Defining African American Conservatism

The phenomenon known as Black Conservatism has begun to make significant inroads within the African American political arena. African Americans such as J. Kenneth Blackwell, Michael Steele, and Lynn Swann proudly wear the conservative banner and are serious contenders in three closely watched political races. Clarence Thomas and Ward Connelly have long been the poster children for the Black conservative movement. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the above mentioned individual’s political views, I believe that it is important to begin to define conservatism in relation to its effect upon the African American community from an African American perspective.

I believe that there are at least two branches of Black conservatism. The first branch is an offshoot of the post-modern conservative movement. This movement is primarily defined by and through the Republican Party platform and is filtered and communicated through a christian-right, white-american conservative perspective. Its focus is on returning America to some mythical state of existence where ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity is frowned upon and everyone is of the same religious, moral, and social mindset; i.e., the proverbial Borg Collective.

In this writer’s opinion, traditional post-modern conservatism is anathema to African Americans. The roots of post-modern conservatism can be found within the Jim Crow movement. Post-modern conservatism seeks to destroy diversity just as Jim Crow sought to destroy diversity. Post-modern conservatism seeks to limit access and the flow of capital to the poor and disenfranchised just as Jim Crow sought to limit the flow of capital to and disenfranchise African Americans. And just like Jim Crow promoted a narrow view of what constitutes American society, post-modern conservatism seeks to do the same.

African Americans that assimilate into and embrace the above-defined conservative movement can offer nothing of value to the African American community and it appears that in most cases they are comfortable with that position. Any movement that embraces a platform that promotes policies, laws, and actions that stifle economic freedom, social liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is harmful to African Americans. Additionally, if one embraces a movement that is defined as harmful to African Americans, then one should be judged accordingly.

Currently the second branch of the African American Conservative Movement is gently bubbling at the grassroots level. However the agenda of this branch of African American conservatism could be far more significant in terms of positive change than the Civil Rights Movement of the 50’s and 60’s. This movement is primarily economic in nature and is based upon the values associated with a cooperative economic agenda, combined with an African-Centered (and globally relevant) educational system. This movement seeks to create an infrastructure that supports the values that will allow African Americans to rebuild their communities and heal the fractured familial, cultural, and social relationships that are essential for the survival of people of African ascendency.

The flavor of this type of conservatism appears to be more palatable to the masses of African Americans – especially those of whom are independent of and/or reject both the Republican and Democratic Party agendas. Its structure is one where ideas that support diversity and infrastructural capitalization are encouraged. It is a movement where society is defined by what its constituents bring to the arena of ideas and values, and not by the narrow viewpoints of symbiotic provocateurs and pontificators. It not only encourages us to pull ourselves up and over by our bootstraps, it teaches us how to do so and creates the environment that will afford us the opportunity to teach others as well.