A brief thesis on reasons for the “white pride” and “christian nationalism” movements in our country. Why historically under-educated, poor white southerners are so rabidly vocal in their fear of change, fear of non-whites, fear of non-Christians; so certain in their own superiority.
The republican and democratic parties as we know them now have nearly completely switched stances on social justice and reform policies. A republican Lindsay Graham in the late 1800s (just post Civil War) and early to mid 1900s would have been unheard of. His current “brand” would represent a “southern democrat” of that earlier period; backed by the “aristocrats” of the fallen south.
Darwin’s works of 1859 and 1871 were soon taken completely out of context at the expense of poor white southerners (but not the former plantation owners). Class dynamics said “pure blood, not a mongrel nation”. Evolution and de-evolution of homo sapiens in just a few generations — ignoring early scientific knowledge that evolution takes millions of years. Eugenics as a solution to the “bad blood” of the poor southern “white trash” was attempted in the US, before Adolph Hitler came to power in Europe; forced sterilization, selective breeding, and more were partially implemented in the early decades of the 20th century. This ridiculosity continued well into, and even beyond, the 1920s. Carrie Buck was white, poor, and “feeble-minded”, so was institutionalized and under the “care” of the State. Buck v Bell was a Virginia case that went to the Supreme Court to determine the constitutionality of the state sanctioned sterilization of Carrie Buck. In 1927, the highest court in the land said yes, the State can force sterilization of its citizens, without the patient’s knowledge or consent. That court decision has never been overturned or rescinded. Virginia only recently began paying retribution to some surviving victims. Other states used this court decision into the 1980s against other minority group members (including the original, native Americans).
Above is a long (1.5hrs) but eye-opening view of how we ended up with the simmering White Rage discussed in the next video, below.
And what becomes of those under-educated, under-represented, poor white people? They eventually recover from hookworm infections; eventually become somewhat more educated within a couple generations, and develop a growing resentment of their place in society. They look around for a scapegoat. They see immigrants (Chinese, Italians, Irish, others). They see the freed men (black people). They feel threatened in their perceived superiority. The KKK, the CCC, and worse. Class warfare has continued but now is more related to religion, or ethnicity, or some other artificial designation of “us” vs “them”. Listen and consider Professor Carol Anderson’s Emory lecture. This is how we get vocal Christian Nationalism as “policy”, and DJ Trump as president.
“If you can’t understand how Trump came to power, then you haven’t been listening to your black friends.” Alix Jules, 2016 Seth Andrews interview
We get hysteria as to brown and black people; crime is rampant, our borders are at risk, we are under attack, illegal immigrants are skewing our elections… none of this is true. We are being manipulated by those in power wanting to stay in power. Yes, blatant racism still occurs, almost daily. This from November 4, 2019 just outside Chicago, Illinois, and this from San Diego on November 5, 2019. Other links in that piece on prior similar incidents. This political opinion piece positing that evangelicals are still in the frightened, vengeance seeking mode against the more informed, forward thinking among us. Trump plays right into their hands.
“When you have been in a position of privilege, equality feels like oppression.” (I do not know who originally said this, but I completely agree with it.) We are meant to be one nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. That doesn’t mean we must always agree with each other. It does mean that we are not meant to be ruled by tyranny and fear, superstition and ignorance.
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