African-American loyalty to the Democratic Party has rarely been called into question since the early 20th century. As of 2008, "voting demographics for African-Americans suggest an overwhelming propensity to cast ballots in favor of Democratic candidates in presidential elections," (Young 2008). It would be expected that the election of Barack Obama further solidifies the commitment of African-American voters to the Democratic Party. The reasons why African-Americans have consistently voted Democrat throughout much of the past half a century are clear. During President Roosevelt's New Deal legislation, the Democratic Party shifted from the party of the racist enemy to the party that championed the rights of the poor and disenfranchised. The re-alignment of the Democratic Party with the political ideals of most African-Americans fostered a renewed identification among Black Americans. During the 1960s, it was a Democratic President that ushered in a new era of Civil Rights, and since the passage...
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