The Grift: The Downward Spiral of Black Republicans from the Party of Lincoln to the Cult of Trump

by Clay Cane

Part history and part cultural analysis, The Grift chronicles the nuanced history of Black Republicans. Clay Cane lays out how Black Republicanism has been mangled by opportunists who are apologists for racism. After the Civil War, the pillars of Black Republicanism were a balanced critique of both political parties, civil rights for all Americans, reinventing an economy based on exploitation, and, most importantly, building thriving Black communities. How did Black Republicanism devolve from revolutionaries like Frederick Douglass to the puppets in the Trump era? Whether it's radical conservatives like South Carolina Senator Tim Scott or Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, they are consistently viral news and continuously upholding egregious laws at the expense of their Black brethren. Black faces in high places providing cover for explicit bigotry is one of the greatest threats to the liberation of Black and brown people. By studying these figures and their tactics, Cane exposes the grift and lays out a plan to emancipate our future.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Audiobook, Race, Sociology, African American

432 pages, Paperback

Published September 3, 2024

Reviews

[Thomas]

I think this book does a great job of highlighting how just because you are Black, does not mean you support policies and/or actions that will support Black people (same goes for other marginalized groups). Clay Cane conducts a rigorous historical analysis of Black Republicans to support this thesis. It is interesting – and upsetting – to think about how folks like Clarence Thomas, Condoleezza Rice, Candance Owens, etc. are willing to sellout their own community to advance in white supremacy/capitalism/their own lives and such. I see this in the Asian American community too and it is big yikes. So I’m glad Cane sheds light on this issue.

That said, while the structure of this book is such that Cane focuses on the problematic nature of Black Republicans, I wonder if this structure limited the thoroughness of his analysis. More specifically you don’t have to be a Republican to be problematic/enact policies that endanger marginalized communities (e.g., how Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’s 2024 campaign actively silenced Palestinian and pro-Palestinian voices). Cane does acknowledge the imperfections of the Democratic Party though the conclusion still felt a bit narrow in its recommendations. Like he says that doing away with the two-party system is as unrealistic as dismantling capitalism, which, I get his point, though… idk, like he critiques Black Capitalism (which makes a lot of sense and I appreciated) but could have gone deeper imo about what the alternative path to liberation is. Still, an interesting book that addresses an important topic.

[Taneka]

This is another book that I will have to pick up in physical form. He named some materials that I want to go back and read so get a better understanding of the Fredrick Douglass Republicans and their history as well as some of the grifters that he named.

I guess when greed is at play, anyone can be a player in this game. The problem is there are innocent bystanders that are getting hurt.

[Hannah]

A very powerful book. Will need to read it multiple times to absorb it all.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer]

This is a great book that examines Black people in their history with the republican parties ending with black politicians and those who have absolutely drank the Kool-Aid that the Republicans are handing out. From Abraham Lincoln to the new deal with Roosevelt all the way to the clown Donald J Trump Mr. Cane doesn’t hold back when it comes to holding black politicians with their own self interest at the forefront and not the black community as a whole. He says these are people that would sell their own mama to get a head and he is probably right. I am not a Republican nor am I a black person but I think the only way we can cohesively make this a better place is to know where our friends are coming from whether we agree with them or not. I found this book interesting historically and factually it held my attention and it is a book I definitely recommend to anyone with an interest in politics and especially those segments we don’t get to know first hand in. What a great book this was way more interesting than I initially thought it would be and although I am a big fan of politics in the social workings of communities I do not belong to I wasn’t prepared for the honesty and great talent this book was written with I am not familiar with Clay Cane until I read this book and although I did not agree with him on everything I do have lots of respect for this politician and author. I want to think Sourca books nonfiction and Net Galley for my free Ark copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Sheldon]

This was an interesting read. Cane tells a very compelling story through a focus on popular black conservative figures and highlights the contradictions between individual's political leanings and their public actions. The tone of the book is critical, and a bit dismissive at points. He establishes that there is a valid conservative perspective held by some early African Americans, but seems to argue that any trace of that has been eroded by a combination either benign neglect or intentional malfeasance from the larger GOP. While I agree with the overall message of the book, I think the focus on individual "grifters" does not tell the full story of how conservative thought within the Black community has evolved. And while that might not be within the scope of this project, I felt like the focus on elite, popular Black conservatives overshadows a more interesting story about race, partisanship and American politics. Overall, if I could give an additional 1/2 star I would because it was an interesting read, but I think it could have done more to really flesh out the biographies of the people considered and painted a more nuanced picture of ideological diversity within black culture.

[Jen]

4.5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Mr. Mccane]

The Grift explores how the Republican Party has exploited the hunger for power, money, and fame among some Black individuals to advance racist and bigoted agendas. He doesn’t just talk about newer grifters such as Sen. Tim Scott and Herschel Walker; he goes all the way back to people like Isiah Montgomery and Booker T. Washington. I learned a few things about history along the way.

It was an interesting read that I devoured. I immersive read it with the hardcover edition and the audiobook.

This book does a wonderful job of explaining how self-interest shaped the trajectory of Black Republicans, from Frederick Douglass to Clarence Thomas. 

[Ben Pearman]

More “activist” than “academic” than what I would have liked. Despite the overload of buzzy adjectives used, Cane presents an excellent historical account of Black Republicanism. From Frederick Douglass’s skeptical support of the Lincoln administration to the bona fide Black grifters of today’s party of Trump (although all Trump sycophants, regardless of race, are grifters), Cane profiles and opines on the most influential and powerful Black Republicans in US history.

[Caroline]

-1 major star for ending the book with multiple recommendations for how to get us out of this clusterfuck, the majority of which were good, with the exception of stating that “people just have to get engaged and vote!!” and that reaching for more than a 2-party system is a waste of time for the US.

Cane says he understands the non-voter but it could not be more obvious that he only understands those who think their singular vote doesn’t count. There are many who choose not to vote for policy reasons, which would become a huge talking point in the last election cycle. He states voting is a long-game and this should be a reason why people should vote for the lesser of two evils. This could not be a worse take after the results of the last election.

[Timothy McKenzie]

Clarence Thomas is such a twat.

[Beverley]

This book is so enlightening. I will read again, as I did not absorb ALL the information in this one read. This is the type of book where you need to take notes and/or highlight for further research. Clay Cane did a phenomenal job on this informative history and civics lesson.

[LaShanda]

Clay Cane's "The Grift" offers a new perspective on America's politics and the history of Black Americans in the Republican Party. This book explores the history of Black individuals and their connection to the Republican Party, discussing politicians and dedicated supporters from Abraham Lincoln to Donald J. Trump. Cane boldly criticizes black politicians who prioritize personal interests over the well-being of the Black community, and I found his perspectives on Clarence Thomas, Herman Cain, and Ben Carson particularly interesting.

Cane deserves praise for his extensive research on this topic. Not only did he provide the facts, but he also brought the receipts!!! Cane has created an educational and empowering journey for readers, unlike any historical context found in many history books.

For Black History Month 2024, this book is the perfect kickoff! I wholeheartedly recommend it.

[Don Schmidt]

Clay Cane takes the reader through a historic journey that lands them to the middle of the American Civil War and the dynamics that led Lincoln to what would become the Emancipation Proclamation. The key figure in the early pages is not Lincoln, but Frederick Douglass and his effect on the new Republican Party.

Cane highlights key figures that led to the 14th and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and how and why Reconstruction started to fall apart in the 1870's. From there, Mr. Cane takes through American history to present day (2024). What he gives us is a focused, unfiltered history lesson on African-Americans who tried to make a difference for all, but were many times railroaded by climbers from their own community who were only in it for themselves.

Clay Cane does not hold back. He calls it like he sees it, with some anger but also with a lot of passion and honesty. I found that refreshing. Some people might find it hard to have accurate history put right in their face, but if the reader sticks with it, Mr. Cane provides a lot of hope and optimism at the end.

This is a well written book, in a style that is easy to read. As painful as some of the history is, you want to keep turning the page to find out what happens next. To the non-African-American, this is a good history lesson that needs to be taught to all of us. It's a history that all Americans should know.

[Colin Scanlon]

A really well detailed history of black Republicans in America. I’ve had this on my list for quite a while so I was glad I finally made some time for it (shout out Jackson Public Libraries). Having not taken APUSH because my mom thought I wasn’t smart enough for it, I never had a great background in early American politics. This was a really fun way to learn one piece of that history. Additionally, I appreciate the author addressing the revisionist way early black leaders are often portrayed. It’s refreshing to read a book that challenges the propaganda often taught in us history classes. Having first hand experience with colleagues “coming out as conservatives” gives the author a lot of credibility and a unique perspective. I would love to read an additional chapter covering the last 4 years, especially the alienation of black voters in the 2024 election. Parts of the book were frustrating knowing liberals keep repeating the same mistakes that enable black republicans to make waves on Fox News. My only real critique of the book is how the author inserts his own opinions into parts of the book without clearer delineation between fact and opinion. Not a huge problem as they’re easy enough to parse, but I definitely had to reread some sections to better understand what was being presented.

[Caleb Lagerwey]

While fairly polemical and partisan, Cane kept his book well-sourced and nuanced: Cane makes explicit the diference between Black people who are honestly committed to conservative values for legitimate reasons (e.g., Colin Powell) and the eponymous grifters who adopt the stances of White folks in order to personally profit, often at the expense of their fellow African Americans. I especially appreciated a lot of the earlier, pre-1990 history that mentions the sell-outs of the Jim Crow or Civil Rights Eras. Many know about liberal complaints about Clarence Thomas or Candance Ownes, for example, but I appreciated Cane's elevation of lesser-know, positive quotes from Jackie Robinson as he was a postive roll models amidst the political shifting of the 1964 election. I also appreciated his section on Isaiah Montgomery, a Black politician in the 1890s who voted FOR the infamous 1890 Mississippi Plan to disenfrancise African American voters--possibly in order to gain protection for Mound Bayou, Montgomery's Black town.

[Ander]

I was craving some nonfiction and this was the perfect answer. I got a great history lesson that spread through time into the modern day. The context of the events that we are witnessing unfold today being told through this lens is a perspective that I feel is important and one you can't get it very many other places. I love that about books, especially nonfiction ones, you aren't going to get this synthesis of knowledge almost anywhere else. There was also a wonderful call to action at the end which is not only imperative for making change but providing hope. I think this is a great book in general and even more so if you're looking for something to broaden your world view with a little American history thrown in there.

[Paige McLoughlin]

Black Republicans started off with people like Frederick Douglas and wound up with the likes of Ben Carson and Candace Owens. Quite the devolution; as the party devolved so did one of its early constituents. Spends most of its focus on
Reagan and after, but really the downfall started in the Civil Rights era, with the Dems becoming the champions of African Americans and the southern strategy of Goldwater and Nixon. Blacks who clung to the Republican Party increasingly took the route of grifting to power.

[Sarah]

Fascinating. This audiobook feels like a long form podcast, and I appreciate that the author read his own book. Cane does an admirable job of breaking down decades of history and weaving politician decision-making into a compelling narrative around the intellectual disconnect that I cannot help encountering when trying to understand the evolution of some parts of our political party system. Its particularly impactful to read this as a Georgia resident, where so many elements of the race/policy dichotomy feel ever present. shout out to a rutgers alum!

[JazzReads]

This book was very educational and provides a great timeline for the type of relationship Black Republications have with the Republican Party. I was very curious before reading this book about the grift going on with Black people in that party. This book gave additional information on how Black republications shift to what we see today in this administration.

[AliLikesToTalk]

4.75
There are a few stylistic choices that I personally didn’t love but I’m not going to go into it because I believe his message of focusing the vote and getting out and voting is too important to take attention away from.

[Harmonie Thomas]

This book is a scathing commentary on the Republican Party and Cane shares his opinion of contemporary black Republicans and the Republican Party from Bush-43 and Trump's first term. However, the text reads like a personal diary or blog . I prefer non-fiction that presents facts and details of the subject in a way that promotes curiosity and analysis, where I finish with insight into the subject and can craft my own opinion on what I've learned.

[Lesley]

Clay Cane doesn't hold back in this expose of black grifters through American history. Truly interesting and these modern grifters are especially gross.

[Nicole]

Add it to your TBR.. tons of great information

[Drea Somers]

I appreciate the deep dive into people's prospectives and the confronting historical narratives versus historical lies. There was a missing component that party lines are not the only means of social control. If a progressive gets in office, there's way too many ways for them to be stopped. I wish his recommendations at the end took into consideration how resistant to change the political system is.

[Jannice Newson]

I did not realize 1-how many of these people there were and 2-the extent that they unravel the policies that placed them there in the first place. Fantastic book.

[April]

4.5

[Tino]

Pretty okay but a lot of opinions stated as facts. Especially Cane’s views on Lincoln that most modern scholars don’t agree with. Still a decent read. 3 stars.

[Eliza]

“Finally, to Black Republicans who are willing Judases, may history be ruthless to the legacy of betrayal you left behind.”

A powerful ending to an extremely informative book. Required reading for this election season and every election season beyond. Please vote wisely - not for yourself, but for your legacy. Cannot wait to read more Clay Cane!

[Alex Edwards]

This feels topical.

[Audrey]

the content was really interesting and I learned a lot, but the lack of organization was off putting and i expected it to be more matter-of-fact, like a longform article instead of an opinion piece. maybe that's just my gripe with the author's personal writing voice?? this also could be because i was listening to the audiobook (the ebook wasn't available on libby), but it was getting really convoluted and almost... like rambly? at times
also the random pauses and mispronunciations of words in the audiobook recording (the author himself narrates it) confused me a lot. seems like the audiobook wasn't well produced or something??? i wish it would've been better polished because it was really distracting me from the content at times (but also i have awful auditory processing thanks to my adhd so maybe that's on me)