As a person involved almost exclusively with the Black community, it is offensive to assume anything about people's ethics, opinions or political views. To count on anyone's vote as a block is naive at best, and trivializing at worst.
While many votes may go to Kerry, the plantation voting system assumed by the Democrats breaks down the more Blacks realize their independence as business owners and intellectuals.
Frankly, the Democratic viewpoint insults their eyes. Who are Powell, Powell of the FCC, Rice and Paige after all? What of the countless state and federal workers who happen to be Black. The division is not truly one of race, but money, and Kerry does have the most; he is in fact trying to buy the election.
As long as the people of color continue to define themselves as "separate" from the rest of the United States population, they will feel special. This will not always work because their numbers are slowly becoming less and less significant compared with other minority groups.
I suggest they give it up and become unhyphenated Americans along with the rest of us (me included as soon as I get my citizenship that is), and take up the responsibility for themselves instead of demanding attention from their lawmakers.
Only when these imagined divisions are eraced will their be enough voting power to actually sway our govenrment into getting down to the business we are paying them to do.
Groups can be culturally diverse and retain their heritage and traditions, but when it comes to government, we are all paddling that old rowboat together.....better paddle in the same direction or we lose.