Read on Twitter
What's in a racist epithet, Reconstruction edition
Some white supremacists used “15th Amendment” as a derisive term for African Americans in 1870, around the time of its ratification.
The usage may seem weird.
Some white supremacists used “15th Amendment” as a derisive term for African Americans in 1870, around the time of its ratification.
The usage may seem weird.
How does it demean a group of people to associate them with a part of the US Constitution that protects their rights?
If you don't like public protesters in the streets today, you wouldn't really be owning them by calling them "1st Amendments."
Seems like more of a self-own.
If you don't like public protesters in the streets today, you wouldn't really be owning them by calling them "1st Amendments."
Seems like more of a self-own.
The same was true in 1870.
Racist white Americans fought hard to block passage of the 15A—and lost.
Every time they used "15th Amendment" as an epithet, they recalled that defeat, and the fact that the Constitution now banned racial discrimination in voting rights.
Racist white Americans fought hard to block passage of the 15A—and lost.
Every time they used "15th Amendment" as an epithet, they recalled that defeat, and the fact that the Constitution now banned racial discrimination in voting rights.
But here's the thing to remember:
The 15A was new. Many white Americans refused to recognize its legitimacy.
Oregon's legislature voted to reject the Amendment *after* it became part of the Constitution.
One Senator called it "abnormal," a "fraud," & "an act of revolution."
The 15A was new. Many white Americans refused to recognize its legitimacy.
Oregon's legislature voted to reject the Amendment *after* it became part of the Constitution.
One Senator called it "abnormal," a "fraud," & "an act of revolution."
In the end, this usage of "15th Amendment" was short-lived, peaking in mid-1870 and then fading.
Why? Maybe for the reasons above. Maybe because its novelty wore off.
The epithet's decline mirrored a change in strategy among opponents of the 15th Amendment.
Why? Maybe for the reasons above. Maybe because its novelty wore off.
The epithet's decline mirrored a change in strategy among opponents of the 15th Amendment.
Democrats called this the "New Departure." Having loudly denied the #15thAmendment's legitimacy, they now claimed to "acquiesce" to it.
They still opposed any effort to enforce the 15A. And white vigilantes didn't stop terrorizing black voters.
They still opposed any effort to enforce the 15A. And white vigilantes didn't stop terrorizing black voters.
In other words, opponents hadn't surrendered their racism or embraced the 15A.
But they had decided, at least for the moment, that openly declaring opposition to a part of the Constitution didn't make for good politics—or a good insult. /x
But they had decided, at least for the moment, that openly declaring opposition to a part of the Constitution didn't make for good politics—or a good insult. /x
