African American Voting Patterns
How Soon Do We Forget?
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, Southern states were able to effectively disenfranchise African Americans. It would take the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the majority of African Americans in the South were registered to vote.
Unfortunately, this voting trend would be brief. As Michael Goldfield states in his book The Color of Politics: Race and the Mainsprings of American Politics, “ The Ku Klux Klan at the same time assassinated both Black and white Republican leaders during the campaign, including legislators, convention delegates, and at least one congressman; meanwhile, in many places white mobs destroyed Republican newspapers, shot at election parades, and massacred Blacks indiscriminately.”
Despite southern opposition this partnership would last through the
19th century and well into the 20th before FDR would recruit a large
percentage of the African American (as well as white) population into
the Democratic Party through his New Deal legislation. Later, Truman
would integrate the federal service, thus ingratiating an even greater
number of African Americans to the Democratic Party.
Although northern Blacks voted with relative ease, southern Blacks still faced many obstacles in casting ballots. Stringent Jim Crow Laws and violent intimidation pervaded the south. The existence of Poll Taxes in many southern states further hindered Blacks ability to vote.
Following WWII, returning Black troops displayed an increasing determination to vote. In 1932 around one hundred thousand blacks were registered to vote. By 1947, over six hundred thousand registered.
However, deterrents in the southern states persisted. “Even by the mid- 1950’s, there were still thousands of African Americans of voting age in the south—more than 75 percent of them, in fact—who were not even registered”, states Susan Banfield in The Fifteenth Amendment: African American Men’s Right to Vote.
Nonetheless, individual persistence coupled with robust government intervention would eventually pay off, and southern Blacks would be granted the necessary legal protections through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Kennedy, who was a Democrat, received much of the credit for this legislation, cementing the relationship between the African American community and the Democratic Party.
If these primary statistics are any indication of voting patterns in the 2008 presidential election, Democrats have a lot to be optimistic about. In addition to the party faithful, they can expect an infusion of new voters that will certainly enhance their chances for securing the White House.
The 15th Amendment to the Constitution granted African American men the right to vote by declaring that the "right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Although ratified on February 3, 1870, the promise of the 15th Amendment would not be fully realized for almost a century. Through the use of poll taxes, literacy tests and other means, Southern states were able to effectively disenfranchise African Americans. It would take the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 before the majority of African Americans in the South were registered to vote.
African Americans show an unwavering loyalty towards the Democratic
Party. This loyalty coupled with an increase in Black turnout could
deliver Democrats the Presidency.
African American Voting Patterns
Recent voting demographics for African Americans suggest an overwhelming propensity to cast ballots in favor of Democratic candidates in presidential elections. Since 1964 this tendency has gained momentum and as the 2008 race comes closer, perhaps a larger number of African American voters will cast Democratic ballots than ever before.Black Voting History
Following the Civil War and the enactment of the Fifteenth Amendment, Black’s initially aligned themselves with Republicans. Presenting itself as the anti-slavery party, newly freed African Americans felt a natural allegiance to the Republican base. When given protection against antagonistic and often violent southern Democrats, voting Blacks displayed an overwhelming loyalty towards the party of Lincoln. Some estimates suggest that 90% of the southern Black population voted directly following the Civil War.Unfortunately, this voting trend would be brief. As Michael Goldfield states in his book The Color of Politics: Race and the Mainsprings of American Politics, “ The Ku Klux Klan at the same time assassinated both Black and white Republican leaders during the campaign, including legislators, convention delegates, and at least one congressman; meanwhile, in many places white mobs destroyed Republican newspapers, shot at election parades, and massacred Blacks indiscriminately.”
Although northern Blacks voted with relative ease, southern Blacks still faced many obstacles in casting ballots. Stringent Jim Crow Laws and violent intimidation pervaded the south. The existence of Poll Taxes in many southern states further hindered Blacks ability to vote.
Following WWII, returning Black troops displayed an increasing determination to vote. In 1932 around one hundred thousand blacks were registered to vote. By 1947, over six hundred thousand registered.
However, deterrents in the southern states persisted. “Even by the mid- 1950’s, there were still thousands of African Americans of voting age in the south—more than 75 percent of them, in fact—who were not even registered”, states Susan Banfield in The Fifteenth Amendment: African American Men’s Right to Vote.
Nonetheless, individual persistence coupled with robust government intervention would eventually pay off, and southern Blacks would be granted the necessary legal protections through the Civil Rights Act of 1964. President Kennedy, who was a Democrat, received much of the credit for this legislation, cementing the relationship between the African American community and the Democratic Party.
Post Civil Rights Voting Patterns
The United States Census reported that 58 % of African Americans were voting in the presidential election of 1964. African Americans were voting Democratic 82% of the time. This number would swell to 92 % by 1968. With the exception of the 1972, 1984, and the 1992 elections Blacks would continue to give at least 80% of their collective votes to the Democratic presidential candidate says Minion K.C. Morris in African Americans and Political Participation.2008 Primary Indicators
According to the DNC (Democratic National Committee), Black voter turnout reached a highpoint in the 2008 primaries. Certainly, the uniqueness of the candidates bolstered this turnout. In South Carolina 48% of all primary voters was African American. Georgia saw an 85% increase in Black voters from 2004. Likewise, around the nation a boom in Black turnout was evident.If these primary statistics are any indication of voting patterns in the 2008 presidential election, Democrats have a lot to be optimistic about. In addition to the party faithful, they can expect an infusion of new voters that will certainly enhance their chances for securing the White House.
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