Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-2009

Journal or Book Title

Federal History Journal

Volume

1

Issue

1

Editor

Benjamin Guterman, Terrance Rucker

Publisher

Society for History in the Federal Government

Place of Publication

Washington, D.C.

Abstract

This article explores the activities of black Republicans during and after the 1964 Republican National Convention. The social turmoil of the 1960s, along with the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and Barry Goldwater’s selection as the GOP’s presidential nominee resulted in an unprecedented massive rejection of the Republican Party by 94 percent of the black electorate. This “6 Percent” moment forced black Republicans to rethink their relationship to the GOP. In turn, this redefinition served as a catalyst for the galvanization of liberal and moderate black party members, who then worked to promote a civil rights agenda within a fundamentally conservative framework.