1) Southern racist politicians utilized “law and order” rhetoric to cloak racial segregation as a necessary safeguard against perceived threats to societal stability. By invoking this language, they could legitimize discriminatory policies while tapping into white voters’ fears and prejudices, bolstering their political support base.

2) Yes, the Southern Strategy persists in American politics. Voter suppression laws and mass incarceration disproportionately target minority communities, mirroring historical strategies aimed at maintaining white supremacy. These policies uphold systemic inequalities, reinforcing the racial hierarchy reminiscent of the era of segregation and discrimination.