Blackout

About the Author

Candace Owens is a conservative author, activist, political commentator, and talk show host. Born and raised in a working-class family, Owens experienced firsthand the socio-political dynamics that shape the Black American experience. Her early life was marked by challenges, but it was also infused with a sense of determination and resilience. A millennial Black American woman, Owens is best known for being an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, whose presidency she championed as a beacon of conservative values and economic opportunity for all Americans, particularly the Black community.

Owens' journey into the conservative movement began in earnest in 2017, when she experienced a shift in perspective that led her to become one of Trump's most vocal advocates. This shift was catalyzed by what she describes as a profound disillusionment with the Democratic Party, which she believes has systematically oppressed Black Americans through policies that perpetuate dependency and victimhood. Owens' political stance is characterized by her opposition to movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo, which she views as divisive and counterproductive to true social progress. She also emerged as a staunch critic of the COVID-19 lockdowns and vaccinations, reflecting her broader skepticism of government intervention.

Owens' rise to prominence was significantly boosted by a tweet from rapper Kanye West in 2018, in which he expressed admiration for her thinking. This endorsement propelled Owens into the spotlight, solidifying her position as a key figure in the far-right Republican movement. In 2020, she published Blackout, a book that encapsulates her political philosophy and her call for a mass exodus of Black Americans from the Democratic Party. The book became a New York Times bestseller and has sparked considerable debate, with supporters praising her insights and critics accusing her of using extreme examples to advance her agenda.

Main Idea

Blackout is a rallying cry for Black Americans to rethink their long-standing allegiance to the Democratic Party. Owens argues that the Democratic Party has exploited Black Americans for political gain, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, dependency, and victim mentality. Through a detailed examination of history, politics, and social dynamics, Owens presents her case that the Democratic Party has done more harm than good for the Black community, and that true empowerment lies in embracing conservative values and the Republican Party.

Owens traces the history of Black political alignment, beginning with the party’s deep roots in the Republican Party during the era of Abraham Lincoln, who championed the abolition of slavery. She then explores how the Democratic Party, through policies like the New Deal and the Civil Rights Movement, gradually won over Black voters, often using tactics that Owens argues were manipulative and harmful in the long term. Central to her thesis is the claim that the Democratic Party continues to undermine Black Americans by promoting policies that weaken the family unit, foster dependency on government assistance, and encourage a victimhood mentality rather than personal responsibility.

Table of Contents

• The History of Black Americans and the Democratic Party
• Manipulation of the Black Vote
• Systematic Destruction: How the Democratic Party is Destroying Black Life
• Conclusion: The Way Out

The History of Black Americans and the Democratic Party

Owens begins by delving into the historical relationship between Black Americans and the Democratic Party. She argues that the Democratic Party has a long history of oppressing Black Americans, starting with their role in defending slavery and implementing Jim Crow laws. According to Owens, it was Southern Democrats who owned slaves and who later formed the Ku Klux Klan to terrorize Black Republicans who sought to exercise their newfound rights after the Civil War.

The author then explores the myth that Republicans were the primary oppressors of Black Americans. She clarifies that it was, in fact, the Democrats who fought to maintain slavery and later instituted policies that disenfranchised Black voters. Owens contends that the Democrats’ grip on the Black community has only tightened over the years through policies that, while seemingly beneficial, have had long-term negative consequences.