Illustration: Liu Rui/GT
American society is deeply divided today. Why? This question brings us to one of the “core issues” of the US, racial issues. Racial issues primarily revolve around the relationship between European-Americans and non-European-Americans. From before the founding of the US to the present day, this issue has shaped American society and influenced its political processes. It is also one of the inherent issues in the US, one that has both driven its development and created social problems and conflicts.
The quadrennial elections are the “grand performance” of American politics, where various forces and issues in American society are fully revealed and played out. Since the beginning of the 21st century, all seven elections, including this one, have witnessed this division, with each election showing that racial factors have always played a significant role in shaping Americans’ political stance and identity.
Racial issues have always existed in the US. But why have they become so severe now, and continued to be a key factor in dividing America? In March 2016, I was in the US observing the primaries. A mayor from South Carolina told me that for the first time in 2015, the number of non-European-American children in elementary school exceeded the number of European-American children. He said that this data could help us understand the US election. Not long ago, while again observing the election in the US, I remembered what the mayor had said and suddenly realized that by 2028, the children who started school in 2015 would be eligible voters for the first time. This means that in the 2028 election, non-European-American “first-time voters” will likely outnumber European-American ones and become the majority in that city.
Since the first African slaves were brought to North America in 1619, African-Americans have been an oppressed group. Later, other non-European-American groups, such as Latinos and Asians, also became marginalized communities. As American society developed, the role of minorities, particularly the bloodshed and sacrifice of black soldiers during World War II and the Vietnam War, along with the civil rights movement that emerged in the 1970s, led to a continuous rise in the social status of minorities and a growing sense of group identity. Every election has also become an important moment for minority groups to enhance their self-awareness and political status.
The US has been torn apart by racial and other issues, but political agendas, such as elections, also promote the growth of minority groups. Minorities use their votes to fight for rights and status, and American society has changed as a result. During the Democratic National Convention in August this year, I spent three mornings watching the live broadcast. As I watched, I suddenly realized something. Almost all of the delegates and speakers from various states were people of color, namely non-European-Americans. In the “votes matter” system of American elections, the votes of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and other minorities have reshaped the Democratic Party. In contrast, the Republican Party’s supporters are often described as “old, white and male,” primarily consisting of European-Americans, the so-called whites, evangelical Christians and older male voters aged 50 and above.
Whether the US can continue to be a “melting pot” of diverse races has become a “hurdle” the country must face, both now and in the future. The number of non-European-Americans is approaching that of European-Americans and will eventually reach a balance. This is a major trend in American society. How different ethnic groups interact, now and in the future, will have a profound impact on whether American society continues to divide or moves toward integration.
The author is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and chair professor at Sichuan University. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn