The Black Vote

For the past 50 to 60 years African-American voters have primarily voted in favor of the Democrat political party, states a study from facsnet.org which aimed to describe the political behavior and trends of African-Americans.
The site said all a candidate has to do is to appeal first to the black churches in a community, then focus on what it calls the “core black issues” to win the “black vote.”
The main issue being civil rights with several sub-issues which include affirmative action, criminal sentencing, which includes the injustice of lenient sentencing for “affluent” whites, harsher sentences for blacks with the same criminal charges and several policing issues, with racial profiling and violence against blacks suspects at the top of the list.
Historically, African-American voters originally voted in favor of the Republican Party after the Civil War, choosing to support the party affiliation of Abraham Lincoln up until the 1930s and the election of the nation’s 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Originally, Democrats set up various ways to prohibit blacks from voting through the implementation of poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses and black codes.
So, why are African Americans still voting Democrat?
“I would say that the historical relationship is undeniable,” said Albert Samuels, associate professor of political science at Southern University. “Blacks are voting over 90 percent Democrat. It’s pretty overwhelming.”
Samuels said, “Blacks often complain that Democrats don’t come around until they want our vote, but the truth of the matter is that the black vote is necessary, but not sufficient.”
Anthony Monroe, president of the Southern University chapter of College Republicans, is one of the minorities in Black America who doesn’t vote in the Democratic favor.
“I felt that, as a Black man, I had ideas and questions about the Democratic Party that needed to be researched more,” Monroe said. “Why can’t I work for what I need? Why should I have to work for what you think I might need? It makes me appreciate what I have more.”
Monroe, a senior marketing major from Shreveport, said he doesn’t feel he should be a Democrat just because his parents are.
“We [College Republicans] promote an independent thought process, and urge all voters to know their facts, and their history,” he said.
Which leads to the question: What is the real political party for Black America?
“I don’t think any party is doing anything in the best interests of blacks right now,” said Carey Ash, a junior political science major from Baton Rouge. “As a Democrat, I’m choosing the lesser of two evils.”
Ash said, “If you look at both parties’ platforms, neither specifically caters to any one issue that caters to African Americans.”
Something Samuels said he agrees with.
“When candidates feel that their issues are ‘too black’ they tend to seek the ‘swing vote’-which is moderate White America,” Samuels said. “Again, the black vote is necessary for Democrats, but not sufficient to where they can win an election.”
A fact Samuels said sparks Democrats to begin fighting with Republicans for more white votes.
“Both parties often forget the power in the African American community votes, regardless of who we’re voting for, Democrats or Republicans,” Ash said.