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Chapter 23

Chapter 23. Black Politics, White Backlash 1980-Present. Ronald Regan & The Conservative Reaction. Ronald Regan elected in 1980 marked the rise of the New Right Wing as the dominant force in politics.

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Chapter 23

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  1. Chapter 23 Black Politics, White Backlash 1980-Present

  2. Ronald Regan & The Conservative Reaction • Ronald Regan elected in 1980 marked the rise of the New Right Wing as the dominant force in politics. • This majority was made up of angry southerners who were unhappy with the Civil Rights Movement, and northerners who disagreed with affirmative action and other social programs that affected taxes. • The Regan and Bush administrations began to roll back all the social programs instituted following the New Deal.

  3. Dismantling the Great Society • Regan and Bush cut back federal aid programs to cities by 50% and eliminated programs designed to help poor urban families. • They also put people in Civil Rights (i.e. Equal Economic Opportunity Commission and U.S. Commission on Civil Rights) positions to hide their intent. • Clarence Thomas opposed Affirmative Action and reduced the EEOC staff, while Clarence Pendleton replaced CCR president and caused a rapid decline.

  4. Black Conservatives • Thomas and Pendleton were part of the black, middle class, conservatives that gained prominence during the Regan years. • Unlike Black Democratic leaders, these Conservatives did not have meaningful power and had to embrace their party’s values. • Bush’s nomination of Clarence Thomas was controversial, especially after Anita Hill’s charges that he sexually harassed her. • Thomas has remained an archconservative that votes against liberal or progressive causes such as affirmative action.

  5. Old v. New Civil Rights Laws New CR Law Fought against intentional discrimination Job, Education, and Voting discrimination. Discriminatory outcomes Measured by statistical disparity Percentages indicate Old CR Law

  6. Affirmative Action • One of the most controversial civil rights policies to date. • Many whites viewed this as reverse racism • Black supporters of this policy saw it as the remedy for centuries of discrimination. • Colleges and Universities became the battleground for affirmative action litigation. • Regents of the Uni. of Cal. vs. Bakke Court rules against • Grutter v. Bollinge (Uni. Michigan Law)  Court rules for • Gratz v. Bollinger  Court rules against

  7. A Case Study • “Enter the University of Michigan, the Washington-based Center for Individual Rights (CIR), and their "poster applicant" Jennifer Gratz. Gratz applied to the University of Michigan 2 years ago with an ACT score of 25 and a 3.76 high school GPA. She had been a student council leader, a math tutor, a cheerleader, homecoming queen and was a senior citizen volunteer in her working-class Detroit suburb. She was denied admission. CIR found Ms. Gratz, who is the named plaintiff, along with other white applicants, all of whom argued they would have been admitted had they been minorities.”

  8. Black Political Activism in the Age of Conservative Reaction. • African American’s displayed the extent they overcame political exclusion through the seats held: • 8,500 elected official in 1994 (103 in 1964) • 43 blacks in Congress in 2007 • 400 towns/cities had black mayors in the mid-90’s • Through the presidencies of Regan and Bush, the Democratic Party controlled at least one House of Congress. They worked to pass equal rights laws. • Voting Rights Act of 1982 • The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988- withheld funds from discriminatory institutions. • Fair Housing Act of 1988- fights for housing complaints.

  9. MLK Day and the Transafrica & Anti-Apartheid Movement • Jan. 20th, 1985 was the first time America celebrated MLK Jr. Day • Black activism reached an international level as well, with efforts to help Africa at the forefront. • Randall Robinson established the TransAfrica Organization to lobby for political prisoners, particularly Mendela. • The Anti-Apartheid Movement sought to end the segregation of South Africa through investments and corportate boycotts. Their efforts worked leading to Mendela’s freedom and the end of Apartheid in 1990.

  10. Jesse Jackson & The Rainbow Coalition • Jackson, a founder of People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), ran for the Democratic nomination in 1983 and 1987. • His goal was to appeal to a “rainbow coalition” of people– political marginalization and underrepresentation. • “Rebuilding America” through a national industrial policy– very progressive liberal reform. • His work to register Democratic voters had a lasting impact, especially in the dominated Senate of 1986. • George H.W. Bush won the election of 1988 due to his ad about a black convict. This led to the rise in black criminal perceptions during his presidency.

  11. Willie Horton Ad

  12. Policing the Black Community • The increase in perception of black males as criminals continued from the 1980’s through the 90’s. • Black males are 7 times more likely to be incarcerated then whites. • 2001- 10% of black men in their twenties were in prison. • 30% of black drop-outs spent time in jail/prison, many for drug related arrests. • The brutal police beating of Rodney King in March 1991 and the subsequent acquittal of the officers by a jury led to riots in L.A. • A series of police brutality cases were brought to national attention: • 1997- AbnerLouima beaten and sodomized while in Brooklyn station. • 1999- AmadouDiallo shot 41 times reaching for his wallet. • 1999- PatricDorismond killed by undercover officer for refusing to buy drugs. • 2006- Sean Bell  shot en route to be married, 50 bullets shot into his car during sting op gone wrong.

  13. Rodney King

  14. Human Rights in America • Amnesty International reported of the abuses by police in America. • Cited several infractions by local and state police, as well as the FBI, INS, and the penal system. • Found violations of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials and the UN Basic Principles of the Use of Force and Firearms. • Misuse of force during traffic stops, searches, and arrests. • Sexual and physical abuse of prisoners. • Noted that the abuse was focused on minorities and performed by white officers.

  15. Face Value??? Black Criminals? Job pressure Life is in danger Wide availability of guns = stress High rate of minority crime Crime level in black communities is high. 7x higher murder rate, with 49% national rate. 90% is black on black crime. Crime = Community de-value = more crime Racist Police?

  16. The Clinton Presidency • Clinton’s presidency nomination in 1992 was largely due to his garnering 78% of the black vote. He served two terms and was the 1st Democrat to do so since FDR. • His primary focus was on the economy and making opportunities available to black Americans. • Under Clinton, the economy boomed, we had the lowest poverty rate in 20yrs, and unemployment dropper by more than 2%. • Clinton dissappointed many African Americans with his signing of the Welfare Reform Act, which adjusted the terms of welfare, along with the crime bill and lack of health care reform. • Republicans began taking back the House and Senate in the late 90’s and this led to the fall of the progressivism seen in Clinton’s two terms.

  17. Conservative Critique

  18. Black Politics in the New Millennium • The election of 2000 divided the nation on several fault lines: gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. • The contested election ended with George W. Bush as president when the supreme court ruled in his favor for Florida’s electoral votes. • The U.S. Civil Rights Commission found that tens of thousands of African Americans were disenfranchised in Florida through the bogus voting.

  19. Republican Triumph • The Republicans held a majority in Congress, along with the presidency seat. • Bush, to placate black criticism, hired Gen. Colin Powell as Sec. of State, and Condoleezza Rice as national security advisor. • Bush’s policies on education, his decision to invade Iraq, and his lack of response when Katrina hit ultimately led to massive public disapproval.

  20. 2008 Election: Pres. Obama • Obama’s campaign efforts were behind a call for change and an inspiration of hope. • He harshly criticized the Bush administration for their lack of educational, economic, and social policies. • His opponent, McCain, lost public support when he helped pass legislation that bailed out Wall St. during the economic crisis.

  21. Conclusions • From the 1960’s to today, the political power of blacks in America expanded greatly. • The election of Barack Obama marked a significant change in the American destiny for blacks. • Yet reminders of the short coming are still displayed in events like Katrina, and the statistical evidence of black poverty, crime, and unemployment.

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