Fear of a Black Republican explores the lack of minorities within the GOP.
American politics haven’t been very kind to Republicans in recent years. The public has grown increasingly cynical and critical of both major political parties, but Republicans and Conservatives seem to be even more strung up than Democrats and Liberals. But setting their right-or-left leanings aside, there is one thing that the Republican Party is missing and desperately needs to survive: minorities.
How did the Republican Party go from being Lincoln’s civil rights group to one that is almost completely alienated from minorities? That is the question that Shamrock Stine Productions’ new documentary, Fear of a Black Republican, explores.
The first documentary feature film for Shamrock Stine, Fear of a Black Republican premiered in New York City on May 15th. It was directed by Kevin J. Williams and produced by Tamara E. Williams. It took six years to film and edit the documentary, which features a slew of prominent party members, both Republicans and Democrats. The filmmakers met with people like Ken Mehlman, Mitt Romney, John McCain, Newt Gingrich, Ann Coulter, George W. Bush, Christine Todd, and many more.
Condoleezza Rice is one of just a handful of African American Republicans.
Image: AP / Rodrigo Abd
“Before I started shooting, I was just a voter wondering why things weren’t getting better after each election. Picking up my camera changed everything for me. My intention with this film is to find out if our political system supports the decaying of Urban America, what that means and what, if anything, can be done about it,” says director Kevin Williams. “Journeying across the country and spending time with an important, but misunderstood segment of our society—Black Republicans—revealed a reality and an experience few will ever see.”
Fear of a Black Republican is available to watch online for $4.99 (or you can watch the preview for free). The documentary is intended to be a non-partisan documentary, and has branded itself as the film that “neither party wants you to see.”
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Be sure to read our full profile on Cultivator of Culture Ken Mehlman.