Introduction
The second half of the 20th century was a time of reformations and strong actions against oppressive systems. Martin Luther King’s death has become a basis for a new generation of political activists and historical figures of the African American community. Although Ronald Reagan’s presidency harmed African Americans’ lives and affirmative action programs faced backlash, people like Jesse Jackson and Shirley Chisholm were still able to positively affect the future of diverse politics.
Ronald Regan
Ronald Regan was a conservative politician who opposed securing women’s and minorities’ rights. His election had “a devastating impact on African Americans, particularly the poor” (Hine et al. 709). The war on drugs, which was supported by his program, targeted low-income neighborhoods and people of non-white ethnicities (Boghosian, 2).
The Republicans’ political power brought more attention to their ideas, which led to the appearance of several African American conservative leaders. This negatively affected the community’s goals and halted the society’s progress in terms of acceptance and racial justice. However, the fact of his presidency and his attempts to pass the laws that would endanger the communities that had little to no support consolidated the masses into a unified movement.
This was well illustrated by the African American activists who successfully fought against oppression. The struggle to defend the group’s rights resulted in the creation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is still celebrated today. Overall, Regan’s presidency led to slower progress in American society and a detrimental split in the African American community, which halted the programs that could be more beneficial to the minorities.
African American Presidential Candidates
The 1970s and 1980s were also marked by two prominent figures who contended for the role of the American president. The most notable leader was Jesse Jackson, whose history of activism was beneficial in the public eye. He had the skills to unify the oppressed groups as the Rainbow Coalition. This community included “unemployed, militant trade unionists, small farmers, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities,” racial minorities, and other oppressed parts of American society (Hine et al. 707). Though both of his attempts to become the president failed, his legacy as a political figure inspired others to fight for their rights through the administrative system.
Another figure, Shirley Chisholm, was unsuccessful due to the unspoken misogyny of the political world. Her budget was limited, and the community’s support was not enough to promote her as a serious candidate (Curwood, 205). However, both leaders were signs of change and excellent examples for the following decades in African American politics.
Affirmative Action
Affirmative action is a set of rules that promotes diversity in education or employment by preferencing people from oppressed backgrounds. Several groups criticized the implementation of this policy for different reasons. The backlash from white Americans included the sentiment that it was a destructive act and an example of reverse racism (Carter et al. 505). The African American community also argued that the practical use of this system was targeted toward white women instead of racial minorities, even though the latter were the most notable activists supporting this cause (Hine et al. 713). Even though affirmative action was seen as a healthy mechanism for redressing the effects of discrimination, public opinion on it remains divisive to this day.
Conclusion
American society still has a long way to go regarding acceptance and racial equality. The issues that were fought against in the 1970s and 1980s still remain relevant. However, the progress the country has shown in the last 50 years would not have been possible without the work of political and social activists who battled the oppressive state and promoted diversity in all spheres of life. Their impact is valuable and should not be forgotten during modern-day discussions.
Works Cited
Boghosian, Mileva. “The War on Drugs: Systemic Racism Perpetuated in the Name of Clean Streets.” The Sociological Imagination, vol. 6, no. 1, 2020.
Carter, J Scott, et al. “Veiled Threats: Color-Blind Frames and Group Threat in Affirmative Action Discourse.” Social Problems, vol. 66, no. 4, 2019, pp. 503–518.
Curwood, Anastasia. Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics. The University of North Carolina Press, 2023.
Hine, Darlene Clark, et al. The African American Odyssey: The Combined Volume. 7th ed., Pearson, 2017.