Another barrier to benefits for Black people came in the form of the Work Incentive program of 1968, which introduced the work requirements you see in welfare and cash assistance to this day. Sounds reasonable maybe, but Black people were more likely to be out of a job.
We could probably find more examples of the government failing to give stuff indiscriminately, but let’s end with a story about the government taking things away:
Modern Gun Control Started With Fear Of Black People
Given how many mass shootings happen in “the only nation where this regularly happens,” it’s no surprise that people might want to improve society somewhat and introduce a bit of gun control. The founding blueprint of modern American gun control, however, was actually drafted in 1967 by Ronald Reagan. And he was responding to no particular act of murder but to the idea of Black people carrying guns in the streets.
The Black Panthers had been conducting what they called “copwatching,” keeping tabs on police abuses. During one memorable incident that year, a cop interrogated Panther Huey Newton about his weapon, and Newton answered, “If you try to shoot at me or if you try to take this gun, I’m going to shoot back at you, swine.”
Amazingly, the cop let Newton go with both his life and his freedom, but this idea of Panthers arming themselves/talking back clearly frightened people. This led to the proposed Mulford Act, which would repeal California’s open-carry law. The Black Panthers responded to the bill by storming the capitol building of California, which didn’t exactly make anyone more comfortable with the idea of armed Panthers.
The act passed with overwhelming support, and soon after, many other gun control acts across the country gained traction. Even the NRA was scared of Black Panthers and supported the act—though they reversed their beliefs shortly after getting what they wanted. Now, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to do something about dangerous weaponry. Just remember exactly where the idea came from.
Top image: FDR Library, Tumisu/Pixabay
5 Nice-Sounding Government Policies With Secret Racist Origins
Source: Pinoy Daily News
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