The 13 Most Influential Black Conservatives in America

Condi, Colin, “the Herminator" aren't the only conservatives of color

Thanks to a number of winning debate performances the “Herminator” (aka Herman Cain) has recently become of the most popular Republicans in America and most popular black Republicans in recent memory. But the blow back he faced from some conservatives for criticizing Gov. Rick Perry for N-word-gate is a stark reminder that being black and Republican isn’t exactly easy. Below a look at others, who like Cain, have decided that conservative causes are worth the fight politically, and in some cases, personally.

Herman Cain – Presidential Candidate

Cain’s surprising surge during the 2012 GOP primary has made a once unthinkable possibility plausible: we could see a presidential election with the first match-up between two black nominees from the two major parties. Regardless of what happens in 2012, Cain has already served as president once before. The multimillionaire was President and Chairman of Godfather’s Pizza before beginning his career in media and politics.

Sheryl Underwood – Comedian

Recognized for her ability to make audiences laugh during her standup appearances and while providing commentary on programs like “The Tom Joyner Morning Show” and “The Talk” (which she recently joined as a guest host), Underwood is also a former member of the U.S. armed forces and a proud Republican.

Justice Clarence Thomas – Supreme Court Justice

Though he has spent much of his life in the public eye being at times shunned and at others ignored altogether by the black community, Thomas’s controversial persona doesn’t change one key fact. As the only African-American member of the highest court in the land, he is one of the most powerful black men in the country, second only to President Obama. He was appointed to fill the seat left vacant by Civil Rights icon, (and the court’s first black justice) Thurgood Marshall by the first President Bush, after serving the Reagan administration as Chairperson of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Amy Holmes – Political Commentator

Though best known for her appearances as part of CNN’s political contributor team during the 2008 election, Holmes has been the most visible conservative pundit of color for more than a decade, appearing on the networks MSNBC, FOX and BET throughout her career before recently landing at Glenn Beck’s online network, GBTV. The Princeton grad is not your typical conservative, however, on certain issues. A self-described independent conservative, she defines herself as pro-choice.

Ken Blackwell – Conservative activist and former politician

The former Mayor of Cincinnati and Secretary of State for Ohio, Blackwell is currently Vice Chairman of the Republican National Committee’s Platform Committee and a senior fellow for family empowerment at the conservative powerhouse Family Research Council.

Jennifer Carroll – Lieutenant Governor of Florida

In 2011 after years of serving in the state’s House of Representatives, Carroll became Florida’s first black and first female Lieutenant Governor. Widely considered a rising star of the GOP, she is not the only celebrity in her family. Her son Nolan plays for the Miami Dolphins.