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| Why Many of The Greatest Moments of Civic Progress in the United States are Followed by Intense Backlash and Entrenchment of Rights |
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| Introduction To learn more about civil rights issues facing the Asian American community, the United States Commission on Civil Rights hosted three Roundtable Conferences in different cities during the summer of 1989. Several civil rights concerns confronting the Asian American community currently were discussed during the Roundtable Conferences. In this case, one can confidently argue that the United States’ civic progress is greatly attributed to radicalization. Political radicalism is characterized by rejecting tradition and passionate advocacy for social and economic justice through revolutionary transformation. In contrast, conservative parties hold on to an era of relative prosperity long since passed (Capelos and Katsanidou 3). Both radicalism and reactivism are political philosophies that seek to destroy and dismantle established systems of thought. However, counter-movements are attempting to stamp out these ideas. To counteract radical periods in America, many people ignore regressive views because of the notion that freedom must be bought with the interests of the many. Even though effort has been put into promoting most of the greatest moments of civic progress in the United States, the fear of endangering the rights of the majority forms an intense backlash and entrenchment of rights. Discussion For a long time, blacks have been segregated from whites, especially by law and private action in public accommodations, including transportation. Such caused many to participate in the civil rights movement that was experience between the 1950s and 1960s. The movement advocated for the legal equality of all blacks in the United States of America. Even though slavery was ended after the Civil War, Black people were still subject to racism and its deadly repercussions, particularly in the South. African Americans had seen more than enough racism and brutality by the middle of the 20th century. They organized and launched a campaign for equality that would last two decades, with the support of many white Americans. Concerned parties reacted violently and resisted these initiatives (Miller Center, par. 1). In this case, President John F. Kennedy took the initiative to address racial injustice by submitting the Civil Rights Act to Congress (Jenkins 65). The Act outlawed racial and ethnic discrimination in the workplace. Whites in positions of authority reacted negatively to the Act because they felt its provisions for racial equality were unfairly targeting them. The term “backlash,” describing the staunch resistance to civil rights by those who want to preserve the status quo, came into use during this time (Glickman, par. 1). The reactionary view holds that white people’s rights and advantages would be diminished under a system of racial equality. The resultant reactive actions included claims that protecting minorities’ rights would inevitably endanger the rights of the majority. Throughout the 1960s, opponents of the civil rights movement created backlashes by threatening, arresting, and needlessly assaulting activists, including proponents. No one in the legal system stepped in to help or defend these activists. The demand for equality elicited strong reactions from white people, who showed great sensitivity. For instance, in 1965, police assaulted civil rights protesters in Selma, Mississippi, and killed Lamar Smith in Brookhaven, Mississippi, for advocating for Black Americans to vote (Equal Justice Initiative, par. 1-3). Every attempt to enforce racial justice in the United States was met with fierce resistance by white supremacists. Major alleged reasons for white backlash include white anxiety over immigration and demographic change (Cravey 136). Scholars have looked at these societal shifts and concluded that many white Americans now believe their status at the top of the social hierarchy is threatened and that the country no longer presents itself as a “white nation.” For a long time, such fear has triggered a backlash towards all efforts to ensure that blacks have equal representation and treatment in the United States. A strong foundation of opposition to civil rights exists in the United States. The resistance to civil rights in the United States takes numerous forms, as many scholars have pointed out. In 2020, upon being arrested, George Floyd was brutally killed by white police officers. His murder motivated people throughout the globe to oppose racism and prejudice and spark global talks on racial justice. Simply put, his passing increased the need for racial equality and fair treatment. The protesters demanded the dissolution of law enforcement and the end of government support for police. A massive budget for police enforcement in 2021 was the government’s response to these demonstrations and demands (Semler, par. 1). Protests over George Floyd’s death were met with counter-protests. “White lives matter,” protesters shouted, “It is his fault he is dead, not the officer!” and were the most visible group (Kil 36). The counter-protests illuminate the rationale for racism held by white nationalists. In this instance, everyone needs to know that racial profiling in law enforcement is wrong and has devastating implications for individuals of color, including Indigenous peoples. No backlash is supposed to be witnessed, especially when there is a need to hearken and protect the minority. While considering the implications of the United States Supreme Court’s apparent readiness to mandate that all states recognize same-sex marriages legally, it is important to examine the various manners in which marriage, including “same-sex marriage,” remain radically unequal in states that have already done so. The states in question have not attained true “marriage equality.” Most of these states may never achieve that when they are interested in enforcing parental responsibilities (Maltz 485). However, such does not ignore that the fight for marriage equality, which lasted decades and resulted in a win in June 2015, is another example of persistent disdain for advancement. As a result of the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, legislation that protects marriages between people of the same sex was made permanent. However, many pieces of anti-LGBTQ legislation have been introduced because of this triumph. The hostile response shows how quickly some people may react. In this case, such laws provide exceptions to the law that may be used to restrict such marital privileges. The Acts’ regressive beliefs are achieved through the application of vague terms. Many agree that anti-LGBTQ laws are meant to oppress minorities and take away the rights of many people. As mentioned earlier, opponents of same-sex marriage successfully modified their state constitutions to define marriage as the connection of a man and a female after state courts acknowledged the right of same-sex couples to wed under state constitutions. Throughout this heated conflict, many people questioned the judicial system’s ability to protect minority rights. The big question is, can verdicts be enforced that go against the views and rights of the powerful? Despite the superficial similarity between radicals and reactionaries, radicals reject the reactionary preoccupation with unjustifiable societal loss because of equality. Radicals focus on bringing about radical change regardless of the consequences. On the other hand, reactionaries share a common sense of rage and insecurity and support changes to the present political system. Such implies that the adherents of a reactionary ideology yearn for a return to an unspecified golden age of tradition and nostalgia. The oppressed minority’s successes threaten the rise of reactionary superiority in combating injustice. Many studies show that extreme poverty is an injustice since it persists and worsens. People living in extreme poverty are denied some human rights recognized in the Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Victims of domestic disputes, including wars are robbed of most of their fundamental liberties and are, therefore, victims of injustice. Poverty has many faces, including but not limited to discrimination, undesirable health, helplessness, insecurity, and a lack of opportunity for personal and professional development. Many backlash measures aim to undo laws and policies passed to advance equality. To win an election, a candidate must attract many white voters. Racially progressive politicians may back down from their beliefs if they believe doing so would alienate the white majority and prevent them from gaining power. In many cases, the rights of minorities and the interests of the majority benefit from revolutionary developments. People are less inclined to support racial equality campaigns if they hint at a hierarchical structure (Zaremberg 531). In addition, efforts to promote racial and socioeconomic diversity in the United States need more activists and structural changes that criticize reactionary structures and pushback. Civil rights are threatened by extreme progressive movements that are weak and disorganized (Patterson et al. 339). One must remember that civil rights measures undermine other initiatives that seek to entrench prejudice and inequality. Conclusion In conclusion, reactionary beliefs, including backlash resistance, go hand in hand. Reactionary politics, by their nature, impose reactionary forces on progressive transformation. However, the connection between radical and reactionary ideas is complex. Parallels may be drawn between these two situations, which highlight the backlash. Events deemed pivotal in the development of civil society are such because they are radical and out of the norm. Radical ideas are intended to spark opposition. Works Cited “The Civil Rights Act of 1964.”Miller Center, 9 Jan. 2021, https://millercenter.org/thepresidency/educational-resources/the-civil-rights-act-of-1964. “Violence against Civil Rights Workers.” Equal Justice Initiative, 11 Nov. 2019, https:// eji.org/news/history-racial-injustice-violence-against-civil-rights-workers/ Capelos, Tereza; Katsanidou, Alexia (2018). Reactionary Politics: Explaining the Psychological Roots of Anti Preferences in European Integration and Immigration Debates. Political Psychology, (), –. doi:10.1111/pops.12540 Cravey, Altha Jane. “Building collective power amidst white supremacist backlash.” Gender, Place & Culture 29.1 (2022): 130-142. Dixon, Patricia J., and Lauren Dundes. “Exceptional injustice: Facebook as a reflection of race-and gender-based narratives following the death of George Floyd.” Social Sciences 9.12 (2020): 231. Glickman, Lawrence. “How White Backlash Controls American Progress. “The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 22 May 2020, https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/ 2020/05/white-backlash-nothing-new/611914/ Jenkins, Alan. “Racial Equity and US Law.” Health Equity 7.1 (2023): 61-69. Kil, Sang Hea. “Reporting from the whites of their eyes: How whiteness as neoliberalism promotes racism in the news coverage of “All Lives Matter”.” Communication Theory 30.1 (2020): 21-40. Maltz, Earl M. “The Ripples of Backlash: Same-Sex Marriage, the Election of 2004, and the Evolution of Constitutional Law.” UALR L. Rev. 42 (2019): 485. Semler, Stephen. How Much Did the US Spend on Police, Prisons in FY2021?, Speaking Security, 20 Jan. 2022, https://stephensemler.substack.com/p/how-much-did-the-usspend-on-police?s=r. Zaremberg, Gisela, Constanza Tabbush, and Elisabeth Jay Friedman. “Feminism (s) and anti-gender backlash: lessons from Latin America.” International Feminist Journal of Politics 23.4 (2021): 527-534. |
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I studied civil engineering at the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute.” When I was a sophomore, back in 2015, I decided to put what I’ve learned into practice, so I started my blog focused on civil engineering topics. I currently work as a graduate civil engineer, and in addition to my professional work, I assist students with their engineering assignments. I strive to build strong, effective, and respectful communication between the platform and our clients.
