Wow, it’s kind of wild to reflect on how far we’ve come this semester. From the reconstruction era all the way to the rise of the modern conservative movement. One big throughline I notice is how political power has shifted hands while still reinforcing many of the same systematic issues, especially when it comes to race and economic inequality. Like in the Netflix documentary Thirteenth, when the 13th Amendment technically ended slavery “except as punishment for a crime.” That became a loophole that allowed the criminal justice system to become a new form of racial control. Reading the New Right and the Southern Strategy, it’s clear how crime and fear were racialized to gain political power. Nixon’s and Reagan’s policies were a part of a calculated shift to bring white voters in the South away from the Democratic Party after civil rights wins in the 60’s.
John A. Powell’s “The New Southern Strategy” talks about this in a modern context. The strategy of using ‘coded’ language to talk about race without explicitly talking about race is everywhere. Today, in 2025, we’re still seeing attacks on critical race theory in schools, voter suppression laws popping up in different states, and even attempts to roll back reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ protections. Over the course I have realized that these movements do not just affect policies, they affect people, culture and education. The New Right was a reaction to the social changes of the 60’s and 70’s, civil rights, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. People received backlash for asking for equality, and now in 2025, we are dealing with that same backlash. There are debates around DEI programs, gutting of public programs, book bans, and policing of gender identities. I work in behavioral mental health and see how these policies impact people and children every day. Structural inequality doesn't just affect laws, it affects housing, schools, access to mental health support, health care etc. I absolutely see a connection between our past history and what is happening nowadays. It is disappointing and difficult to watch. Hopefully understanding these historical movements will help others think and act more critically when faced with similar issues presently.
John A. Powell’s “The New Southern Strategy” talks about this in a modern context. The strategy of using ‘coded’ language to talk about race without explicitly talking about race is everywhere. Today, in 2025, we’re still seeing attacks on critical race theory in schools, voter suppression laws popping up in different states, and even attempts to roll back reproductive rights and LGBTQ+ protections. Over the course I have realized that these movements do not just affect policies, they affect people, culture and education. The New Right was a reaction to the social changes of the 60’s and 70’s, civil rights, feminism and LGBTQ+ rights. People received backlash for asking for equality, and now in 2025, we are dealing with that same backlash. There are debates around DEI programs, gutting of public programs, book bans, and policing of gender identities. I work in behavioral mental health and see how these policies impact people and children every day. Structural inequality doesn't just affect laws, it affects housing, schools, access to mental health support, health care etc. I absolutely see a connection between our past history and what is happening nowadays. It is disappointing and difficult to watch. Hopefully understanding these historical movements will help others think and act more critically when faced with similar issues presently.