African Americans and American Values: Does South Matter?

<jats:sec><jats:title>Objective</jats:title><jats:p>This article examines the effects of southern culture on the attitudes and political predisposition of southern African Americans.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method</jats:title><jats:p>Using unique survey data, with large oversamples of African Americans, this article explores whether southern blacks have a more positive opinion of the American system than African Americans who reside outside the south.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>We find a “southern effect” occurs among African Americans. Southern blacks express more support for traditionally defined American political and social values than nonsouthern blacks; however, this gap is less than a third the size of the regional gap among whites.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Together, these findings suggest a complex interplay of race and region on political values and raise profound normative concerns. A group that arguably stands at a greater disadvantage in the political system expresses higher levels of support for that system.</jats:p></jats:sec>