1. The Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order” to balance between the anti-integration white voters and the northern liberals to win the presidential election. They support equality for all American under this term while there were some coded racism terms in the strategy. The campaign under law and order prioritizes peace and freedom to prevail in America and the world while masking that the whole problem is really the blacks. The advantages this choice of words give them that they won the election in 1968 subjects on racial issues are more important now to voters than socioeconomic.

2- In my point of view, the Southern strategy is still influencing American politics. Examples are the Democrat party won the last election by emphasizing mostly on racial inequity and coronavirus. These two main subjects were the most challenges that were facing the country at that time.

1. Southern racists governors tried to hide their racism and their obvious feeling of superiority to people of color by using the language ” law and order “, which in their defense they used that ” arguing that Martin Luther King Jr.’s philosophy of civil disobedience was a leading cause of crime. Civil rights protests were frequently depicted as criminal rather than political in nature.” They used this idea to be able to convince people that in fact they were not racist and that segregation was the best option, but this was just a cover up to their racist behavior and ideas. Segregation was just a way for the Southern governors to feel in power and superior to others.
2. Southerns strategies definitely still influence America politics now a days because there is a lot of people in the government that are strong believers of the Jim Crow, and have adopted these ideas as the correct way and norms. Some show their racist feelings and thoughts and are very open, but there are others that are hiding their belief due to hoe advanced the world now is, and how strong and independent African Americans now are and the power they withheld within the country if everyone comes together. Race had become, yet again, a powerful wedge, breaking up what had been a solid liberal coalition based on economic interests of the poor and the working and lower-middle classes. In the 1968 election, race eclipsed class as the organizing principle of American politics, and by 1972, attitudes on racial issues rather than socioeconomic status were the primary determinant of voters’ political self-identification.” The same ideas were once again brought up again and tried to be the main influence on voters once again.

1. I believe white supremacy was superior in the south, because of this African Americans did not have much privilege. Law and order in the South did not benefit African Americans because they had less power, because of this their punishment for committing a crime was more cruel.   
2. Yes, I believe it still influences politics. When we vote they are divided political parties. As we look in our statistics today we can see both black and white people vote but the majority of the people that vote is white. In the result of this it causes friction between both parties not coming to a common ground.

1. Southern racist politicians choose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “Law and Order” because they knew they would get away with it. The country at the time had a up rising of crime. The southern racist politicians new if they sold the idea of fighting crime and protecting the people they would be able to get away with almost anything with the support of the people. The advantage this gave them was the ability to push their agendas while being incognito.
2. I do believe the Southern strategy is still influencing American politics. There are many education systems in the south that teach slavery very different from how it is taught in the north. In the south they are filled with propaganda at a young age that tells whites they should believe in the confederate ways because there great granddaddy’s did. Lastly, in the south the disproportionate of wealth between people of color and whites is the highest. The median white household had a income of $188,200 compared to $24,100 for blacks.

1. Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?

Due to the changes brought on by the Civil Rights movement, the dismantling of Kim Crow, BLack Codes, and segregation laws there needed to be another method where racism could still exist whilst being discreet. Southern politicians created “Law and Order” so they can keep their racist agenda socially acceptable. “Proponents of racial hierarchy found they could install a new racial caste system without violating the law or the new limits of acceptable political discourse, by demanding “law and order” rather than “segregation forever”. One interesting advantage I noted was that President Nixon took advantage of this new coined term to the point where he had made “seventeen speeches solely to the topic of law and order”. Though one of his speeches don’t include racist remarks. “it is time for an honest look at the problem of order in the United States. Let us recognize that the first right of every AMerican is to be free from domestic violence”. Labelling those who are at “fault” for the violence terrorist. Nixon himself admits that in that speech it “hit rights on the nose. It’s all about those damn Negro-Puerto Rican groups out there”.

1. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

The Southern Strategy is still very much utilized in today’s politics. The most recent form of it that I can think of was during the Donald Trump Presidency. President Trump never addressed the major issue surrounding the increase of police brutality felt by the Black community. Instead he would say things such as “more white people” are killed by police than Black people.” When asked about the how people still want to wave the confederate flag though it is deemed racist he responded ” “Well, people love it, and I know people that like the Confederate flag, and they’re not thinking about slavery,” Trump said when asked whether he understood the pain it caused people because of its association with slavery.”

Site used https://www.npr.org/sections/live-updates-protests-for-racial-justice/2020/07/14/891144579/trump-says-more-white-people-killed-by-police-violence-than-blacks

Here’s part 2 of our discussion of Michelle Alexander:

1. Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?
2. Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.

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