The recent Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee decision by the Supreme Court is, to me, the sharpest nail yet in the coffin for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While the much-discussed Shelby v. Holder decision severely weakened the ability of the federal government to block restrictive voting measures before they are enacted, the most … Continue reading Will American Democracy Reach Retirement Age?
Voter suppression is back in the news thanks to recent attempts to apply restrictions on access to voting. In nearly every state, legislation has been proposed to alter existing voting regulations. After the 2020 election, many state-level legislators voiced concern over election “irregularities” although official reports definitively state that the 2020 election was the most … Continue reading Voter Suppression – The American Perennial
Last year I wrote about the role of politics in racial violence historically. In light of a violent insurrection at the nation’s capital, it is time to highlight (again) the role that race plays in the violence that the nation witnessed on January 6, 2021. The open display of Confederate flags and cries of “saving … Continue reading Race and American Insurrection
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on the Black community in the United States. As of now, 1 in 800 Black Americans has died of the virus, and it is the third leading cause of death for Black people. Black people have a COVID-19 death rate that is nearly three times the White … Continue reading Black Americans and the American Medical Establishment
Military service is an inherently patriotic activity. It is a signal of allegiance to the goals of the nation state in a fundamental way that extends to other aspects of national pride. Even in our contemporary discussions of patriotism and social activism, and effective strategy is to suggest that an act or belief violates our … Continue reading Black veterans and the Red Summer
In October of 2020, 12 white militia members were arrested for a plot to kidnap the Governor of Michigan. These white men were planning to ambush the duly-elected head of government for a US state since, in their opinion, she had violated their rights. The media spun with tales of how shocking this event was—that … Continue reading Racial-Political Violence in Historical Perspective