THE MINORITY CRITIQUE

THE DEBATE:

The Reagan administration supported tax exemptions for schools that discriminate on the basis of race, opposed busing, and took direct initiatives against affirmative action. These policies, among others, left Reagan wide open to much criticism from prominent African-Americans and liberal journalists. African-Americans were the only component of the traditional Democratic coalition who consistently voted against Reagan during the Reagan administration. In September 1982, Ronald Reagan made a pitch to the African-American constituency at the National Black Republican Council. Despite his appeals, the black constituency continued to oppose him. Prominent black public figures accused Reagan of supporting policies that Òintensified the problems facing black and poor people.Ó Some even accused him of racism. The administration countered by claiming they supported civil rights laws, helped the black community by easing inflation, and promoted Òenterprise zonesÓ by offering tax breaks to US corporations who opened plants in urban ghettos. However, between 1979 and 1984, the income gap between black and white Americans grew along with black disapproval of the Reagan administration.


THE LEFT vs THE RIGHT

Roanoke Times and World-News
September 29, 1982
ÒRonald Reagan on Civil RightsÓ

This article addresses the speech President Ronald Reagan made to the National Black Republican Council in September 1982. In his speech, Reagan challenged black republicans to look at his administrationÕs record on civil rights enforcement and to compare it to the records of previous administrations.Political Cartoon 1 Crossfire homepage

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