In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, a lot of effort and money went into persuading black men aged 18-34 to support Donald Trump.
In my opinion, this approach missed the bigger picture. The goal should have been to make the black male vote a consistent and dependable part of the conservative movement by encouraging black men – and all Americans – to embrace conservatism as a lifelong belief, rather than focusing solely on winning votes for a single election.
Conservatives continue to rely on these same shortsighted strategies in every election cycle. While this tactic might win a few votes, it fails to create lasting impact. We need to shift away from short-term strategies.
Black men, like everyone else, are driven by values that align with their lives and aspirations. To inspire lifelong conservative voters among black men, we must emphasize the shared values that truly connect and unite us, including things like liberty, faith, strong families, and opportunities to succeed. These are universal truths that can inspire anyone.
Frederick Douglass showed us how this works. He believed in liberty, self-reliance, and the promises of the Constitution. His message wasn’t just about helping one group of people; it was about standing for values that could lift everyone. We can use his example to show black men how these principles can lead to freedom and success.
Black men need a reason to believe in conservatism as a way of life. Here’s how we can do that:
Teach the Truth: Black men, as with all Americans, must be taught the truth about the principles of America’s founding documents, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. They must be taught through the lens of Frederick Douglass. Educating them about Douglass’ perspective helps to show how these principles remain relevant and impactful today – effectively dismantling the left’s false narrative about America’s founding, its values, and its commitment to liberty. Douglass is the ideal embodiment of conservative values.
Show Real Solutions: Conservatives must back up their words with actions. Policies that create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities, while improving schools and reforming the justice system, can make a real difference in black communities. When people see results, they’ll know conservatism works – inspiring black men to see conservatism as more than just a political choice.
Give Them a Political Identity: This is a critical step. Encouraging black men to adopt conservatism involves offering them a political identity that strengthens their ability to navigate the criticism they will face from their family, friends and colleagues for being a "conservative.” The political identity to use is Frederick Douglass Republican™ (FDR). It will empower black men to overcome "Uncle Tom" and "sellout" labels.
The “FDR Engagement Strategy™” provides a robust framework for handling pushback, while advancing our founding principles.
The Path Forward
Making lifelong conservative voters means building trust and relationships over time. This isn’t something that can only happen during elections. Conservatives need to show up in black communities year-round, listen to concerns, and take action.
Black men have an important role to play, but they need a reason to believe in conservatism. The focus must be on building relationships based on trust and shared principles. This won’t be easy, but it’s worth it. When we succeed, we won’t just strengthen the liberty movement – we’ll pave the way for a brighter, more united America.
To contact KCarl or request a speaking engagement, go to www.kcarlinc.com.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
