Opinion
A Case for Conservatism in Black Society
By Emmanuel Musaazi
A rule of thumb in American politics is that if you are conservative, then you are more likely to be white and vote Republican, while if you are black, you’ll more likely be a liberal and vote Democrat. This stereotyping is bolstered by voting patterns from the last 50 years and as evidenced by exit poll data from the last two presidential elections of 2004 and 2008.
A close analysis of racial voting patterns from the exit polls further reveals that African Americans are the most skewed voters, overwhelmingly voting for the Democrats. This voting pattern is tantamount to trusting in the philosophy of ‘putting one’s eggs in one basket.’ Is this a wise way to vote? Does conservatism as an alternative political ideology, have a place in today’s African American society?
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the retention of traditional social institutions, values and attitudes. In the context of American political history, it was the conservatives who wanted to keep slavery in place during both the 18th and 19th centuries. The same conservatives who supported the ‘Jim Crow’ laws that kept freed slaves as second class citizens in the 20th century, and conservatives, once again, opposed the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s – culminating in the Civil Rights Act which ended legal discrimination in America. In this respect, it might be obvious as to why a black person America would not want to be acknowledged or identified as conservative.
I would argue, however, that the philosophical narrative of the term “conservatism” is best understood when viewed in the proper historical context. The ideology of modern conservatism is based on the Reagan model. America’s 40th president, Ronald Reagan, is the father of modern conservatism. His ideas of limited government, tax cuts, increased defense spending, deregulation, and family values based on conservative Christian principles have constituted the core of every Republican Party platform since 1980.
Subsequently President George W. Bush’s championing of school choice as an alternative to failing public schools as well as his freedom agenda have also become popular with conservatives.
It can, thus, be deduced that 21st century conservatism is not equivalent to 18th or 19th century conservatism; which earlier conservatism is an anachronism in comparison.
The abolitionist (anti-slavery) Republican Party of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, was formed to oppose the Democratic party of slavery supporters, and segregationists in the 19th century. Politics, like history changes with time.
