Ricky Jones: Black men are not the problem for Stacey Abrams and Democrats
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In the opening of his 1903 classic “Souls of Black Folk” W.E.B. DuBois wrote, “there is ever an unasked question” of Black Americans – “How does it feel to be a problem?” That is, how does it feel when the troubles of society are explored, and people conclude that you are the issue?
In DuBois’ time, while Black people were considered hinderances to American peace, happiness and prosperity collectively, Black men were always viewed as more noxious than Black women. That hasn’t changed. In fact, Black men are the single most demonized group of people in America.
You disagree? Let’s play word association. I say, “Black man.” What words or phrases pop into your mind? Be honest. Gangster, thug, criminal, convict, lazy, untrustworthy, dumb, dropout, hustler, cheater, absentee father? You’re not alone. The negative characterizations of Black men are so common that the few who are highlighted for doing “positive things” are usually regarded as freakish anomalies.
The latest in a long line of situations in which we’re “the problem” is an emerging narrative that Black men are largely to blame if Stacey Abrams loses her highly publicized rematch with Brian Kemp for the governorship of Georgia. The argument is that Abrams is struggling in polls partially because her support from Black men is sorely lacking.
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News outlets from “The Hill” to “Bloomberg” are releasing stories like, “Democratic group steps in to boost Abrams among Black male voters” and “Stacey Abrams struggles with Black male voters in Georgia while wielding national clout.” It’s maddening.
The problem with these claims and the accompanying strange arguments that a sizeable percentage of Black men have lost their minds and are flocking to the Republican Party is that they’re inaccurate. As the summary of a powerful recent article by Michael Harriot succinctly puts it, “Pundits have begun sounding the alarm about the Democratic Party’s existential crisis with Black male voters that—according to math, history and political science—does not exist.”
That’s right, Harriot hit the nail on the head - Stacey Abrams’ Black male voting problem is . . . a myth.
Lies and stereotypes of Black men permeate society but, admittedly, some conclusions about more sophisticated, informed, and politicized brothers are true. No, we aren’t supportive of people or candidates just because they’re Black. We learned from Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Ward Conerly and many others.
No, we weren’t more impressed by Barack Obama just because he was married to Michelle. No, we weren’t sold on Kamala Harris just because she attended Howard and pledged AKA. We were actually worried about her political record where Black folk were concerned. And guess what, it wasn’t good.
Yes, Black men are understandably growing increasingly leery of the Democrats. We’re not fools. We know they only think about Black people during election cycles and then largely ignore our concerns and suffering . . . again and again and again. When they do pay attention, they usually center on Black women, not Black men.
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University of Maryland professor Jason Nichols recently correctly noted, “Black women have been the most loyal and reliable voting bloc for the party, and they deserved that recognition. But the second most loyal Democratic voting bloc—Black men—has not gotten the same kind of recognition, and the party's penchant for ignoring Black men is leading to a remarkable attrition in recent years.”
Be clear, this “attrition” has not been a mass defection to the Republicans. A percentage of Black men have simply disconnected from electoral politics altogether because their interests have been disregarded. They are tired of being forced to vote AGAINST a terrible Republican rather than FOR a good Democrat. They’re tired of Democrats basically saying, “No, we don’t give a damn about Black people in general, and even less about Black men. But we’re better than the Republicans. So, we’re not just your best choice; we’re your only choice. Submit and vote for who we tell you to vote for. We own you!”
At the end of the day, despite baseless arguments to the contrary, there has been no mass defection of Black men to the Republican Party and most Black men in Georgia aren’t against Stacey Abrams. But here are some things that are real. Hispanic support of Republicans is growing exponentially. You ask them why. Democrats consistently contort themselves and court them, but the majority of white men and white women vote Republican. You ask them why.
To be sure, Black women are the Democrats’ most loyal constituency. There’s no debate there. But as Michael Harriot, Jason Nichols, and many others who actually study the historical, political and statistical facts know and note, we ne’er-do-well, misguided, troubled Black men are number two. Bottom line is this – Black men aren’t the problem this time. So, don’t blame us if Stacey Abrams or any other Democrat loses. Put that weight somewhere else. We’re already carrying enough.
Dr. Ricky L. Jones is professor and chair of the Pan-African Studies department at the University of Louisville. His column appears bi-weekly in the Courier-Journal. Visit him at rickyljones.com.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Black men aren't the problem for Stacey Abrams or Democrats anywhere
