Behind Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling, a Clash Over the Reality of Racism
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- In 1965, Southern white politicians like Senator James Eastland and Governor George Wallace openly expressed racist views against Black people, opposing the Voting Rights Act.
- Today, overt racism among white Southern politicians is rare, replaced by more subtle or disguised forms of discrimination within partisan politics.
- The Supreme Court recently weakened the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination in legislative map drawing, making it harder to challenge racially biased maps.
- This decision marks a significant shift in how courts address claims of racial discrimination in voting, potentially impacting Black political participation in the South.
