Speaking of Trump voters, and racism,

[guillaumeb]

I have read many articles that attempt to explain that all Trump voters are not racists. That there are other reasons that white people voted for Trump.

Some of these explanations cite the economic uncertainty that many of these voters face. And that economic uncertainty is understandable given that most workers have seen essentially stagnant wages since the economic policies that were put in place during the Reagan era are still affecting workers.

And some of these explanations cite various social issues, abortion and marriage equality prominent among them.

But in my view, all of these explanations attempt to ignore the fact that the GOP has embraced racism, and racists, since 1965.

The American South changed from solidly Democratic to solidly GOP control because many of the former Democratic voters switched allegiance to the GOP because the GOP embraced racism.

So, all of these alternative explanations, the ones that search for a more acceptable reason for the success of the GOP, must ignore the fact that racists vote for GOP candidates.

And not all GOP voters are racists, but they support racists.

So what is the difference between a KKK robe wearing open racist and a person who votes for a racist but does not belong to the KKK or other white supremacist organizations?

[Lint Head]

1. You show me a racist and I'll show you a Republican.

But not all Republicans are racist.

[Blue_true]

2. I know a lot of republicans who are not racists.

But they are willing to tolerate racists to have their candidates win office.

[Duncan Grant]

4. If one is complicit, then one is a racist.

I don’t think there’s any wiggle room.

[Blue_true]

5. For all practical purposes, yes. If does not matter that they don't associate with racists,

they help the racists' agendas along though.

[guillaumeb]

7. True.

One is a racist, or one supports racists and a racist agenda. The motivation of the GOP voter does not matter to the victims of the racism.

[loyalsister]

3. Racism is a US trait

It was founded on racism and the nation's fast development has everything to do with the economic growth that relied on slavery.
White supremacy is still embedded in US culture and is not exclusive to republicans. A very insidious racism thrives because we try to limit it to a subset of terrible people. White supremacy is persists because we try to pretend it has nothing to do with us. By "us" I mean good white people. White people who would never don a white robe or burn a cross, but see no injustice in the prison system or the death penalty.

[guillaumeb]

6. Agreed.

The prison system, like the police system, is a component of the racism that is the foundation of the US.

The police first appeared as slave patrols.

Prisons were used after Reconstruction as a replacement for the plantation. They allowed the rich to control the (theoretically) free black population by putting them in prison and forcing them to work for free.

[loyalsister]

8. Indeed, policing and prisons are a glaring manifestation of racism

I agree it's important to remember that Trump's supporters who don't agree with his bigoted attitudes are willing to forgive it. It's at least as dehumanizing.
I also think if white people seriously want to change it, we have to acknowledge that the willingness to defend, dismiss, and enable white supremacy is found among those we least expect. Policing and prisons are a prime example of where we see partisan overlap.
There are Democratic politicians in my area who are endorsed by police unions whose leadership toots bigoted horns. Active and avid supporters have served in the legislature. It's an uncomfortable fact that I hope to see more white people vigilantly challenge. Primaries present a good opportunity to drive and demand and anti-racist dialogue.