Dr. Anthony Fauci (R) lecturing to Pres. Ronald W. Reagan (L) and other members of the President’s Commission on AIDS. (Photo by Diana Walker/Getty Images)
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ewsOne is back with Episode 9 of The Black Ballot, an exclusive new multi-episodic docuseries exploring the history of African Americans voting.
Each episode takes a deep dive into American presidents’ decisions and policies and their collective impact on the short and long-term trajectories for the conditions of African Americans, especially as it pertains to voting.
Reagan’s Second Term and the Anti-Abortion Strategy
In this episode, titled “Reagan Repercussions,” the focus shifts to the 1980s, a pivotal decade where Ronald Reagan‘s administration drastically altered the political and social landscape for Black communities. Early in his second term, Reagan endorsed the anti-abortion film The Silent Scream. Brittany Packnett-Cunningham breaks down how abortion became a rallying point for the GOP’s Christian base, but notes how the issue was strategically used to push broader political agendas.
Reagan’s foreign policy also comes under scrutiny, particularly his administration’s decision to support South Africa’s apartheid regime. While publicly speaking on conservative values, Reagan simultaneously welcomed Black conservatives like Clarence Thomas into his administration, signaling a complicated relationship with Black America.
Neglect of AIDS and Its Impact on Black Americans
The most glaring failure of the Reagan era, as highlighted in the episode, was his administration’s neglect of the AIDS epidemic, which was disproportionately impacting African Americans. By the late 1980s, Jesse Jackson was the only presidential candidate addressing AIDS directly in his platform, while other candidates remained largely silent. Jackson’s candidacy in 1988 stood out in contrast to the widespread inaction on this issue. repercussions.
Racial Politics and the 1988 Election
The episode also explores the end of the 1988 election race, where Joe Biden dropped out, and George Bush successfully leveraged the infamous Willie Horton ad to appeal to conservative voters, using racial dog whistles to secure the presidency.
Featuring commentary from Dr. Ben Chavis, Tiffany Cross and Tamika Mallory, this episode of The Black Ballot examines the repercussions of Reagan’s policies and how they shaped Black political power in the 1980s. The conversation around race, politics, and power continues, offering viewers a crucial look into the struggles for representation and justice.
Stay tuned for future episodes of The Black Ballot coming soon.
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