The Earliest Time for a Black President

[J. J.]

I'm looking forward to the day a Native American becomes President!

That was 1924, since we're on a retro kick.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Straha gave the correct answer.  a traditionally "black" politician, with roots in the civil rights movement and a descendant of slaves, would have no chance nationally.

Agreed.  I think Colin Powell would have had a decent shot of winning in 1996 had he been the GOP nominee and Perot had stayed out of it.  Having both necessary event happen would been problematic, and he'd still have to show he could run a decent political campaign.

[minionofmidas]

I'm looking forward to the day a Native American becomes President!

That was 1924, since we're on a retro kick.

You're thinking of

a) Vice President
b) 1928
c) a man with acknowledged Native American ancestry - even a tribally enrolled man - who used his Native American ancestry to political advantage. But not actually "a Native American" by any definition that would be recognized in popular usage anywhere in Indian Country.
That Curtis could be selected as Vice President is certainly significant - it couldn't have happened 50 years earlier - but not really the same thing. Jonathan Windy Boy would not be electable today.

[ibarnes]

No, he's referring to Calvin Coolidge, who had American Indian ancestors through his grandmother, Sara Brewer, although your story about Curtis is more interesting.

[minionofmidas]

No, he's referring to Calvin Coolidge, who had American Indian ancestors through his grandmother, Sara Brewer, although your story about Curtis is more interesting.

In that case he's still got the year wrong.

[Daniel Z]

1996 (Powell) would have been the first chance.

[Psychic Octopus]

1996 (Powell) would have been the first chance.

Yes, it probably would have, but I think Wilder could have won in 1992.

[angus]

What do you think was the earliest election it was possible for an African American to be elected President?

November 4, 2008

When did America become tolerant enough?

Mid-1970s, or thereabouts.  You could argue that this date is consistent with the fact that ideas have to be out there for about 30 years in order to become reality, but in actuality "tolerant" is such a poor choice of words.  If we only tolerate Obama, then we do have a problem.  Black people, especially the descendants of slaves in former English colonies such as Virginia and Jamaica, prefer the term respect.  I noticed that one of the most common farewell gestures when I was in Jamaica was to make a fist and give each other a light punch, or tap, and say, "Respect"  Except that it is rendered "respet" in Jamaica.  And the response is, "Respect, man."  ("Respet, mon.") 

But, since you asked about tolerance, I'd say mid-70s.  I remember discussing this, at least in the abstract, when I was a small child in elementary school.  It would have been '75 or '76.  Of course, tolerance went away in the 1980s and 1990s.  In fact, the phrase "zero-tolerance" became quite popular, first applying to drugs in the 80s, then to athletes failing, and then to failing schools in general, and later to anyone with whom you disagree.  ("I won't tolerate that attitude" became the mantra of the politically correct crowd by the turn of the century.  Tolerance was especially low in the first half of the first decade of this century. 

But since it wasn't tolerance that was required, but rather something like respect, and not respect for a demographic, but respect for a man, that made Obama's election possible, we have to recognize the factors that led to his election.  (Time for us to get over seeing Obama as an object.  He is a man.  An individual, with an individual identity.  Just like you and me.)  And it wasn't tolerance, but admiration, or respect, or hope, that allowed for his election.  Also, it was a combination of factors including abject disdain for the current president and, perhaps unfairly, his political party; a desire to get past the low-tolerance, politically polarized Clinton-Bush years; a profound desire for change in the way politics is done.  This perfect blend of fertilizers produced growth in an organism that came to fruition on November 4, 2008. 

[Robespierre's Jaw]

Yes, it probably would have, but I think Wilder could have won in 1992.

I think not. He would have been humiliated by President Bush in the general had he won the nomination. As both Tweed and Straha have stated earlier, no African-American politician, with roots in the Civil Rights movement and a descendant of slaves, which Governor Wilder was would have no chance. 

As for the question, 1996 is most likely the answer however it would depend on numerous factors which would cause General Powell to defeat President Clinton in the general, such as the infamous Perot.

[© tweed]

1996 (Powell) would have been the first chance.

he's not traditionally black either

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Yes, he's Jamaican.

[Matt Damon™]

Ford in '12 or '16 had he won the senate seat back in 2006.

[bhouston79]

Powell would have had a shot in 1996 or 2000 had he have chosen to run.  If he had have ran in 1996 and lost, he would have performed better than Dole and his loss would not have been the result of the fact that he was black but instead due to the fact that he was facing a popular incumbant.  Prior to 1996, I just don't think it would have happened.

[Bacon King]

Yes, he's Jamaican.

A white Jamaican at that.

[Ogre Mage]

I would say either 1996 or 2000.  As others have said, it would have taken a candidate like Colin Powell or Obama -- someone with "crossover" appeal.

[Jacobtm]

Virginia elected a Douglas Wilder (a black man) as Governor in 1990. So if we're going hypothetically, I'm sure it could've been 1992 or even earlier.

But Powell couldn't have won in '96. Which states could he have stolen from Clinton? States like CA, NY, PA and Il? Or would it have been in New England? Or the Appalachian states that voted for Clinton? Or CO, NV and NM? And could he really have held states like MS, AL, SC, and all the mid-western states that Dole actually did win?