The Primary Problems Facing Black Americans.

Differences Between the Left and Conservatives Part II

The Primary Problems Facing Black Americans.

For the left, the main problems facing Black Americans today are white and systemic racism. Leftist ideology holds that both individual and institutional racism remain the main barriers to Black advancement in America. They believe racism shapes outcomes in education, employment, criminal justice, and wealth.

For conservatives, the primary problem is the breakdown of the Black family. Writers like Thomas Sowell point out that before the 1960s Civil Rights Act, Black communities had higher rates of marriage and two-parent households. They were also making steady economic progress. After the civil rights movement and the expansion of welfare programs, the rate of children born to unmarried mothers rose dramatically. In recent decades, this rate has reached over 70%. Conservatives argue that this shift led to increased poverty, dependency, and social challenges within Black communities.

“What we’ve done is, we’ve incentivized women to marry the government and we’ve incentivized men to abandon their financial and moral responsibilities.” — Larry Elder

Conservatives also point to the success of Asian Americans. Despite facing discrimination, Asian Americans have become economically successful and excel in education. Conservatives see this as evidence that racism alone cannot explain disparities. They also note that African immigrants to the U.S. often outperform native-born Black Americans in education and income. This, they argue, suggests that culture and family structure play a significant role.

Conservatives acknowledge that racism exists in America. However, they argue it is not the primary problem facing Black Americans today. Instead, they stress the importance of family stability, personal responsibility, and cultural factors in achieving success.