Dr. Leah Wright-Rigueur
Historian, Author & Political Scholar
Historian, Author & Political Scholar
The Forgotten History of Black Republicans
There is a fascinating Saturday Night Live sketch from 1980, a piece almost entirely forgotten by most viewers of the NBC comedy show. The sketch survives in the pop culture arena only because it features the SNL debut of comedian Eddie Murphy.
In the SNL piece, a Jim Fowler–type zoologist braves the “savage” landscape of a tony Manhattan cocktail party in search of an elusive subject: the Negro Republican.
Some of my writing, interviews and lectures...
Jackie Robinson: A Militant Black Republican
[x_blockquote cite=”Jackie Robinson in 1968″ type=”left”]“I’m a black man first, an American second, & then I will support a political party—third.”[/x_blockquote] On a Saturday evening …
Why Bernie Should Stay in the Race & other Super Tuesday analysis
This week on Tell Me More with John Fugelsang on XM Insight Channel 121, we had a lively discussion about Super Tuesday, the protesters, and …
Black Voters Are Not A Monolith.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]here’s a gross misunderstanding of what black politics and activism means in our country. We’re seeing some of that misunderstanding play out right now, as …
Some of my most popular Posts...
When Muhammad Ali Endorsed Ronald Reagan.
The complexity of the legendary champion’s public life.
What’s The Deal With Black Republicans?
Much of my research happened in the Schomburg so it feels like I'm
coming full circle.
Why would a black person want to be republican?
The relationship between the GOP and black voters has shifted from supportive to downright icy over the past 100 years.
Why doesn’t Bernie resonate with black voters?
In a campaign with candidates like Donald Trump & Ben Carson, a Sanders candidacy fits right in.
Race-Baiting for the Presidency.
Fanning the fires of racial division has long been an effective campaign strategy.
5 Ways Jackie Robinson was different from Modern Republicans.
Few people know about his work within the GOP.