In 1986, MI refused to support a black Republican nominated for governor. A lot of those northern states are good at lecturing the South on its racial problems, but they draw the line on black candidates for major office, particularly within the GOP.
I agree, it's sad that it still matters in this day and age, but the people I'm speaking of joined the R party because they view it as the "white" party & the D party the "minorities" party, but that's also the image the R party has cultivated to stay in power.