Southern Strategy Essay Research Paper The causes

Southern Strategy Essay, Research Paper

The causes and consequences of the "Southern Strategy" as it relates

to African-Americans and the American political system. Richard Nixon’s

"Southern Strategy" (or as the Nixon administration would call it

"positive polarization") of the 1960s was a political platform that

provided the final push in transforming the "the party of Lincoln"

into the political party greatly favored by the great grandsons of the old

Confederacy. This strategy was aimed at getting support from the traditionally

Democratic South by promising not to promote sweeping social or economic changes

in race relations. Nixon argued that he supported equality however, he was

against "big government". Meaning, he was not in favor of enforcing

the civil rights or integration laws. He was against forced busing and

affirmative action. Once Nixon was elected he eliminated the timeline

requirements for compliance with affirmative action and integration laws using

this strategy. Nixon assigned the task of promoting "positive

polarization" to his vice president Spiro Agnew. This promotion caused

great tension against blacks amongst whites (Spiro would send representatives

into white communities disguised as minority advocates to inform them of

government programs created to help minorities at the tax payer’s expense).

Nixon also promoted black capitalism in an effort to separate middle class

blacks from poor blacks. Nixon’s strategy fueled on racial jealousies was

successful. It helped the GOP win five of the past eight presidential elections.

It re-established the two-party system, which was once predominantly, the

Democratic South. In 1994 it helped the GOP end the 40-year democratic rule in

congress. Why the significance of the new Black Conservatism within the context

of the "Southern Strategy" combined with American politics becoming

more conservative in the post 1960s era. The growth in ethnic minorities in this

country threatens the very existence of the Republican Party, and the presence

of Black Conservatism is vital to its survival. The shadow of the "Southern

Strategy" and radical right association of David Duke, and Pat Buchanan has

most definitely reprieved the faces of most non-whites to the GOP. The

Republican Party got a glimpse of the political future last fall when a larger

than expected number of minority voter turnout helped the Democratic Party gain

five congressional seats, and unseated two Republican governors in the deep

south. Which brings us to why Black Conservatism is becoming more conservative

in the post 1960s era. There is not anything new about the political philosophy

of Black Conservatives. They merely repeat long-standing white conservative and

neoconservative arguments. However, what is new in Black conservatives’ analyses

is that it is Black people developing an implicitly racist rationale for placing

limits on social policies. The rational goes as follows: ? Although lingering

racism still exists, thanks to the victories of the civil rights struggles,

racial discrimination is no longer a critical obstacle to Black progress. We can

speak of a racist American past, but not of a racist contemporary America. ?

African American demands for equal opportunity made during the civil rights era

now go too far in demanding equal outcomes. A non-discriminatory America does

not ensure equal outcomes. Capitalism maximizes skill and talent and any

differences among ethnic groups, or between genders, is a function of each

group’s particular strengths and weaknesses. ? Today’s problems of race

relations and Black poverty cannot be remedied by government policy alone. The

roots of today’s problems are located first and foremost within African

Americans: in our inability to successfully compete in a free market system, in

the poor values and irresponsible and offensive behavior of poor Blacks, in our

psychological hang-ups about group identity and past victimization, and/or in

our failure to take full advantage of existing opportunities. In this light, not

only are government social welfare and legal remedies, such as affirmative

action programs, unnecessary, they are detrimental to the development of Black

people. Social welfare programs destroy Black families, foster debilitating

dependency, and reward irresponsible behavior. ? Affirmative action programs

lower Black self-esteem since whites will always diminish Black accomplishment

as reflecting only affirmative action imperatives and Black beneficiaries of

affirmative action programs can never be fully confident that their success

stems from their talent. These programs are also detrimental to Blacks because

of the white (male) resentment they engender. Affirmative action has, in any

case, only benefited more advantaged Black

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