African American Studies Commons^™

When Parties Swap Platforms: The Changing Racial Policies Of Democrats And Republicans, Charles O. Boyd

Oglethorpe Journal of Undergraduate Research

This article examines the shift in the Democratic and Republican parties with regard to the rights of African Americans. Debunking partisan distortions of history on both sides, "When Parties Swap Platforms" demonstrates that prior to the 1960s, the Republican Party was more supportive of African Americans' rights and that during the 1960s, the Democratic Party became the more supportive institution. Evidence is also provided showing that Hubert Humphrey played a much larger role in changing the Democratic Party's stance on civil rights than is commonly known.