Chapter 26 Flashcards
What prediction did Isabel Wilkerson and Gwen Ifill share on New Year’s Eve 2015?
That Donald Trump could absolutely win the 2016 election, largely due to caste anxieties and demographic shifts like the projected end of the white majority by 2042.
What role did the concept of caste play in the 2016 election outcome?
Caste was a hidden but powerful force; many voters prioritized preserving their dominant caste status over economic interests.
What is “racialized economics”?
The belief that undeserving groups are advancing while one’s own group is falling behind—fueling racial resentment more than actual economic hardship.
What political trend intensified during Obama’s presidency?
A shift among white voters toward the Republican Party, driven primarily by racial attitudes.
Why do some white voters support policies or candidates that may not benefit them economically?
To maintain dominant caste status and protect the perceived racial hierarchy.
What is the “Bradley Effect” and how might it relate to 2016?
When voters tell pollsters they’ll support a minority candidate but don’t follow through on Election Day—possibly affecting Hillary Clinton’s polling vs. actual results.
How did white women vote in the 2016 election?
53% voted for Trump, prioritizing their racial identity over gender solidarity.
What does Wilkerson suggest about voters’ behavior in a caste system?
People vote based on the trait that gives them the most status—often aligning with dominant caste interests, even at personal cost.
How do Democrats and Republicans differ in treatment of their base, according to Wilkerson?
Republicans rally around and reward white evangelicals; Democrats often take their Black base for granted and fail to prioritize their key issues.
What issues remain sidelined despite strong Black support for Democrats?
Affordable housing, clean water, police brutality, reparations, and closing the racial wealth gap.
What did the 2016 election reveal about caste in America?
It exposed the enduring hierarchy, white racial solidarity, and the psychological threat some white Americans felt about losing dominance.
What is “dominant group status threat”?
A psychological state where members of the dominant group fear loss of power and status, influencing their political behavior.
What symbolic effort did Trump make post-election to erase Obama’s legacy?
He focused on dismantling Obama-era policies, signaling allegiance to his base and rejection of the subordinate caste’s progress.
How did Trump supporters react after the election?
With elation and relief—many saw the result as a restoration of the caste order and a correction of Obama’s presidency.
