Busting the "blacks are just as racist as whites" myth: Alabama Amendment 2 (John Kerry, Al Gore)
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It has been said that white people are unfairly targeted as the primary inciters of racism in this country. That is arguably true, but the results of Alabama's 2000 Interracial marriage amendment suggest otherwise. The amendment proposed an outright abolition of Alabama's interracial marriage ban in the state's 1901 constitution. To their credit, the people of Alabama passed the amendment, but only by a final tally of 60% to 40%. Over 40% of Alabamans voted essentially to ban interracial marriage.
Here is a map of county results. Those on green voted for the amendment while those in red voted against.
What's interesting is that the counties with the strongest support for the amendment are the heavily African American counties in southern Alabama, or the black belt. Greene County, Alabama voted for Amendment 2 with 80% of the vote. It's also 80% African American. The county that rejected it by the greatest margin was Lamar County, 65% voted against. This county is 87% white.
For some reference, here is a map of the black population by county. If you look at Alabama, you see there is a very strong correlation between black percentage and the vote for the amendment.
So why were black voters generally much more in favor of the amendment than white voters? In this election, one race was clearly more eager to promote integration than another. The thing is, this amendment wasn't a "one side gains while the other loses" deal. An interracial marriage ban would have affected both blacks and whites equally. Both races would have dealt with the same racial restrictions against who they can marry. So if both whites and blacks were fine with maintaining the racial status quo of separation, then why were black people more eager to clear this hurdle?
It just floors me that only 12 years ago, 40% of Alabamians voted against legalizing interracial marriage. And it's obvious most of them were white.
It has been said that white people are unfairly targeted as the primary inciters of racism in this country. That is arguably true, but the results of Alabama's 2000 Interracial marriage amendment suggest otherwise. The amendment proposed an outright abolition of Alabama's interracial marriage ban in the state's 1901 constitution. To their credit, the people of Alabama passed the amendment, but only by a final tally of 60% to 40%. Over 40% of Alabamans voted essentially to ban interracial marriage.
Here is a map of county results. Those on green voted for the amendment while those in red voted against.
What's interesting is that the counties with the strongest support for the amendment are the heavily African American counties in southern Alabama, or the black belt. Greene County, Alabama voted for Amendment 2 with 80% of the vote. It's also 80% African American. The county that rejected it by the greatest margin was Lamar County, 65% voted against. This county is 87% white.
For some reference, here is a map of the black population by county. If you look at Alabama, you see there is a very strong correlation between black percentage and the vote for the amendment.
So why were black voters generally much more in favor of the amendment than white voters? In this election, one race was clearly more eager to promote integration than another. The thing is, this amendment wasn't a "one side gains while the other loses" deal. An interracial marriage ban would have affected both blacks and whites equally. Both races would have dealt with the same racial restrictions against who they can marry. So if both whites and blacks were fine with maintaining the racial status quo of separation, then why were black people more eager to clear this hurdle?
It just floors me that only 12 years ago, 40% of Alabamians voted against legalizing interracial marriage. And it's obvious most of them were white.
Probably the same reason why Blacks overwhelming voted for Barrack Obama....in excess of 90%....and you think Whites only promote their own due to race? Hmmmmmmmmm.....stats say otherwise....racism exists on all sides.....blacks too....
It has been said that white people are unfairly targeted as the primary inciters of racism in this country. That is arguably true, but the results of Alabama's 2000 Interracial marriage amendment suggest otherwise. The amendment proposed an outright abolition of Alabama's interracial marriage ban in the state's 1901 constitution. To their credit, the people of Alabama passed the amendment, but only by a final tally of 60% to 40%. Over 40% of Alabamans voted essentially to ban interracial marriage.
Here is a map of county results. Those on green voted for the amendment while those in red voted against.
What's interesting is that the counties with the strongest support for the amendment are the heavily African American counties in southern Alabama, or the black belt. Greene County, Alabama voted for Amendment 2 with 80% of the vote. It's also 80% African American. The county that rejected it by the greatest margin was Lamar County, 65% voted against. This county is 87% white.
For some reference, here is a map of the black population by county. If you look at Alabama, you see there is a very strong correlation between black percentage and the vote for the amendment.
So why were black voters generally much more in favor of the amendment than white voters? In this election, one race was clearly more eager to promote integration than another. The thing is, this amendment wasn't a "one side gains while the other loses" deal. An interracial marriage ban would have affected both blacks and whites equally. Both races would have dealt with the same racial restrictions against who they can marry. So if both whites and blacks were fine with maintaining the racial status quo of separation, then why were black people more eager to clear this hurdle?
It just floors me that only 12 years ago, 40% of Alabamians voted against legalizing interracial marriage. And it's obvious most of them were white.
The Deep South has always had a legacy of racism historically.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Caleb Longstreet
Probably the same reason why Blacks overwhelming voted for Barrack Obama....in excess of 90%....and you think Whites only promote their own due to race? Hmmmmmmmmm.....stats say otherwise....racism exists on all sides.....blacks too....
Blacks also voted for Bill Clinton, Al Gore and John Kerry in excess of 90%, so what is your point ?
So why were black voters generally much more in favor of the amendment than white voters?
I don't see why this is a huge deal considering the current level of white-disapproval for interracial marriage is about where the black-disapproval level for it was in 2008. Why weren't concerned out about this level "black racism" in 2008 if it's such a big deal for whites now?
It has been said that white people are unfairly targeted as the primary inciters of racism in this country. That is arguably true, but the results of Alabama's 2000 Interracial marriage amendment suggest otherwise. The amendment proposed an outright abolition of Alabama's interracial marriage ban in the state's 1901 constitution. To their credit, the people of Alabama passed the amendment, but only by a final tally of 60% to 40%. Over 40% of Alabamans voted essentially to ban interracial marriage.
Here is a map of county results. Those on green voted for the amendment while those in red voted against.
What's interesting is that the counties with the strongest support for the amendment are the heavily African American counties in southern Alabama, or the black belt. Greene County, Alabama voted for Amendment 2 with 80% of the vote. It's also 80% African American. The county that rejected it by the greatest margin was Lamar County, 65% voted against. This county is 87% white.
For some reference, here is a map of the black population by county. If you look at Alabama, you see there is a very strong correlation between black percentage and the vote for the amendment.
So why were black voters generally much more in favor of the amendment than white voters? In this election, one race was clearly more eager to promote integration than another. The thing is, this amendment wasn't a "one side gains while the other loses" deal. An interracial marriage ban would have affected both blacks and whites equally. Both races would have dealt with the same racial restrictions against who they can marry. So if both whites and blacks were fine with maintaining the racial status quo of separation, then why were black people more eager to clear this hurdle?
It just floors me that only 12 years ago, 40% of Alabamians voted against legalizing interracial marriage. And it's obvious most of them were white.
If I lived in a state where I was in love and wanted to marry a black girl, and the state had somehow prohibited our marriage, I would move to another state.
Considering the statistics you present, maybe interracial couples should think about moving too.
Probably the same reason why Blacks overwhelming voted for Barrack Obama....in excess of 90%....and you think Whites only promote their own due to race? Hmmmmmmmmm.....stats say otherwise....racism exists on all sides.....blacks too....
good point, I wanted to rep you but couldn't. I have to spread it around. Of course racism exists on all sides, and I think the OP knows this. Giving an example of what happened, in Alabama does nothing to prove a point one way or the other. We can all search and search until we find something that meets with what we want to believe...that doesn't make it true. Most people realize bigots are alive and well on all sides of the isle.
Probably the same reason why Blacks overwhelming voted for Barrack Obama....in excess of 90%....and you think Whites only promote their own due to race? Hmmmmmmmmm.....stats say otherwise....racism exists on all sides.....blacks too....
The OP said NOTHING that has a damn thing to do with Obama or his election. In fact, that's totally irrelevant. We're talking about interracial marriage here. Blacks voting for Barack Obama at a 90% clip proves nothing because they vote for all Democratic Presidential candidates at about the same clip.
So please...stop obfuscating.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FabianS
I don't see why this is a huge deal considering the current level of white-disapproval for interracial marriage is about where the black-disapproval level for it was in 2008. Why weren't concerned out about this level "black racism" in 2008 if it's such a big deal for whites now?
Approval of black-white marriages is at a record high among blacks and whites. Blacks have always been more approving than whites of interracial marriage, going back to 1968 when Gallup first was able to report reliable estimates on each group's opinions.However, the gap in approval ratings has narrowed considerably, averaging 13 percentage points since 1997 but 32 points from 1968-1994.
Now to whites credit, that has narrowed a good bit. But still, Alabama is an outlier, and i'm pretty damn sure that the rest of the south is too. I remember that 2000 vote, and being absolutely stunned that something like that passed with only a razor thin margin. And this thread is about THAT referendum....not interracial marriage overall. In a graph that you posted yourself, it basically shows that blacks overall approved of marriage freedom in the same percentages in 1972 as white Alabamians did in 2000. That's a pretty damn big gap in time.
In any case, i don't give a damn about Alabama, or what they think about much of anything. But that referendum was quite telling, and i doubt much has changed in the 13 years since in much of that state.
Probably the same reason why Blacks overwhelming voted for Barrack Obama....in excess of 90%....and you think Whites only promote their own due to race? Hmmmmmmmmm.....stats say otherwise....racism exists on all sides.....blacks too....
HA, Lay off the Meth
White voters helped put obama into office,the Delusional sect of caucasoids want to say "BLACKS PUT HIM THERE"
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