Who would have thought MLK did not like the founding party of the KKK?

Question

Daaaaamn! And as usual, no anonymous opinions and if you don't have time for this short video then I don't have time for you 😉

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

Actually, the African-American vote initially went overwhelmingly for the Republican party - the party of Abraham Lincoln after all. This only began to change with the advent of the New Deal in the Democratic party in the 1930s under Franklin Roosevelt.

Yet even this was not decisive. It being recalled that the Democrats were - as late as the 1960s - the party of George Wallace and other segregationists. This resulting in a profound split within the Democratic party until the late 1960s, early 1970s. (Also, the formation of the so-called "Dixiecrats.")

The real shift of the African-American vote to heavily favor the Democrats only began with the advent of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society as well as the signing of the Civil Rights Act. This, of course, not happening overnight, but with MLK's assassination, President Johnson was able to capitalize on the sentiment on behalf of the African-American community, and make it almost monolithically Democratic.

Interestingly, there are now signs that - at least at the margins - the African-American vote is beginning to shift a bit more to the GOP. This having to do with the improvement in the African-American standard of living and also with the shift of the GOP to a more blue collar orientation.

It remains to be seen if this will continue, but recent polling, for example, shows that President Biden's approval among African-Americans is well below historic norms for a Democrat. (Interestingly, back in the 60s and 70s, Biden tilted toward the segregationist wing of the Democratic party. Only beginning in the late 70s did Biden begin to identify more with his party's shift to a more interracial orientation.)

P. S. As per a previous question, and related to this question, the Republican party identifies with the classical liberal tradition. Not entirely - American political parties are not ideological parties as you tend to see in Europe but rather are coalitions of various groups with compatible interests.)

To explain this in brief. Classical liberalism is the product of the Enlightenment. The idea that there are rules of nature - just as there are rules of physics - and that if the law is made in conformance with these laws, society will function smoothly. Thus, for example, Adam Smith - whose was that if government stood aside, the laws of economic nature would be able to function unhindered, this resulting in economic prosperity.

The American revolution was a product of the Enlightenment. "Men are endowed with certain inalienable rights." The argument being that if the natural law was allowed to function unhindered and humans were able to exercise the rights granted them by nature, a healthy, peaceful and prosperous society would follow.

There was a reaction to this among what came to be called the classical conservatives. This best illustrated by the man who is typically seen as the father of classical conservativism - Edmund Burke - whose ideas were best expressed in his book, "Reflections on the Revolution in France."

Burke argued that rights were not spontaneous, but were rather philosophical constructs born of - or in reaction to - historical events. Thus, these rights had to be nurtured and adapted to the cultures in which they evolved.

There was very little appeal in the USA - again, a nation born of the Enlightenment - of Burke's arguments. However, a split evolved within liberalism. The later liberals - called "radical" liberals (please note, "radical" referring to the ancient Greek definition, i. e. "to the root of...") - argued that society had been so corrupted that activist government had to step in to right the imbalances.

This is basically the divide in the USA. "Conservatives" are the classical liberals of the 18th century. Though here too, there are limits. The USA is rooted in the Protestant Reformation - from which the Enlightenment was born - and Protestant traditionalism tends toward social traditionalism and argues that government should nurture such traditionalism. It being recalled, again, that American parties are not ideological, but rather are coalitions.

The Democrats are the liberal party, i. e. the party of "radical liberalism." Which is to say activist government and - interestingly - a morality that is not bound by tradition.

This is, in brief, the distinction between the two parties and the usage of the terms "liberal" and "conservative" come from in the USA. There is not really a "classical" - in the Burkean sense - conservativism. Although several American writers - notably George F. Will in his book "Statecraft as Soulcraft" - do espouse classical conservatism.

Avicenna · Accepted Answer

Yeah, the Democrats have always been opportunists. They just shifted to being overtly racist and discriminating against blacks to being overtly racist and discriminating against whites. And their policies are terrible for people of all races.

exitseven · Answer

Yes, and after all these years of the democrats putting it over on them they are finally waking up. Snoop Dogg is supporting Trump. One of the founders of BLM is also supporting Trump. He says he is sick of democrats showing up every 4 years for votes and not seeing any results. Many black communities are angry with Biden because illegal aliens are flooding their cities and using all the services. They get the scraps if there are any. Trump is polling 20% of the black vote some polls say higher. Most say that if Trump gets 20% of the black vote there is no path to victory for Joe Biden.

RavVid · Answer

Not a US citizen. I did think that was interesting. Translating Democrat to Australian Labor Party, I see elements of that. It would be bad for the 'Progressive' ALP if problems were fixed because that would kill off an agenda item and cause the loss of excessively well paid jobs plus the general bitching and moaning they spend their time on.

handsomelad70 · Answer

After the REPIGLIKKKLANS have othered African Americans for nigh onto three generations, if they (I'm part African American; my mother was born in Detroit, Mich., while my father hailed from Harrow, a small town outside of Windsor, Ont., where I've spent my entire 70 years) vote for their loathers, they're on crack, coke, meth, corn liquor and every other illicit stimulant. African Americans and progressives in general should start a new party which will replace the sclerotic DUMBOCRATS and TRULY represent the 99.999999% instead of the overlord swine ala the GOP.("Goobers, Oddballs, Popinjays.")

goaded · Answer

You think he'd have preferred Trump or the Republican party?

Saying your allies aren't doing enough for you isn't the same as saying you'd prefer your enemies (and MLK's Democrats still included all the Dixiecrats in states now controlled by Republicans).

Exterminatore · Answer

He was probably way ahead of his time and realized that probably by the 60’s neither party nor politician gives a rats ass about the American people. That the Democrats speak of great things for the blacks…. for all of us and do nothing.

Sabretooth · Answer

That is historically untrue:   and before you call that fake, remind me -- which political party is for removing Confederate statues and which political party is against it?

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Even Malcolm X warned against specifically "White" Liberals.. So that ain't surprising..

nonyabeez-wax · Answer

I've seen this.  I don't like them either. Lol

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Okay, I'm a Conservative and even I'm sick of this argument. Their ideologies have flip flopped. The Democratic party 100 years ago, is NOT the same Democratic party as today. Although the anti-Semitism seems to have remained.

OtterMan68 · Answer

Which party TODAY screams the loudest when statues of Confederate politicians or generals are taken down or military bases named after Confederate generals are renamed?

Sasahara · Answer

People with common sense would have thought so

KrakenAttackin · Answer

MLK would like to see the state of race relations today.

OddBeMe · Answer

Yeah…the name 150 years ago. What party gave MLK access to the White House to talk civil rights…?

gorydetails · Answer

Malcolm X hated white liberals too

jimmy2 · Answer

That a racist person who started and keep it going

Who would have thought MLK did not like the founding party of the KKK?

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If democrats started the KKK why didn't republicans in the Jim Crow era do anything to stop the KKK?

Who would have thought MLK did not like the founding party of the KKK?

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If democrats started the KKK why didn't republicans in the Jim Crow era do anything to stop the KKK?

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