African-Americans and the Tea Party in Virginia: How the Party Fails the Needs of Black Voters

African-Americans have played a large role in the history of political change in the state of Virginia. Though America as a whole has moved forward politically over the years, the state of Virginia has provided a number of important judicial cases which eventually resulted in advancement for all blacks nationally. Davis v. Prince Edward County (1951), a case which confronted the issue of school segregation, was brought by teens wishing to matriculate at a more institution. The case eventually became part of the larger Brown v. Board of Education (1954), a landmark case which resulted in the ending of the but equal doctrine which had existed for more than 50 years before. In Johnson v. Virginia (1963), the separation of black and white juries ceased after an African-American man was found in contempt in the capital of Richmond, after failing to comply with the practice of separate jury seating. In the case of Loving v. Virginia (1967), anti-miscegenation laws, or the prohibiting of interracial relationships, was overturned after the marriage of a Caroline County interracial couple wishing to reside in the state, following their marriage in Washington, DC. These examples of African-American involvement in the political process exemplify the historical interests served by the state's moving forward, resulting in positive transformation. Transformation that was not halted by the negativity of state politicians, or their unwillingness to recognize the needs of African-Americans, and their rights as citizens. Today's conservative political parties, in particular the newly-minted Tea Party, exemplify an unwillingness to recognize the needs of today's African-Americans as a whole. The 2013 Virginia gubernatorial election includes an African-American Tea Party candidate who has 1% to less than 1% of the support of black voters, due in part to his polarizing comments on blacks and Planned Parenthood, Medicaid and Medicare programs, and the overall feeling that programs meant to aid families, have been worse than slavery for African-Americans. This paper will examine the history of African-American involvement in political parties since the Civil Rights movement in Virginia, and the current involvement of African-Americans in the controversial Tea Party. The party has offered African-American candidates a voice nationwide, but has largely failed to gain a following amongst black voters. The reasons behind this failure will be studied following the outcome of the 2013 gubernatorial election, and the issues leading up to the expected outcome.