Campaign '68 The politics of race
Oct 9, 2018
In this insightful discussion, Peniel Joseph, a historian and professor at the University of Texas, unpacks how racial anxiety influenced the 1968 election and continues to shape politics today. He delves into Nixon's strategic use of coded language to appeal to white voters, the role of grassroots movements against integration, and the lasting impact of slogans like 'Make America Great Again'. Joseph connects historical civil rights struggles with modern movements such as Black Lives Matter, highlighting the ongoing need for a diverse coalition to address systemic racism.
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Racial Resentment Drove 1968 Support
- White racial resentment, not just economic anxiety, drove much of Nixon and Wallace support in 1968.
- Peniel Joseph shows this sentiment was national, not confined to rural or Southern areas.
1968 As A Long-Term Power Struggle
- The 1968 backlash wasn't a temporary reaction but an amplification of white supremacy defending privilege.
- Joseph frames the ensuing decades as a sustained political battle over democracy, resources, and race.
Nixon's Coded Language Made Racism Mainstream
- Nixon repackaged anti-integration sentiment into coded, mainstream language like 'neighborhood rights' and 'silent majority.'
- He became a vessel for grassroots and elite resistance to desegregation rather than its original author.
