Not Like Us: Political Participation among Black Conservatives

• In Event: Poster Session: Ralph Bunche Summer Institute (RBSI) Scholars

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between Black conservatism and political participation, focusing on whether conservative ideology impacts different forms of political engagement within the Black community. Prior research suggests that conservatism has little influence on vote choice among Black Americans due to the theory of racialized social constraint and in-group sanctions, which posits that support for Democrats is a community norm. However, the impact of conservatism on Black political participation remains unclear. Utilizing data from the 2020 American National Election Survey (ANES), this study explores multiple hypotheses to explore the effects of conservative identification and conservative attitudes on different levels of political activities, as well as visible forms of participation. The analysis reveals that conservative identification and conservative attitudes do not significantly affect levels of political participation due to potential social sanctions within the community. This study contributes to understanding the nuanced dynamics of ideology, participation, party loyalty among Black Americans, highlighting the complex interplay between individual attitudes and group norms.

Author

• Kyshan Jay Nichols-Smith, Morehouse College