VOTER POWER
Race
Myth: Since Ronald Reagan popularized the expression in 1976, the “welfare queen” has remained one of our most durable racist myths.
Fact: Most welfare recipients are white, and poor African-Americans are no more likely to draw welfare benefits than poor whites.
Many Americans would like to think that the Civil War and the Civil Rights Act effectively ended racism. They would also like to think that minority populations consume the great bulk of welfare, destroying their work ethic and creating a culture of dependency and violence. Government intervention only makes things worse with what some call “reverse” discrimination.
Despite great progress, racism remains a real problem in our country and a dispiriting force against the equality of opportunity we cherish. While we may have made some great strides, there’s still work to be done, especially in the criminal justice system.
How Peanuts’ Franklin Was Born—and Why
The next time you wonder what just one person can do to change the world, remember the lesson of one Los Angeles schoolteacher whose letters to “Peanuts” artist Charles M. Schulz resulted in the introduction of the first black character in an American comic.
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Inside Breitbart’s Effort to Manipulate Black Voters
Earlier this month, a key witness in the Cambridge Analytica scandal told Congress that former Breitbart CEO Steve Bannon tried to “discourage or demobilize certain types of people from voting” in the 2016 election. Now, new evidence has surfaced that another Breitbart employee engaged in similar efforts.
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A Brief History of African-Americans In the Military
African Americans have a long and noble history of military service, despite the fact that the armed forces were not necessarily a friendly place for black Americans to be. Black soldiers fought for our country as far back as the Revolutionary War. However, state militias began excluding African Americans in 1792.
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Welfare Reform Requirements Favor Rural Whites
While many on both sides of the aisle agree that our nation’s welfare programs need to be reformed, a new work requirement for Medicaid has sent states scrambling to request waivers. The trouble is, the proposed waivers tend to favor rural, white residents.
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How Race Shaped America’s Suburbs
Ever notice that many of America’s suburbs are predominantly white? There’s a reason for that. It began in the 1930s with home loan programs that separated “good” neighborhoods from “bad” through a practice called redlining, which made it nearly impossible for minorities to get home loans.
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The President’s Tweets Undermine DOJ’s Case Against ‘Caravan’ Refugees
President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ attempt to make an example out of 11 migrant refugees backfires as the president’s own tweets are pulled in as evidence of a potential violation of the Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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Black Lives Matter Media Coverage Shows Racial Bias
Depending on who you talk to, the Black Lives Matter movement is either an extension of the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s or a bunch of “wild animals” and “thugs” intent on destroying things. The difference? It seems to depend largely on the media outlet covering the protests.
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Is Race-Based Voter Suppression Really a Problem?
If you followed the stories about the Alabama senatorial election, in which Democrat Doug Jones barely squeaked out a win against opponent Roy Moore, you’ve probably read a lot about voter suppression tactics being used to discourage black voters from getting to the...
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Racism? What Racism?
Myth: Since Ronald Reagan popularized the expression in 1976, the “welfare queen” has remained one of our most durable racist myths. Fact: Most welfare recipients are white, and poor African-Americans are no more likely to draw welfare benefits than poor whites....
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