From the Reconstruction Era up until the Modern Conservative Movement there is a clear similarity of politically driven racism in an attempt to maintain power. Both time periods use race/racism as a means to realign voters and maintain control. In the 1800’s leaders in the South justified slavery and segregation as “state rights”. This statement was also used in the 1980’s by Reagan, however he did this without directly stating or imply what that meant. “He made a point of going to a town where there had been a trial back in 1964 of some sheriffs - who were also clansmen who had killed some civil rights workers - to basically say he was for states’ rights. He didn't explicitly say "I'm against civil rights, you couldn't do that anymore in 1980s America.” (Navigate) Another similarity was that in both cases racial politics caused a shift in southerners' political party alliance. In “The New Southern Strategy” John Powell describes continuing political racism in a modern environment. “The so-called ‘solid South’ did not become solidly Republican overnight. Republican strategies began to stoke racial resentment and antipathy to civil rights. For example, Nixon campaign advisor Kevin Phillips and RNC Chairman Lee Atwater admitted to appealing to white resentment to civil rights and even white racism. They did so not only by criticizing federal civil rights legislation and impugning federal desegregation orders, but by railing against busing, government dependency, and welfare, or by espousing such seemingly race-neutral ideas as “states rights” and “local control” as signals to preserve Jim Crow from federal intrusion. Even without making explicitly racist comments, the “dog whistle” was clearly heard by those who were its intended recipients.” (Powell) White resentment has been a political tactic from the 1800’s until now. Through these readings and videos I have a better understanding of how rampant racism still is and although in many ways things have changed from the past there are still throughlines between the two time periods. It is important to understand history to make changes for the better now, and not continually regress back into these harmful beliefs.
Navigate: “1980’s A New Era of Conservatism”
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2017/the-people-vs-america/1980s.html
Powell A. John “The New Southern Strategy” Other and Belonging Institute
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/new-southern-strategy
Navigate: “1980’s A New Era of Conservatism”
https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/2017/the-people-vs-america/1980s.html
Powell A. John “The New Southern Strategy” Other and Belonging Institute
https://belonging.berkeley.edu/new-southern-strategy