The only black Republican in the Virginia General Assembly, Del. Winsome E. Sears, R-Norfolk, resigned from the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus last week amid accusations of partisanship and divisiveness.
"The damage is done," Sears said, adding that her decision is final.
The 14 other caucus members, all Democrats, were unwilling to collaborate across party lines, Sears said.
"It's ironic that the black caucus, started by Republicans, now does not welcome black Republicans," she said, alleging that the caucus would give money to Democratic candidates but not to Republicans. "I think that we divide ourselves too much."
Caucus Chair Mary Christian, D-Hampton, rejected Sears' complaints.
"Nobody said 'if you disagree, you're out,'" Christian said. "We have not excluded her."
Caucus member Del. Kenneth Melvin, D-Portsmouth, also defended the group's conduct.
"I wouldn't say we're partisan," Melvin said. "We're political."
Alex Saint-James, chairman of the African-American Republican Leadership Council, said he has worked closely with Sears and helped with her campaign.
"They should call themselves the 'liberal black legislative caucus,'" Saint-James said. "They deceive voters."
Christian said the group's purpose supercedes party membership.
"We are not a Democratic caucus, we are a black legislative caucus," she said.
Sears, however, contends that race was too much of a factor in their decision-making.
"I think if it rained on their side, they would say it's because they're black," she said. "You can't live your life like that -- every bill cannot address your blackness."
Saint-James praised Sears' character, speculating that other caucus members must have instigated any disagreement.
"Winsome is very tolerant," he said. "She's easy to work with."
Melvin denied that Sears was treated unfairly.
"Members of the caucus would bend over backwards to make her feel welcome," he said.
As a black Republican, Sears breaks the mold, but said she thinks popular beliefs are misleading.
"Blacks are conservative voters, but they have been lead to believe if they vote anything other than Democratic, then they are a traitor to the black race," she said.
Saint-James agreed, comparing Sears to former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts, who recently ended his career as the nation's sole black Republican legislator.
"I like to remind folks that it was the Democratic Party that kept us in slavery," Saint-James said.
Sears said she thinks there is less of a need for the group now that blacks fill such top positions as Secretary of State.
"I'm questioning the relevancy of a black caucus, given the times we live in now," Sears said, adding that the group was founded during Reconstruction.
Melvin countered, however, maintaining that racial inequalities require special attention.
There is a need "as long as there are people who are not treated fairly because of the color of their skin," he said.
Sears criticized the expectations surrounding black political participation.
"In this country, a white man can be whatever he wants politically," Sears said. "Blacks have one choice: Democrats. Who made those rules?"
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