thomas, an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991, is a prominent Black Republican. His judicial philosophy and political views are influential in contemporary American politics. Thomas was chosen by former President George H. W. Bush to replace Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court.

Modern Representation: Tim Scott is currently the only Black Republican serving in the U.S. Senate. He was appointed to the Senate in 2013 and has been an advocate for various conservative policies.

Historical Influence: The Republican Party was founded in the 1850s on an anti-slavery platform, and it initially attracted many Black Americans who were seeking to end slavery and secure civil rights.

Political Shift: Over time, political realignments shifted many Black voters from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party, especially during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.

Democratic and Republican Political Shifts

The political shift from Republican to Democratic allegiance among Black voters is a significant phenomenon in American political history, particularly in the context of civil rights and party realignment. Here’s a deeper look into this shift:

Early Republican Alignment: During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Republican Party was associated with the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and the fight against slavery. Many African Americans supported the party because of its historical role in advocating for emancipation and civil rights.

Jim Crow Era: Despite the initial support, by the early 20th century, the Republican Party’s commitment to civil rights waned as the party became more focused on economic and business issues. The Democratic Party, particularly in the South, was often aligned with Jim Crow laws and segregation.

The Civil Rights Movement

New Deal Coalition: During the 1930s, under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic Party began to attract African American voters through New Deal programs, which offered economic relief during the Great Depression. This period marked the beginning of a gradual shift.

Civil Rights Legislation: The pivotal moment came in the 1960s with the Civil Rights Movement. President John F. Kennedy and his successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, were instrumental in passing significant civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. These laws were championed by the Democratic Party and deeply influenced African American voters.

The Party Realignment

Political Realignment: The 1960s and 1970s saw a significant realignment. As the Democratic Party became the party of civil rights and social justice, many African Americans shifted their political allegiance from the Republican Party to the Democrats. This shift was particularly pronounced in the South, where many White Democrats who opposed civil rights moved to the Republican Party, leading to the solidification of a conservative Southern base within the GOP.

Southern Strategy: The Republican Party’s adoption of the “Southern Strategy” in the late 1960s, which aimed to attract disaffected White Southern voters, further alienated African American voters. This strategy capitalized on White anxiety about upsetting the racial hierarchy of the South and opposition to desegregation.

Modern Context

Democratic Loyalty: By the late 20th century and into the 21st century, African American voters had become a core constituency of the Democratic Party. The party’s platform on issues such as voting rights, criminal justice reform, and economic equality resonated more with African American communities.

Contemporary Shifts: While the majority of African American voters are aligned with the Democratic Party, there are still significant Black Republicans who advocate for conservative principles within the GOP. Their perspectives often focus on economic empowerment, educational reform, and a conservative social agenda.

This political shift highlights the complex interplay between race, politics, and policy in the U.S., illustrating how historical events and party positions can dramatically influence voter alignments.

This article was written with the assistance of A.I.