The Democrats are a political party in the United States that has long been associated with racism. While Democrats have tried to distance themselves from this negative association by pointing out their past, it is difficult to shake off the stigma of being racist when historical records show otherwise. Racism is not an easy topic to talk about, but if we can’t even discuss our history, then how will we ever learn? We must be willing to look at both sides of the story to understand what’s really going on here.
The Times commented on the issue of racism in relation to the Democrats and said, “Racist is the stereotypical accusation aimed at anyone who disagrees with Democrats. These radicals don’t care if such criticism is true. It’s all about stirring the racist pot for political purposes, prominence and profit.”
However, the Democrats seem to overlook their tainted history in which they exhibited racist tendencies. One of the visible racist moves by these politicians includes the formation of the Ku Klux Klan by Southern Democrats “who hated black”. This group is known throughout the globe for enacting severe ill-treatment on black people while propagating for the superiority of white people.
Also, the Southern Democrat-dominated state legislatures are linked to the Jim Crows laws implemented against the black people. Southern Democrats rejected the 13th Amendment enacted by Republicans after the Civil War, and they fought back with the Jim Crows laws. These laws enforced racial segregation in the Southern United States. “Jim crow laws were a collection of state and local statutes that legalized racial segregation. Named after a Black minstrel show character, the laws – which existed for about 100 years, from the post-Civil war era until 1968 – were meant to marginalize African Americans by denying them the right to vote, hold jobs, get an education or other opportunities”.
The governing authorities were entirely behind their laws, and it was noted that “Those who attempted to defy Jim Crows laws often faced arrest, fines, jail sentences, violence, and death”. Not only did the Democrats support the oppression of blacks, but they also rejected legislation aimed at elevating the status of black people. Historical evidence reveals that “When the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, a higher percentage of Republicans voted for third landmark bill than Democrats in both the U.S. House (80% vs 61%) and U.S. Senate (82% vs 69%. Plus, Southern Democrats led the 74-day filibuster that opposed this legislation.” This filibuster act was recorded as the longest one ever in U.S. history.
Other notable incidents where Democrats showed an adamant mindset towards racism include the Democrats’ rejection of Republican Rep. Thaddeus, who introduced legislation to give former slaves 40 acres and a mule. Seven Democrats Supreme Court justices noted that Dred Scott was no longer a citizen by property. In 1953, Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s plans “to use whatever authority [which] exists in the president’s office to end segregation” was blocked by Southern Democrat governors. Stephen Frank backed up a bill that would imprison tens of thousands of black men, and this discriminatory law was finally abolished after 15 years by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
In terms of their conduct in the 21st century, others argue that “poverty, crime, and apathy continue to plaque Black communities, especially in major U.S. cities led by Democrats mayors”.
Some analysts posited that “Democrats are desperate to pretend their party has progressed from their days of supporting slavery, pushing Jim Crow laws and supporting the KKK”, but if one drinks from a poisoned well, then the poison will spread all over one’s body and it will hard to get rid of it. This points to how Democrats are still flawed because of their past transgressions, which influenced their conduct.
“In short, liberal Democrats have done far more than Republicans to sabotage the progress of Black people over the past century-and-a-half. Not surprisingly, the biased, dishonest media has concealed the lies of liberal Democrats and fanned the flames of racism,” as noted by The Times.
