Jackson county (far northeast) voted D in the presidential election in 2000. Picture an anti-interracial marriage / Gore voter
USSMarauder on
Yup.
As recently as 2000, 33 years after the law had been declared to be unconstitutional, 40% of Alabamians demanded that the law banning interracial marriage be kept on the books.
The reason it was done by referendum instead of by passing a new law in the house was that going on record as being in favor of interracial marriage was seen by many as being politically too dangerous
Emergency-Sea5201 on
Have you met Black Alabamians?
They are often very social-conservative. I can believe many voted no to interracial marriages.
quietimhungover on
If this had taken place in Florida in current times it would not have passed. It’s crazy that anti-miscegenation was still a thing in 2000.
Editing to add because people don’t know. Florida requires 60% or greater for something to become law. This result would not have passed today’s threshold.
iampatmanbeyond on
Alabama never surprises me
pjdonovan on
I do not think it’s a progressive state, but there was a sizable portion of Alabama voters that wanted a totally new constitution to get away from the 1905 constitution.
1905s constitution was terrible, it removed basically all power from locals and counties, removed any voter referendums, and…oh yeah, the rampant racism! It was the largest constitution ever, both because no one could agree on a new one (“it’s a back door tax increase” was a popular phrase) and most every law passed locally at the city or county level had to be approved thru a state wide vote.
They passed a law in 2022 that removed the racist language as well as the amendments that were revoked by later laws/votes and I believe it’s still the largest constitution in the world. (2022 only removed like 5% of the 1905 constitution)
Just something else to consider when you see some voting patterns that don’t quite add up.
AuraMaster7 on
Shelby and Jefferson are the counties that encompass Birmingham and its wider area. More urban, educated population. Makes sense that they would vote this way compared to the heavily rural parts of the state.
Same for Madison County with Huntsville.
ginandtonicsdemonic on
Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that there was a not insignificant number of Black people who voted against this as well.
Im not sure I can understand the motivation behind this, unless they also think interracial marriage is wrong. Would there be any other reason?
Aaelar on
if they had Florida’s current voting laws this resolution would fail since it doesn’t have 60% of the vote lol
kittenTakeover on
It’s crazy that we have to live in the same world as people who think it’s okay to ban interracial marriage.
OpticGd on
I find the wording on the map confusing. A positive vote would show you are in favour of interracial marriage?
adamwho on
Am I reading this right?
High African American counties were more likely to vote against the repeal.
pattyboy227 on
This such a confusing map
No_Deal_9071 on
Financial_Policy_875 on
Winston County, the county that refused to participate in the Confederacy. Voted GOP all through the century of the Solid South for the Democrats, sometimes the only county in the state to do so. Still voted >34% against the Referendum.
15 Comments
Jackson county (far northeast) voted D in the presidential election in 2000. Picture an anti-interracial marriage / Gore voter
Yup.
As recently as 2000, 33 years after the law had been declared to be unconstitutional, 40% of Alabamians demanded that the law banning interracial marriage be kept on the books.
The reason it was done by referendum instead of by passing a new law in the house was that going on record as being in favor of interracial marriage was seen by many as being politically too dangerous
Have you met Black Alabamians?
They are often very social-conservative. I can believe many voted no to interracial marriages.
If this had taken place in Florida in current times it would not have passed. It’s crazy that anti-miscegenation was still a thing in 2000.
Editing to add because people don’t know. Florida requires 60% or greater for something to become law. This result would not have passed today’s threshold.
Alabama never surprises me
I do not think it’s a progressive state, but there was a sizable portion of Alabama voters that wanted a totally new constitution to get away from the 1905 constitution.
1905s constitution was terrible, it removed basically all power from locals and counties, removed any voter referendums, and…oh yeah, the rampant racism! It was the largest constitution ever, both because no one could agree on a new one (“it’s a back door tax increase” was a popular phrase) and most every law passed locally at the city or county level had to be approved thru a state wide vote.
They passed a law in 2022 that removed the racist language as well as the amendments that were revoked by later laws/votes and I believe it’s still the largest constitution in the world. (2022 only removed like 5% of the 1905 constitution)
Just something else to consider when you see some voting patterns that don’t quite add up.
Shelby and Jefferson are the counties that encompass Birmingham and its wider area. More urban, educated population. Makes sense that they would vote this way compared to the heavily rural parts of the state.
Same for Madison County with Huntsville.
Looking at these numbers, it’s clear that there was a not insignificant number of Black people who voted against this as well.
Im not sure I can understand the motivation behind this, unless they also think interracial marriage is wrong. Would there be any other reason?
if they had Florida’s current voting laws this resolution would fail since it doesn’t have 60% of the vote lol
It’s crazy that we have to live in the same world as people who think it’s okay to ban interracial marriage.
I find the wording on the map confusing. A positive vote would show you are in favour of interracial marriage?
Am I reading this right?
High African American counties were more likely to vote against the repeal.
This such a confusing map
Winston County, the county that refused to participate in the Confederacy. Voted GOP all through the century of the Solid South for the Democrats, sometimes the only county in the state to do so. Still voted >34% against the Referendum.