Texas Republicans propose repeal of 1965 Voting Rights Act

Over the last 50 years, the Republican party has been stamped with the stigma of prejudice and racism. While not all registered Republican voters and lawmakers have shown a history of bigotry, they still have to defend those who have.

Out of all the states in the country, one of the most conservative is the Lone Star State of Texas. The red state has a long history of racism that still exist to this day. As the New York Times reported earlier this year, a cemetery in Jasper, Texas is still segregated. African Americans are buried on the bottom of the hill at the cemetery, while whites are buried at the top. In Vidor, Texas, as in other segregated towns in the United States, there used to be a law known as "sundown towns." These "sundown town" laws were in place less than 50 years ago and restricted African Americans from coming into the town after dark.
 

In recent years, the state of Texas has acted in a questionable manner more than once. In 2010, the Texas Board of Education revised the school curriculum and textbooks and many historians have been extremely critical of the new direction the state is taking. In 2009, the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, even hinted that Texas could secede from the United States. Though these actions are alarming, what might be the most extreme action of all is in the 2012 Texas Republican Platform.

Earlier this month, the Republican party of Texas revealed their 2012 party platform that calls for congress to repeal the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Excerpt from page five of the 2012 state Republican party platform:

Voter Rights Act – We urge that the Voter Rights Act of 1965 codified and updated in 1973 be repealed and not reauthorized.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits states from denying citizens the right to vote because of race or ethnic background. For the Republican party of Texas to propose the elimination of such an important piece of legislation just reaffirms the validity of the criticism that is levied at them.

With the election of the country's first African American president in 2008, the United States took another step forward in its battle against prejudice and racism. Though the country has progressed over the years, the Texas Republican party and their platform are a stark reminder that the country is a long way from being completely free of its racist past.

 

Robert Sobel, Orlando Liberal Examiner

A middle class father, husband and son, Robert Sobel has a degree in communications and media production. He has written, directed and edited four short films as well as creating his own blog on politics and entertainment.  A constant, outspoken American, Robert will not pull back any punches when it comes to delivering his opinions.  Follow Robert on Twitter @Liberalexaminer.