text: To answer your question: a TRUE republican does respect black people and their culture.However, alot of conservatives that CALL themselves republicans do not. But don't be fooled; a closet racist is not a TRUE republican.\n\nI'm sure you know that Abraham Lincoln, the president who freed the slaves, was a replublican. However, did you know that the Republicans in the senate at the time of the civil war/reconstruction were even more tolerant then Lincoln? They advocated such "radical" proposals as a 'freeman's office' to help get the newly freed slaves on their feet, give them jobs and ensure a right to vote. Their major opposition after Lincoln's death was Lincoln's democratic successor Andrew Johnson.\n\nImmediately following the civil war, many congressional districts in the south went to black candidates (all running under the republican banner.) However, the KKK and other terrorist organizations (many affiliated with the democrats) soon put an end to this early success and it was another 100 years before blacks began to once again recieve true political rights. \n\nSo what about the civil rights movement of the 60's? A purely democratic movement? Not true: the legislation of the late 1950's through 1960's was largely bipartisan and many forget that it was president Dwight Eisenhower (a republican) that helped foster the earliest, and some might say most crucial beginnings of school desegregation in the south.\n\nThe southern realignment of the early 1970's shifting many of the racist southern democrats (or 'dixicrats) to the republican camp is also widely misconstrued as a "switching places" of the two parties.\nFirst of all, only a minority of congressmen held these views and that minority (which is now nearly 100% dead or retired) cannot be called TRUE republicans, since they essentially jumped parties. Second of all, the voter shift in the south can hardly be chalked up to purely racial views, there was a lot of unrest (due to the vietnam war, poor economy, etc) that caused all kinds of demographics to 'switch sides.'\n\nToday, politics is undoubtedly more bitter and hateful then ever. Both parties are guilty of this and race is often brought up as an issue. However, it would be unfair to stereotype either party as not 'liking another race.' So, take this history into account. \n\nPersonally, I come from Kansas where the head of the republican party happens to be an african american, and he's as TRUE a replubican and as strong a leader as I've ever had the honor of meeting.