During the 1970 Alabama governor’s race between famed segregationist and former governor George Wallace and Albert Brewer, the incumbent, Wallace’s camp circulated ads feature a white girl surrounded by seven black boys with the slogan “Wake up Alabama! Blacks vow to take over Alabama.” They also spread rumors that Brewer was a “sissy,” that his two daughters had been impregnated by black men, and flamed fears of a “negro bloc” vote. The election, which Wallace eventually won, has been called one of the most negative campaigns in history and the “last openly racist” American political campaign.

As openly racist and nasty that race seemed, it’s not like we have reached some higher level of positive campaigning and colorblind voting. We’ve traded in openly-uttered slurs and clearly racist language with “coded” appeals to the sorts of people who vote based on that sort of thing. Since Wallace went no-hold-barred back in 1970, a more subtle racially-charged theme has run through governor, senatorial, congressional, and presidential races.

CONTINUED »