Why do African-Americans vote Democratic?

Black Americans at one time voted Republican. The shift started I believe during the Depression, perhaps even later. But it was pretty much solidified when Dixicrats started switching parties in the 1960s. Why the Dems still have Blacks locked in has always amazed me exactly for the reasons you discussed, especially with the growing middle class.

But ultimately Dems don't rely on these issues. They merely use them as vehicles for their main message to Black voters. That message has been successfully labeling Republicans as racists. That's astounding considering that historically the Democrat Party is aligned with slavery, Copperheads, appeasement with the CSA, the Klan, opposing the Voting Rights Act (see Al Gore, Sr) etc, etc. For heaven's sake...they still have a Klansman as a Senator and another until 2005 who ordered the Stars and Bars flown over the SC statehouse. I suppose it helps them that US history isn't taught much any longer.

A quick anecdote. I work in a prisoner detention facility. Easily 90% of the employees are Black. I can assure you that none I have encountered have a liberal viewpoint of criminals. They show little or no concern for 'root causes' of crime. They are hard working, mostly religious folks who don't tolerate BS.

One last thing...The Dems are very worried that things are shifting. Even a 5 or 10% shift and they are doomed. That's why their race mongering is getting more shrill and outrageous. In other words, Blacks are starting to do the same thing you've done, Scottie.

What's that, stop and smell the coffee and start looking at what's in their best interests? Seems long overdue. I think this may explain the lurch to capture the illegal alien vote. All they have to do is grant amnesty to 11 million people over the objection of the populace and they're home free for another twenty years.

Without the benefit of history, these things are happening right before their eyes today. Not only do schools fail to teach history, they fail to teach critical thought as well.

that you used the word, "nonce." It's one of my favorite words.

Excellent points...There's no doubt that the Dems are angling for the illegals and felony votes because Black Americans are beginning to smell the coffee.

on illegal immigration. The Dems support open borders, and it is the AA community that has to compete with the illegals for the ever more scarce entry level jobs. With a higher minimum wage (another brilliant Dem idea) the pressure will only get worse. Again, the Dems are not working in the best interests of the AA community.

Thanks for stopping by Cyne and Scatbug. I haven't even started pushing/plugging this post yet.

My blog is updated...finally!

All of these points are valid and explain just why the GOP must wake up and realize that there is a significant part of the black vote that could be taken away from the Democrats. Values issues can be a great tool, as can Republican positions on crime, school choice, and social security. The GOP has basically written off this group as impossibly Democrat, but I believe that this does not need to be the case much longer. This is why people like Michael Steele are essential, and should be put at the front of the party.

Thank you for stopping by and posting.

The black vote has the potential to swing elections. I heard someone say that the Democrats need them, but don't really want them; while the Republicans want them, but don't really need them. If only black people realized how the organizations and people that "lead" them (NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Charlie Rangel. et al) have sold them out for political gain.

Blacks vote over 90% democrat. They like big daddy taking care of them. If not, Steele would have won. Black females in particular are probably the most communist leaning, rabid anti-capitolist, anti-family group in the country. of course when ALMOST ALL of them are raising kids (too many from multiple fathers) with the help of the gov't, no wonder.

Give it up. Unless we out-welfare the democrats, blacks will always vote for the security of the plantation above all. Disgusting but true.

First, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

I think I differ with you overall, and find some of the things you say to be quite condescending; some might even say racist (in the true meaning of the term). I would count myself among them. Let's recap:

Martin: "They like big daddy taking care of them."

Scottie: I don't think those receiving welfare are happy to be on the rolls. Most are there because they started a family before they could even care for themselves. I don't think receiving aid is the same as liking it.

Martin: "Black females in particular are probably the most communist leaning, rabid anti-capitolist, anti-family group in the country."

Scottie: There is no evidence for this. Since the women bear the largest burden for caring for their children, it's hard to square that with black women being anti-family. Further, I doubt seriously you could find many that could differentiate between communism, capitalism and socialism. But this is true of many white college graduates as well.

Martin: " of course when ALMOST ALL of them are raising kids (too many from multiple fathers) with the help of the gov't, no wonder."

Scottie: The black illegitimacy rate is a national tradegy. Doesn't the government's subsidizing of this behavior contribute to it? Again, the Dems are the ones that would expand this subsidy to the detriment of the black community, the point of my article.

Martin: "Give it up. Unless we out-welfare the democrats, blacks will always vote for the security of the plantation above all. Disgusting but true"

Scottie: Disgusting, yes; True, no. Welfare is the root cause of many of the problems in all poor communtities, white, black or hispanic. The answer is to articulate the hidden harm (i.e. the costs) that accompanies the visible benefit. I assume African-Americans have the same ability to reason as everyone else. In fact I assume no fundamental differences whatsoever. That the Democrats sell them out for their own political benefit in exchange for dependence and votes is becoming so patently obvious, I think we will see a sea change soon. I have tremedous faith in my fellow man. And I believe that it is the incentives created by government that is the ultimate cause for most social pathologies.

.....That is easy....they have bought into the Liberal/Marxist propaganda and they want to live on the Government Plantation under the patronage of Big Daddy Government...read my comment on Rev Jackson's article "Black Power" or read Star Parker's book "Uncle Sam's Plantation...

.....75% of blacks vote for the Democrats because the Democrats give them what they want...it's simple.....COLOSSUS

Thanks for the comments. I agree, if you teach them to fish, they'll be set for life. If they keep waiting for the fish handout from the libs, they're stuck for life. It's really that simple.

" . . they have bought into the Liberal/Marxist propaganda and they want to live on the Government Plantation under the patronage of Big Daddy Government."

Then it is encumbent upon us to point out the cost of living on this dysfunctional plantation to them. It's time to sell them on the idea that they can do a better job taking care of themselves than the government ever could.

It's time to point out the huge costs associated with the minimal help they receive in terms of: historically poor overall results, erosion of self-respect, and the inevitably poor future for their children that the lack of education will cause. It's time to point out that nearly one third of abortions occur in their community even though they make up only fifteen percent of the population. It's time to point out to them how they are being sold a bill of goods that hasn't/isn't/won't help them in the long term.

Thanks for your common-sense analysis of why the Democratic Party does NOT represent the true needs of the black community.

The message I got from baseballdoc's post is that too many blacks are just plain lazy. To be honest, he is, by far, not the only one who holds that opinion (if, in fact he does).

I have a hard time believing the black race is innately lacking in intelligence or born lazy. I do think, though, that many have a resentment towards whites and "white values". They were not born with this attitude; they adopted it through misguided information.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving your comment. Please feel welcome to come back anytime. As for your comment:

Harmony: I have a hard time believing the black race is innately lacking in intelligence or born lazy.

Scottie: I agree 100%

Harmony: I do think, though, that many have a resentment towards whites and "white values". They were not born with this attitude; they adopted it through misguided information.

Scottie: The common terms for this are "racist" and "bigot". While we're holding everyone to the same standard, this is something we will eventually have to address. Yes, black people can be biggoted and racist! Just ask the black kid busting his/her hump to get an education that's accused of "acting white". Or ask the conservative black politician that gets pelted with Oreos.

I think your thrust is that this is an emotional response based on bad information. If that is so, we need to reach out to these people and cause them to THINK. The FACTS are overwhelmingly contrary to the FEELINGS.

A 'High Crime' Neighborhood to a place far, far away from the Big City, I offer a few insights to the first point on Gun Control.

1. Arm yourself;

2. Be prepared to defend yourself;

3. That point in time when an Assailant needs to know you are armed is when he sees the bright orange flash.

4. Word will get around.

5. Gun Control means being able to hit your target.

6. Gun Control Laws also persuade me to have a 'designated driver'.

7. It does not matter what kind of laws the libs Stalin, Hitler or Mussolini (all Pro-Gun Control) or others come up with I WILL PROTECT MY FAMILY AND MYSELF.

any questions...

You end the essay with, "How can the African-American community continue to support the Democratic party?"

Promises of something-for-nothing.

Reading your reply to Martin's Post. Afraid he's right. I saw black women having babies just to perpetuate the welfare check. I mean as soon as one is out the door another one comes down the chute. As far as being communist/socialist you don't have to have read Marx or explain Dialectic Materialism to be a communist. And the folk of which he spoke definitely believe that from the haves should come their 'fair share'.
Only since the '60's have blacks DEMANDED their way be paid. This the libs did.
Remember the Army Recruiting blurb on television wherein the black son tells his mother, "I've found someone to pay for my college."? Do you not understand the nuance there? Someone else is going to foot the bill. If that blurb had have been for white recruitment, it would have been, "I've found a way to pay for my college."

I agree with you 100% on the 2nd ammendment.

As for the promise of something for nothing being the root cause, the welfare state has been rolling along for 40+ years now; how's that working out? Shouldn't someone point that out to the black community?

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result every time. It's a simple rhetorical question that should give anyone pause. "So how's that working out for you so far?" "Weren't AA's culturally better off overall before the war on poverty than they've been since?"

To me the answer is obvious.

I don't think you understand the welfare receipient's thought process. They just don't give a dam what the world does as long as they get that monthly check and they don't have to work for a living.
Food stamps? What a joke! When I lived in the big city I took bums to an arab convenience store some blocks away from the 'hood because the store would BUY the food stamps for CASH. With a discount on face value, of course, but that was just a second income for drug money to these folks.

People ask, "How could you live in that neighborhood?" I said, "It was easy. All you needed was a chain link fence, a couple of pit bulls, a 12ga pump and a .45."

I see the Nation as an automobile that needs a tune-up.

I see the Democrats as Larry, Curly and Moe, proprietors of Ajax Auto Repair.

Me at home alone with my wife's chocolate cake.

OK, I think we get it. Thanks for stopping by, and stopping by, and stopping by.

Or just for the day?????

You are most welcome here.

When my e-mail has multiple posts by you, all within five minutes, and all on one post, I have to question whether you have thought things out before you posted. After I read them, I discovered a couple of them were a rehash of your prior posts on this article.

My guess is you were bored and having a stream of consciousness episode. I felt compelled to give you a very mild poke in the ego, which I felt you had coming. Actually, multiple posts help me by increasing my traffic count, so there's no harm in it. Come by as often as you like and add to the discussion while you're here as only you can.

Boy, guess I opened a can of worms over on the column about Biden. It made for some real thought provoking posts, though.

Thanks to the policies foisted upon them since the liberals began their reign in the 50s, today's black Americans are mostly uneducated and poor, so they will blindly follow anyone who is identified in the mainstream press as a 'civil rights leader', especially if said leaders claim some kind of connection with MLK. Since Jesse-be-the-Jackson tells them to vote extreme left, they will do so.