I think there is one fundamental flaw in your case. You argue (and correct me if I'm misrepresenting your viewpoint) that perhaps the defining reason why so many African-Americans are anti-Republican is that people like Jackson, Sharpton et al play the "victim" card and the masses follow The same argument is made on this board over and over again.
I strongly disagree for the following reasons:
(1) African-Americans represent a wider range of economic diversity than at any time in American history. There is no such thing as "a typical black voter." There are lower-class blacks, middle-class blacks, upper-class blacks. Yet they supported Gore 93% to 7% for Bush.
(2) Not all African-Americans embrace the "victim" message that you trumpet. In fact, I would say that more African-Americans, in fact, embrace the economic empowerment message of people like Tony Brown, than the "victim" message of Sharpton. Yet, as a political bloc, African-Americans voted for Gore 93% to 7% for Gore.
If I were to speculate as to why so many African-Americans voted for Gore as opposed to Bush, it is because African-Americans, and Hispanics, and other minorities, do not see America as a land of opportunity for all. They see America as a land that offers first-class opportunity for some, not for all. They see the Democratic platform, not the Republican platform, as affording them the greatest chance to realize the American dream. They realize that the only way for many to become part of the American dream is to improve our failing schools, and the GOP answer to this most important problem is to offer school vouchers. |
