The History of Black Americans within the Republican and Democratic Parties

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by Steve William Sanson

Las Vegas, Nevada USA - Let me start by saying that I am a Republican and I am of mixed race, both Black and White, this makes me a minority. While I was in the US Military from 1985 through 1998 I was a Nonpartisan and it is my belief that while you are in the US Armed Forces you should not be affiliated to any political party, because you do not know who is going to be Commander and Chief.

I became a Republican in 1998 because of my belief, I was not following some family legacy, or keeping up with the Jones's, as a matter of fact my entire family is Democrat except for my two son's and one brother in the Air Force whom are Republican.

I always tell people do not just pick a political party "do your homework" find out about each party and join the party that would best represents you and your values, "do not be a follower, be a leader."

Although there are times that I would lean towards the Democratic Party on domestic issues, I am more of a Fiscal Republican.

"The Democratic Party had become the dominant political party in America in the 1820s, and in May 1854, in response to the strong PRO-slavery positions of the Democrats. Several antislavery leaders formed an antislavery party-the Republican Party."

"It was founded upon the principles of equality originally set forth in the governing documents of the Republic. In an 1865 publication documenting the history of black voting rights, Philadelphia attorney John Hancock confirmed that the Declaration of Independence set forth "equal rights to all."

Abolishing slavery. Free speech. Women's suffrage. In today's stereotypes, none of these sound like a typical Republican issue, yet they are stances the Republican Party, in opposition to the Democratic Party, adopted early on.

The Republican Party has always thrived on challenges and difficult positions. Its present role as leader of the revolution in which the principles of government are being reevaluated is a role it has traditionally embraced.

Today most Black Americans would tell you that the Republican Party has abolished them, not talking about their issues and concerns and that the Democratic Party has been in their corner with support.

I am a member of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and I took a bold stand at one of their meetings. I said in order to advance Black Americans need to be equal members in both Democratic and Republican Party, that the scale is not balanced.

Well, most of them did not see it my way and the minority that did in my opinion may be intimidated by the majority so they kept their mouths shut. In private there was some Republican Black Americans whom stated I was correct in my statement.

Hardly any Black Americans I talk to know the history of the Democratic Party. They do not know that it took a Republican President to end slavery, in the 1800s and early 1900s most Black Americans were Republican and were elected officials, that the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was formed by the Democratic Party, that The NAACP was formed in response to the 1908 race riot in Springfield, capital of Illinois and birthplace of Republican President Abraham Lincoln.

Appalled at the violence that was committed against blacks, a group of white liberals that included Republican Mary White Ovington and Oswald Garrison Villard, both the descendants of abolitionists, issued a call for a meeting to discuss racial justice. Some 60 people, only 7 of whom were African American and that Martin Luther King, Sr. were Republican.

Now, I am not saying the Democratic Party today is racist against Black Americans, yet history shows that this is how the Democratic Party started.

E-mail: SteveWSanson@cs.com phone 702 283 8088
Website: www.VeteransInPolitics.com