"But then why don't we take our individuality to the voting booth?"
Wish I had the answer.
While I recognize there are many reasons why blacks vote in lockstep for the Dem party, I think the main reason is peer pressure. Blacks who express ideas outside the prevalent group think are either ostracized (Powell, Thomas, Sowell, and Rice) or pressured to soften or retract their statements, e.g., Cosby.
Until Blacks start voting their individual interests, they will remain as the most solid voting bloc in the country. With the New South now almost solidly Republican, it becomes even harder for the GOP to convince blacks to identify with the Republican party. In terms of resources, the GOP would be better served targetting their efforts on the largest and fastest growing minority, Hispanics.