African-Americans and the Republican Party: How African-American Party Members Discount the Needs of the Black Voter

The first African-Americans arrived on the shores of the United States nearly 400 years ago, and since that time have executed the complicated steps necessary in advancing from slavery to the role of equal American. Though moving onward from their early story of being regarded as property, to holding citizenship and earning the rights to equal standing, African-Americans continue to struggle towards true opportunity. Politically, throughout the history of the United States, African-Americans have fought exclusion from the process that determines the lawmaking concerns facing the country. A two-party system largely determined, and continues to determine these concerns, and over the years, the parties have altered themselves in regard to their ideologies and beliefs. The Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States who initiated the Emancipation Proclamation, changed from a party of positive transformation on behalf of African-Americans to the party of that which has by and large blocked a number of issues pertaining to African-Americans. The Democratic Party of that time was largely against the advancement of African-Americans, until the party divided in the late 1940s following actions by President Truman. Truman was interested in civil rights legislation on the behalf of African-Americans, causing the Democratic Party's southern members to leave the party, and eventually join the Republicans.The party reputations established during that time continue today, but the growing development, which has become a major concern, is the recent support of African-American Congressional hopefuls the Republican Party has recently supported. Three Republican, African-American Congressmen were elected during the 2014 mid-terms. Tim Scott of South Carolina, formally elected after an initial appointment in 2013; Senator Mia Love of Utah, and House of Representatives winner Will Hurd of Texas, were all elected primarily without the support of African-American voters, largely due to their ideologies. The candidates, though from states with dissimilar populations and varying interests, have in common the practice of bashing and disregarding issues which concern black Americans. Mia Love, who initially ran in 2012, spoke of her wish to take apart the Congressional Black Caucus, due to their tendency to ...sit there and ignite emotions and ignite racism...; a group which Senator Scott refused to join after his 2010 election to the House. Senator-elect Love also spoke of dismantling the Departments of Education and Energy, and all candidates espouse their desire to derail President Obama's healthcare plan, which has largely benefited African-Americans.This paper will examine the history of Republican involvement in the issues surrounding African-Americans since the late 1940s. The role of African-Americans in the Republican party, and their disinterest in promoting the concerns of African-Americans in the age of the twice-elected first African-American President.