8.3 African American political gains and the rise of Black conservatism

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States and the first African American to hold the office, serving two terms from 2009 to 2017. His election marked a significant milestone in American history, reflecting the political gains made by African Americans and also raising discussions about Black conservatism in the political landscape.

Civil Rights Movement: A decades-long struggle for social justice and equality that aimed to end racial discrimination and secure legal rights for African Americans.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology that emphasizes conservative values within the African American community, often advocating for limited government, individual responsibility, and traditional social values.

Affordable Care Act: A comprehensive healthcare reform law enacted in 2010 under Obama, aimed at increasing health insurance coverage and reducing healthcare costs.

The Voting Rights Act is a landmark piece of federal legislation enacted in 1965 aimed at eliminating racial discrimination in voting. It was designed to enforce the voting rights guaranteed by the 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, addressing the systemic disenfranchisement of African Americans, particularly in the South. The act outlawed literacy tests and other discriminatory practices, providing federal oversight of voter registration and election procedures in areas with a history of voting discrimination.

Civil Rights Movement: A social movement in the United States aimed at ending racial segregation and discrimination against African Americans, particularly during the 1950s and 1960s.

Jim Crow Laws: State and local laws that enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States, creating a system of institutionalized racism that persisted until the civil rights era.

Shelby County v. Holder: A landmark Supreme Court case in 2013 that invalidated key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, significantly weakening federal oversight of state voting laws and regulations.

Black conservatism is a political and social ideology among African Americans that emphasizes individual responsibility, free-market principles, and traditional values while often advocating for limited government intervention in personal and economic affairs. This ideology arose during a time when African Americans were gaining political power and sought to address issues within the community through a different lens than mainstream liberal approaches.

Civil Rights Movement: A pivotal period in American history during the 1950s and 1960s when African Americans fought for legal equality and social justice, leading to significant legislative changes.

Conservatism: A political philosophy that promotes retaining traditional institutions and values, often advocating for minimal government intervention in both economic and personal matters.

Black Nationalism: A political and social movement that seeks to promote and protect the interests of Black people, emphasizing self-determination, cultural pride, and often advocating for a separate Black identity.

Self-reliance is the ability to depend on oneself and make independent decisions without relying on external support or validation. This concept is central to various movements advocating for empowerment, personal responsibility, and community development, especially in the context of social and political advancement.

Empowerment: The process of gaining freedom and power to do what you want or to control what happens to you, often linked to social justice and activism.

Pan-Africanism: A worldwide movement that seeks to unite African people and those of African descent, emphasizing self-determination and the importance of shared identity.

Nationalism: A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often advocating for independence and self-governance.

Traditional values refer to the long-standing beliefs, customs, and practices that are often associated with a specific culture or community, emphasizing family, religion, and community responsibility. In the context of African American political gains and the rise of Black conservatism, these values are seen as foundational principles that guide behavior and influence social policies. They play a significant role in shaping political ideologies and priorities within the African American community, particularly among those advocating for a conservative approach to governance and societal issues.

Black conservatism: A political ideology among some African Americans that emphasizes limited government, personal responsibility, and traditional family structures.

Cultural identity: The shared characteristics, beliefs, and values that define a group, influencing their social interactions and political views.

Social conservatism: A political philosophy that promotes traditional values, often opposing progressive changes in society related to family, education, and moral issues.

Economic conservatism refers to a political and economic philosophy that emphasizes limited government intervention in the economy, individual financial responsibility, and free-market principles. This ideology often advocates for lower taxes, reduced government spending, and deregulation as a means to stimulate economic growth and promote personal initiative. In the context of African American political gains and the rise of Black conservatism, economic conservatism has played a significant role in shaping policies and beliefs that resonate with some African American leaders and communities.

Free Market: An economic system where prices are determined by unrestricted competition between privately owned businesses.

Tax Reduction: A policy aimed at decreasing the tax burden on individuals and businesses, often advocated by conservative economic policies to stimulate growth.

Welfare Reform: Changes made to the welfare system aimed at reducing dependency on government assistance, often seen in conservative economic agendas.

Jesse Jackson is an influential African American civil rights leader, Baptist minister, and politician known for his work in advocating for social justice, economic equality, and political representation for African Americans. His prominence grew during the late 20th century as he founded the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, signaling a shift towards increased political engagement within the Black community.

Rainbow Coalition: An organization founded by Jesse Jackson aimed at promoting social justice and political activism across diverse racial and ethnic groups.

Civil Rights Movement: A decades-long struggle primarily during the 1950s and 1960s to end racial discrimination and secure equal rights for African Americans.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology that emphasizes traditional values, limited government, and free market principles among some African Americans, often contrasting with liberal positions within the Black community.

Douglas Wilder is a significant figure in American politics, known for being the first African American elected as a governor in the United States when he took office in Virginia in 1990. His election symbolized a pivotal moment in African American political gains, representing both progress and the emergence of Black conservatism during a time when many African Americans were pursuing leadership roles within the political landscape.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology that combines conservative values with the pursuit of social and economic improvement for African Americans, often emphasizing self-reliance and traditional family structures.

Political Realignment: The process by which the political party affiliations of voters change significantly over time, impacting the landscape of political power and representation.

Affirmative Action: Policies and programs designed to promote equal opportunity for historically marginalized groups, often aiming to increase representation in education and employment.

Carol Moseley Braun is a prominent American politician and attorney who made history as the first African American woman elected to the United States Senate, serving from 1993 to 1999. Her election represented a significant political gain for African Americans and showcased the increasing involvement of Black leaders in national politics, reflecting broader shifts in political power dynamics during the late 20th century.

African American Senators: Individuals of African descent who have served in the United States Senate, contributing to the representation of Black Americans in government.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology among some African Americans that emphasizes limited government, personal responsibility, and free market principles, often aligning with conservative parties.

Diversity in Politics: The inclusion and representation of various demographic groups within political institutions, aimed at reflecting the broader society.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is a comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 aimed at expanding access to health insurance, reducing health care costs, and improving the quality of care. The ACA is significant for its role in increasing health coverage among African Americans and highlighting debates around health care access within the political landscape, including the rise of Black conservatism.

Health Insurance Marketplace: A service that helps people shop for and enroll in affordable health insurance, established by the ACA to provide options for individuals who do not have access to employer-sponsored coverage.

Medicaid Expansion: A provision of the ACA that allows states to expand Medicaid eligibility to cover more low-income individuals and families, significantly impacting African American communities.

Individual Mandate: A requirement under the ACA that individuals must have health insurance or pay a penalty, aimed at encouraging broader participation in health coverage.

Majority-minority districts are electoral districts where the majority of the constituents belong to racial or ethnic minority groups. This concept emerged as a strategy to ensure that minority populations have a fair representation in legislative bodies, particularly in areas where they have historically been underrepresented. The creation of these districts often involves redistricting processes aimed at enhancing political power for minority voters and addressing systemic inequities in the political landscape.

Redistricting: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries to reflect changes in population and ensure equal representation.

Voting Rights Act of 1965: A landmark piece of federal legislation aimed at overcoming legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote.

Gerrymandering: The practice of manipulating electoral district boundaries to favor one party or class over another, often impacting the representation of minority groups.

Political activism refers to the efforts and actions taken by individuals or groups to influence political decisions, policies, and social issues. This can include various forms of advocacy, protests, voting campaigns, and grassroots organizing aimed at creating change within political systems. It is often driven by a desire for social justice, equality, and the protection of rights.

Civil Rights Movement: A social and political movement in the United States during the 1950s and 1960s aimed at ending racial discrimination and securing equal rights for African Americans.

Grassroots Organizing: A method of building a movement or support base from the bottom up, engaging everyday people to advocate for change within their communities.

Political Participation: The ways in which individuals engage in the political process, including voting, campaigning, and other forms of civic engagement.

Personal responsibility refers to the idea that individuals have a duty to take accountability for their actions, choices, and well-being. This concept emphasizes self-reliance and the belief that one's success or failure is largely determined by their own efforts, which can often intersect with broader social and political contexts, particularly as seen in the discussion around African American political gains and the rise of Black conservatism.

Self-determination: The process by which individuals or groups take control of their own lives and make choices that affect their personal development and future.

Individualism: A social theory that emphasizes the moral worth of the individual and prioritizes personal independence and self-reliance over collective goals.

Accountability: The obligation of individuals to explain, justify, and take responsibility for their actions and decisions.

Thomas Sowell is an influential African American economist, political commentator, and author known for his conservative views on economic and social issues. He has gained recognition for his critiques of government policies and his emphasis on individual responsibility and free-market principles. Sowell's work often highlights the importance of education, culture, and economics in understanding the African American experience, making him a significant figure in discussions about Black conservatism and political gains within the African American community.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology that emphasizes limited government, personal responsibility, and traditional values within the African American community.

Economic Freedom: The fundamental principle that individuals should have the freedom to control their own economic resources, which Sowell argues is vital for prosperity and growth.

Intellectual Diversity: The inclusion of various perspectives and ideas in discussions, which Sowell advocates for to challenge prevailing narratives in academia and politics.

Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, known for his conservative judicial philosophy and significant influence on American law. Appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, he is the second African American to serve on the Court, and his tenure has sparked ongoing discussions about race, conservatism, and the role of the judiciary in American politics.

Affirmative Action: Policies that aim to increase opportunities for historically marginalized groups in areas such as education and employment, often a point of contention in Supreme Court cases.

Judicial Activism: A philosophy that advocates for judges to interpret the Constitution in a way that reflects contemporary values and social conditions, often contrasted with judicial restraint.

Originalism: A method of constitutional interpretation that focuses on the original meaning of the text at the time it was enacted, which is a principle championed by Clarence Thomas.

Alan Keyes is a prominent African American political activist, diplomat, and conservative commentator known for his strong advocacy of traditional conservative values. His rise in political prominence occurred during the late 20th century, particularly in the 1990s, when he became a significant figure within the Republican Party and gained attention for his outspoken views on social and cultural issues, emphasizing personal responsibility, limited government, and moral clarity.

Black Conservatism: A political and social philosophy that advocates for conservative values and policies within the African American community, often contrasting with more liberal ideologies that have historically dominated Black politics.

Republican Party: One of the two major political parties in the United States, traditionally associated with conservative policies, individual liberties, and free-market economics.

Cultural Conservatism: A political ideology that emphasizes the importance of preserving traditional cultural norms and values, often opposing progressive changes in society.

Republican Party outreach refers to the strategies and efforts employed by the Republican Party to connect with and engage diverse communities, particularly African Americans, in order to broaden their political base and influence. This outreach became increasingly significant in the context of shifting political dynamics and the rise of Black conservatism, aiming to attract voters through policies that align with conservative values while addressing issues relevant to the African American community.

Black Conservatism: A political ideology that emphasizes traditional conservative values within the African American community, often advocating for limited government, personal responsibility, and free-market principles.

Political Realignment: The significant change in voting patterns and party affiliation among specific demographic groups, often influenced by social, economic, and political factors.

Voter Mobilization: Efforts made by political parties or organizations to encourage and increase participation in elections among specific demographics or communities.

Economic empowerment refers to the process of enabling individuals or groups to achieve financial independence and control over their economic resources, leading to improved living conditions and greater participation in society. This concept is crucial for marginalized communities, as it promotes self-sufficiency, social mobility, and the ability to influence political and economic decisions. In the context of African American history, economic empowerment has played a significant role in political gains and the rise of Black conservatism, as financial stability allows for increased political engagement and the formation of conservative ideologies focused on self-reliance and entrepreneurship.

financial literacy: The ability to understand and effectively manage personal finances, including budgeting, saving, investing, and understanding credit.

entrepreneurship: The process of starting and running a new business venture, often characterized by innovation, risk-taking, and the pursuit of profit.

social capital: The networks of relationships among people in a community that enable them to work together effectively for mutual benefit.