Ask a Libertarian: Where are the Black Libertarians?

Welcome to Ask a Libertarian 2012 with Reason's Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch. They are the authors of the book, The Declaration of Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America, coming out in paperback with a new foreword covering Occupy Wall Street and more, on June 26.

"Where are the black libertarians?" - Sent via email by Mark Draughn 

Produced by Meredith Bragg, Jim Epstein, Josh Swain, and Tracy Oppenheimer with help from Katie Hooks.

To watch answers from 2011's Ask a Libertarian series, go here.

Comments

[sloopyinca]

In the shadows?

[Mo' $parky]

Hanging out with all the women that get turned away from the movement by the foul language.

[sloopyinca]

I'm proof that ^^this^^ is a fucking load of shit. :-O

[Mongo]

Those are somewhat racist lips in the emoticon, Sloop.

[darius404]

I'm sure glad you represent everyone, especially the women, sloopy. Now if we want to know what everyone else thinks, all we have to do is ask you.

[sloopyinca]

Forward me your contact info and I'll get you some replacement batteries for your sarcasmometer.*

*You do realize I met my wife on HyR and have a horribly foul mouth, right?

[GILMORE]

.... uh, because there's no 'foul language' with the black libertarians...?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3M3xfu0m5o4

[Fist of Etiquette]

Race!

[Heroic Mulatto]

"Where are the black libertarians?"

Where all the White women at, duh!

[Bob McKenzie]

Where are all da white women at?

[Rasilio]

Why Somalia of course

[Mr. FIFY]

It's because we force potential black libertarian applicants to leave the building the moment they try to walk in.

/liberal snark

[fish]

Do you want to file an EEOC complaint based upon under representation?

[SugarFree]

Art-P.O.G. was in Germany, last I heard.

[Cavpitalist]

Gangsta rap is the artistic outlet of Libertarianism, whether anyone realizes it or not.

[ant1sthenes]

Great, someone else trying to tie us to goldbugs.

[SlowburnAZ]

Ask Chris Rock...

[Audrey the Liberal]

Hanging out with the black atheists.

[GILMORE]

Where are the Black Libertarians?

The Rap Industry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9sptmFjcMs

[Shay Riley]

Hello All,

As a black libertarian-conservative, I was intrigued by this question. I even live in Chicago and wasn't aware that you guys came to town. Otherwise, I'd have probably shown up LOL.

There are black libertarian commentators, blogs, websites, and organizations in at least eight different countries across two continents. My blog Booker Rising (which is a news site geared towards black moderates and black conservatives: http://www.bookerrising.net) regularly highlights them.

In case anyone is interested, I've assembled a list of black libertarian resources in response to this video:

http://www.bookerrising.net/20.....s-ask.html

Shay Riley

[Brian from Texas]

We actually have a couple of black candidates here in Texas running on the Libertarian Party ticket. I believe the Libertarian/Conservative movement is becoming more diverse. I was at a Tea Party event in Austin not too long ago where the number of blacks and hispanics was quite significant.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Hey Shay, great website. It seems like libertarianism would appeal to Black folk, what with its opposition to the whole slavery thing. I would like to see more discussion on HyR on how to reach out to Blacks and other minority groups.

[sloopyinca]

This is the kind of clean and articulate writing we could use more of in the comments section here. Well done!

And on a serious note, I checked out your blog, and it's full of a lot of good stuff. You really are a fine writer. You should spend some time in the comments section here.*

*Stay away from the AM Links. For the love of God, stay away from the AM Links!

[mad libertarian guy]

Where are the Black Libertarians?

Hanging out with all of the black people at heavy metal concerts. Or are those racist too?

[darius404]

"Heavy metal" is a TOTALLY racist term.

[David D.]

Since many libertarians support rewording the Civil Rights Act, there will always be less Black libertarians. That doesn't sit well with many. If less libertarians didn't support rewording the CRA and reached out to Blacks unlike Republicans, then there would be more. If you research the struggles of the CRA, you will understand the sensitivity.

[Zed]

Amen!