Why have black people in the US traditionally voted for Democratic candidates?

In the last eighty years or so and outside of the deep South, the democratic party has had a better civil rights record. This has not always been the case. Following the Civil War, newly enfranchised African Americans voted overwhelmingly Republican, the party of Lincoln who freed them from slavery. This disappeared at the end of Reconstruction (occupation of the former Confederacy by Federal troops) as these states passed various laws which disenfranchised the former slaves. By the time these discriminatory laws were repealed, the Republican Party had shifted in the political spectrum to conservatism; not in the political interests of the majority of African American voters. In recent years, many affluent African Americans have shifted allegiance to the Republicans, as it is in their economic self interest to do so.

Historically, the Democratic party was the party of the working man, of which many were black. Though there has been something of an ideological shift in the party in recent decades, they’re sharp enough to know that you keep people by giving them stuff.

The neutrality of this article is disputed

But it’s a pretty good synopsis. When you hear Glenn Beck ranting about how Obama hates white people, when you have Andrew Breitbart proclaiming the NAACP a racist organization (and doctoring a video to “prove” it), you get a pretty good idea why Republicans don’t have much of an appeal among black people.

@IchtheosaurusRex Technically, the NAACP is a racist organization. Says so right in the name: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. And that’s what they do, discriminating on the basis of a melanin count.

Wouldn’t you agree that a National Association for the Advancement of White People would be racist? After all, that’s what White Supremacy is all about, innit?

is it because democrats make for promises?

Who the hell knows? From my perspective, it seems to be a poor match. But the only thing crazier than a politician is the person who votes for them. And so it goes….

@Nullo , you need a history lesson. The NAACP was founded in 1909. During the 20 years preceding its foundation, over 2,000 black people were lynched in the United States. Do you think they should change their name to something white folk would find less offensive, now that we don’t hear about too many lynchings these days?

BTW, there is an organization that might as well call itself the National Association for the Advancement of White People. You can read about them here.

@IchtheosaurusRex I know my history, thank you. I stand by my point all the same. The definition of “racism” is the same regardless of how poorly your bunch was treated.
I don’t really care if they change the name or not. I just want you to realize that things aren’t necessarily the way they might first seem.

The reason why the Republican party is mostly white is because the Democrats put a lot of effort into drawing in the minorities, not because of any kind of exclusion on the part of the former party.

@Nullo , OK, so the Democrats have made an effort. Why haven’t the Republicans?

@IchtheosaurusRex Strategy. Those people are long since won over; it’s easier to go after the as-yet-unaffiliated.
Besides that, you can’t have your party copy the other party’s strategy. It’s bad form, and it doesn’t make you look very good. “Like a bunch of johnny-come-latelys,” to quote a film.