The Democrats and race

One of the most challenging aspects of the US Politics course is the changing nature of support for the Democrats. The journey from the Civil War through to the New Deal coalition, the solid south, and the civil rights backlash is a twisting and confusing journey for many students, but well worth the effort. I have come across an excellent article in The Times which will help texture and variety to delivery of this part of the course.

Here are a couple of nuggets on the old Democrats:

‘If you want to understand what is happening in this presidential election, start here: Governor Ross Barnett, who believed that God made men black to punish them and who came to court to shake the hand of the man who, in 1963, murdered the civil rights hero Medgar Evers - Democrat. Governor George Wallace, who stood in the schoolhouse door to prevent black students from entering a “whites only” college - Democrat. Senator James Eastland, who dismissed the murder of civil rights workers in Mississippi as a publicity stunt by African-Americans and who personally blocked more than 100 civil rights measures in the Senate - Democrat.’

Read the rest here