More than anything, what should be noted about black Republican conservatives is that they have character in abundance.
Something that deeply grates on middle and upper-middle class black Americans is being lumped together with poor, often criminal, lower class blacks. No matter how much they have worked to become educated, nor how successful in business and wealth they have become, society often treats them like they are still “ghetto”. It bugs the heck out of them.
And liberal Democrats are the worst offenders with these stereotypes. And over the years it builds up resentment.
However, when a successful and honorable black candidate runs as a conservative Republican, it is a statement to middle and upper-middle class blacks that they represent middle and upper-middle class black *values*. And this character represents much more than skin color.
It is no surprise how much liberal Democrats hate and fear such people. Because each one is a crack in the Democrat monolith of black voters.
It is interesting you should write this now. I was looking at the Richmond Times Dispatch article comments and in the first comment, he is called “token” already.