Although I have been a so-called ‘black’ American and a social conservative all my life – and found the two aspects of my identity to be remarkably congruent – I am always surprised when confronted with some of the vitriol that I and my fellow black conservatives face when addressing the black community. I have often wondered why it is ok for other groups to maintain a diversity of political viewpoints – whether they are Asians, Latinos, or Jewish Americans – but black Americans seem to believe that anyone who does not vote the party line is a traitor to his or her race.