Thoughts on Black History and Conservative Principles - (more black conservatives than libs admit)

Published In: New Coalition News & Views
Publication Date: January 1, 2005
Publisher: The New Coalition for Economic and Social Change

On October 2, 2004, Lee H. Walker addressed The Philadelphia Society’s fall meeting. This year’s topic was “Black History and Conservative Principles.” His remarks were made during a panel discussion, which he moderated, and were delivered as follows.

Black conservatism has been an overlooked aspect of American history since the collapse of Reconstruction. Any comprehensive history of black American thought that ignores or isolates the conservative influence will be lopsided.

Conferences like this are usually held during the month of February, Black History Month. Having this conference take place in October highlights, at least to me, that The Philadelphia Society realizes black conservatism should be discussed year-round because it is American history.

Following the death of Booker T. Washington in 1915, blacks did not gather as a group to discuss conservative ideas for some 65 years, until 1980, when Henry Lucas and Thomas Sowell convened the Fairmont Meeting at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco. I was there.

During those 65 years, the liberals who ran the most visible black organizations omitted the ideas and contributions of black conservatives. Their focus was on integration. There is nothing wrong with integration, but it should have been the result, rather than the goal. The previous black movement, led by Booker T. Washington, had been about self-sufficiency and business development.

The values and principles of black conservatism are rooted in what Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln were talking about--the rights of liberty and equality, as set forth in the Declaration of Independence.

White conservatives writing about American conservatism also have ignored the black influence on the conservative movement during this time. Blacks were just as involved in the conservative movement as they were in the religious movements of the time.

The emergence of black conservatives in the 24 years after the 1980 election of Ronald Reagan surprised liberal black leaders as well as the media. For more than 50 years, black Americans had been viewed as being liberals.

Politicians who espouse liberal ideas have generally captured both the imagination and the votes of blacks. Liberalism was further supported by the statements and actions of black leaders. Their positions on policy issues are generally considered by the media as representing the attitudes and opinions of all blacks in the country. However, polls show the majority of blacks do not always hold the same views as these leaders.

An example that is getting a lot of attention today is “school choice.” Surveys show the majority of blacks support school vouchers. Parents in the Washington, DC school system want to give vouchers an opportunity to improve their failing school system. Liberal black leaders are opposed to school choice because of their connections with teacher unions.

From a historical point of view, black conservatism is not such an unusual phenomenon as most critics, including many academics, argue. It has deep roots within the black community. In fact, the oldest institutions in the community--the black church and private church schools--are conservative institutions.

We’ve spent the day trying to answer the question President Midge Decter asked in her letter to the membership prior to this conference, “Does conservatism provide a true basis for leveling the playing field for black Americans and what part do blacks play?” The panel that I have been asked to moderate discusses the topic: “Where Do We Go From Here?”

A starting point is events like this, where blacks and whites get together to discuss the history and contributions of black conservatives.

We need to publish, for ourselves and our youth, the history of black conservatism. For starters, we need to publish the proceedings from this conference.

We need to give younger blacks a guide to why they should consider conservative ideas, and what to do to make conservative ideas such as self-sufficiency, individual freedom, and economic self-sufficiency a reality.

We need black and white conservatives and libertarians to come together to strengthen organizations like the New Coalition, the Lincoln Institute, and other similar groups to carry out this vision of “where do we go from

Lee H. Walker is president of The New Coalition for Economic and Social Change, a conservative multicultural think tank headquartered in Chicago. His email address is lwalker@newcoalition.org.

Very very good post. I, as a white guy know only by virtue of the web that there are conservative black people (and libertarians) out there. The black church which is quite influential is a conservative institution for starters. Actually, I enjoy reading about the similarities and differences between white conservatives and black conservatives. The one difference though is that economic mobility has happened differently for blacks than it has for white ethnics (Italians, Irish, Polish). The vast majority of these groups got up and out more or less together. For every successful black person who has risen up economically, that person usually still has a very close family member who still lives in the inner city. I am sure that colors black opinion in regard to many issues compared to middle class whites who mostly likely have no close relatives in the inner city. I am sure a lot is being or has been discussed on this issue among black conservatives.

Other minority groups have not been viewed as, and utterly used as, political pawns from Reconstruction forward, either. Blacks constitute a valuable, dependable voting bloc, so long as utter dependency (or at least the perception of dependency) upon Democrat-dispensed largesse can be maintained. Never mind that the so-called War On Poverty has turned out to be more a war on black people, or that those in the liberal power structure are the selfsame people who pushed sexual "liberation" which has decimated blacks economically and socially. Never mind that drug use was popularized and proselytized by this same group, Democrats all, that pretends to be the keeper of all things positive for blacks... no, no, no, it was the CIA that caused the crack cocaine epidemic, the AIDS epidemic, you name it. The hypocrisy is stunning.

". no, no, no, it was the CIA that caused the crack cocaine epidemic, the AIDS epidemic, you name it. The hypocrisy is stunning.,br>

Thanks for both of your comments. "Stunning" is right. The Democrats have a vested interest in keeping black voters "barefoot, pregnant and down on the farm," (and poorly educated). This explains their opposition to school vouchers and to fixing Social Security. Both would be a distinct advantage to blacks, creating a groundswell of new upward mobility, which would also remove them from the guaranteed Democrat voters contingent.

Great post. I have been trying to tell people for years the Black Community has a strong conservative streak. It comes out in social customs most often. Voting Democratic is one example. Just as Southern Whites always voted Dims long after it was clear the party had no common values.

When I was in the Navy I was often stationed at isolated Reserve Centers and did more than a few military honors for veterans. Customs for funerals is another area where Blacks hold onto old traditions sometimes to the shock of whites from urban or northern regions. In some rural areas it is still expected to lay out the body in the family home. The Funeral director comes and prepares the body there and family members take turns "sitting with the dead" In our shrink wrapped ready disposable society this can be a shock but I remember family stories where this was common practice. (my grandfather was laid out in the parlor) A bit old fashioned but the tradition goes back to a time when buring a living person alive was a very real threat. The practice started with Kings and Popes and worked it's way down the social ladder.

We also did loads more honors for Black families than white even in areas where the difference should not have been noticeable. Whites just didn't seem to care, all the more remarkable since many of these veterans were in the service when it was still segregated and many doors were closed to them.

Ladies hats are another.

I admire some of this tenacious hold on tradition.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration's economic policies of global corporatism do not facilitate this. Instead, the traditional promise of Middle Class upward mobility is being diminished by offshore outsourcing combined with a flood of cheap immigrant labor (both legal and illegal).

Interesting theory. But I know a lot of white ethnic Democrats that hold onto the liberal dogma with their dying breath. In fact, some continue to vote Democrat, though not necessarily lib, long after the death process.

My own mother grew up in the old "precinct blocks" of Philadelphia back in the 40's and 50's. The neighborhood bosses took care of their constituents whether they needed work or had issues with schools. It was very personal - and loyal to the core - my mom held on to her dear Democratic Party right through to the end with Albert Gore, Jr. (Gawd, what a nightmare!) even though she really had nothing in common with that party ideologically. Come to think of it, Al Gore 2000 didn't really have all that much in common with Al Gore 1988. Had she lived to see this past election I have no doubt that she would have voted for Monsieur Kerry.

Anyway, though you're right about that transition of white ethnic flight from the city taking place pretty quickly, the ideological transition from "the little guy's party" over to white suburban conservative didn't necessarily come about with the change of zip code. White ethnics felt strong about their links to the old Democratic Party,...I think probably feel that tug Black Dems, too. All the while disagreeing with the party line on social issues and vouchers.

I think it's immoral to treat anyone differently because of the pigment of their skin. I believe Democrats are more likely to feed on unfortunate racial stereotyping and I believe that what liberals - yes, liberals - have done to inner city schools is absolutely criminal and the people responsible ought to be put in prison.

I teach in a predominantly white, independent Catholic school - 5th grade Social Studies, Science and Religion - and was asked by one of my students this past February what we would be doing for "Black History Month".

Initially, I really didn't like the implication that we needed to do anything to divide people along the lines of skin color, but I did take the opportunity to insert lesson plans on civil rights and religious rights, which we discuss anyway. I just placed a deeper focus on them during that month.

We can all be proud of Americans like Jackie Robinson because of what they endured to bring about equality for ALL people, not just black. Likewise, George Washington Carver's work represents the endeavors of anyone who might overcome forces of injustice to go on and be successful.

Interestingly, I noted a pretty lengthy current events article about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in our Social Studies class, nothing was mentioned about the impetus for Reverend King's life's work and his basis for pursuing justice - consequently, the thing that also gave a more profound meaning for his personal suffering - during the civil rights movement; he was a Christian and a man of faith. Interesting how that little detail was glossed over.

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