Examining The Free Thinking Philosophy From Black Conservatives
Black conservatives fail to follow political expectations
Black conservatives foster the idea of “Free-thinking” under the guise of persuading Black people to leave the Democratic Party. But how could one go about doing so if the entire point of persuasion is to accomplish change through deliberative rhetoric?
Instead of focusing on the indecencies of the past, Black conservatives tend to push rhetoric in hopes of a successful future. Terms such as “Democratic Plantation” have pushed relationships with Black liberals farther than ever.
On the other hand, Black conservatives are challenging the perspectives of their fellow Black liberal peers but receive much criticism doing so. Receiving names such as “Uncle Tom,” “Coon”, “Oreo,” “Brainwashed,” and “Sellouts,” Black Conservatives find it hard to mesh with the Black community when some Black people are reluctant to change their political ideologies.
Does showing pride in conservatism leave one with the impression that the Republican Party is inclusive of Black people? To Black liberals, this perspective can be somewhat unsettling, illegitimate, and harmful. In a 2019 Documentary spearheaded by Vice News entitled “The Young Black Conservatives of Trump’s America,” Vice reporter Lee Adams asked a group of Black students,
“How do y’all feel about Black Conservatives?”
Answers from “The Black Bourgeois” to “House Negros” lit up the room. Torrence Brown, a former University of North Colorado Student, stated that neither party had done anything to help Black people progress. On the other hand, he believes that Black conservatives appease White people to be on their “good side.” Some Black liberals are reluctant to hear the ideologies of Black conservatives without truly knowing what’s potentially at stake.
On the other hand, Black conservatives have set in motion a range of ideas and policies that could help the Black community. But if Black conservatives are the only ones putting these initiatives together, how much free thinking can Black People do for themselves? Black conservatives take offense to the “racist policies” Democrats have enacted, presumably harming Black people more than they helped.
But for Black liberals, the Republican party is not an option. It will never be an option, as the mere existence of Black conservatism presupposes the idea that the Republican Party is inclusive to Black People. This form of resistance from Black liberals creates no room for persuasion from Black conservatives. Consistently pointing out President Biden’s lack thereof contributed to the Black Community, including the controversial 1994 Crime Bill President Biden co-signed, Biden’s “You ain’t Black” comment regarding Black Voters, and Biden insisting that poor kids can be just as bright as White kids, insinuating that non-white children are poor.
Free-thinking has more to do with facts and evidence than social consensus, whether your political affiliation is indoctrination from your parents, environment, or other surroundings. Supporting the Republican Party and developing conservative values is not a sign of portraying your race. Black Conservatives have created a plethora of arguments vying their disapproval of the Democratic Party and have argued that Black People have made more progress in the past than what is currently being brought to the table today. Including, Black communities being ravished by violence, poverty, poor education, and single motherhood. Cory Haywood devoted Black conservative, believes that these troubling experiences can be attributed to the Democratic Party. Haywood also stated,
The Black community plays a role in promoting a collective identity in politics. Historically, Black people were overrepresented by the Republican Party as it was once labeled the “Negro Republican Party.” But our focus should be on why Black People are overrepresented in the Democratic Party. Have Black conservatives failed to capture the true essence of why Black people remain Democrats? Or are Black liberals blind to the destruction and distrust projected by the Democratic party? Black conservatives have failed to follow one’s political exception because of skin color.
An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Clarence Thomas, stated that “If blacks hate or fear conservatives, nothing we say will be heard.” Black Conservatives have pushed the bounds of any monolithic thought of how Black people should think when it comes to politics — challenging the argument that Black Conservatives appease White people without centering the validation of their Black peers.
Persuasion tools from Black Conservatives are more fascinating than racial resentment toward the Black community. This “silent majority” of Black Conservatives tend to offer a color-blind approach which brings much criticism to their ideologies. Including independence, possessing a victor mentality, and the notion that the Democratic Party has never cared about Black Lives, but instead the Black vote.
Developing political consciousness will become the most helpful tool Black Americans can grow to ensure that every person carries or aligns with a collective political identity given to, promoted, or persuaded by Black people. Dismantling Black loyalty to the Democratic party and its ‘’ruinous policies’’ will take generations to adhere to from “free-thinking” Black Conservatives.
