Aren’t you then making the point that the special interest guys make which is that there “are” black issues that differ from white, even accounting for wealth and education?
Yes, and a pathology to their voting habits not easily remedied (or even being properly addressed). Sadly, where politics are concerned (and a rash of other issues), they are their own worst enemy, especially in the past half-century. The combo of putting all their eggs (votes) in one basket, and if you could call those eggs lobsters or crabs, when one tries to climb out of it, others will grab ahold and drag it back down.
Although saying that, I think there has been a serious problem with Republicans themselves (most especially with the Establishment) that will loudly exclaim they want Black votes (or elected officials), but will not do what is necessary to break off a chunk from the Democrats. I’ve seen examples of where a Black candidate will win a GOP primary in a potentially competitive race, the party will proudly “trumpet” that they’re racially diverse because of that nominee, and then proceed to give said candidate nothing in the way of money and resources in order to win, and in nearly every instance, said candidate loses.
There was an excellent, charismatic Black Conservative woman named Vikki Buckley, who decided to run in Colorado for Secretary of State. Now, that office had been held for many years by the GOP. When she ran in 1994, which was a banner GOP year, she was deserted by the party with aforementioned money and resources (she attested to this fact at a televised forum by C-Span later on) and barely won. The Dems had just reelected Roy Romer to his 3rd and final term (the GOP put up only a modest candidate against him, but likely devoted more resources to a loser race than they did to Buckley).
When she ran for reelection in 1998, it was a bit of a repeat, but she did hold on (and along with Bill Owens, the first Republican to win the Governorship that year since 1970, another Black GOP candidate won on the ticket with him, Joe Rogers, who was generally credited with having given the execrable Rep. Patsy Schroeder a close enough shave in ‘94 that she quit for reelection in ‘96). However, despite being a relatively young woman (early 50s?), the stress of having little to no help contributed to her poor health and she dropped dead in 1999, just barely into her 2nd term. Sadly, she almost all but forgotten now, but having seen her speak, she was the kind of person who could’ve ended up the first Black or first woman President (or both), but because she was a Republican, she was ignored by the media and given only lip service by the party.
To add insult to injury, the aforementioned Lt Gov. Joe Rogers was dumped from the ticket in 2002 by Gov. Owens, and shafted in the primary when he tried to run for the 7th district seat (which was won by Republican Bob Beauprez). Poor Rogers didn’t even make it to 50, dying 3 years ago. Yet another potentially talented figure forgotten. And these are just two examples. I’ve got others to cite, but you catch my drift.