U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm of Brooklyn announces her entry for the Democratic nomination for the presidency at the Concord Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. | Source: Don Hogan Charles / Getty
In the seventh episode of The Black Ballot video series, NewsOne reflects on the U.S. political climate of the late 1970s.
Jimmy Carter won the presidential election in 1976, aiming to usher in a “New South,” support affirmative action, and champion environmental sustainability ahead of his time. Black voters supported this new presidential administration. However, that support would not last as inflation and unemployment soared, and political burnout spread across the nation. Voters were exhausted.
Like LBJ, Carter evolved his stance on the issues of civil rights. Affirmative action began to be challenged under Carter’s administration but overall he remains seen favorably by most African Americans. Similar to today, outside factors (then oil, now COVID-19 effects) raised inflation and became one of the reasons American voters were willing to consider new candidates for the 1980 election.
Ronald Reagan reentered the scene as a Hollywood actor running for president again after his 1976 loss. This time Reagan begged the question to voters, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?”
Carter would lose and Reagan would win on “Make America Great Again”.
Episode 7 of The Black Ballot explores:
- Black voters supporting the Carter Administration
- The Affirmative Action “quota” system
- How stagflation in the late 1970s mirrors the U.S. economy today and how it influences voters’ decisions.
- Reagan’s political views and his involvement in The Red Scare
Guest commentary in Episode 7 includes:
- Steven Lawson
- Dr. Cornell West
- Lenny McCallister
- Brittney Cunningham
- Kasim Reed
To view more episodes of The Black Balot, click here.
SEE ALSO:
