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Scott Rasmussen's Number of the Day for May 18, 2018
The Number of the Day columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
May 18, 2018: A Gallup poll conducted in 1937 found that 72% of Americans favored passage of an anti-lynching law. Significantly, that total included 57% of Americans living in the South.[1] Despite the support from a majority of Southern residents, Southern lawmakers consistently blocked passage of anti-lynching legislation and other civil rights laws.
The legacy of lynching is devastating. More than 4,400 black Americans were lynched in the United States between 1877 and 1950.[2]
This is one of many examples showing how America’s political system consistently lagged behind American culture on addressing legalized racism. An earlier Number of the Day noted that Jackie Robinson broke the major league color barrier in 1947. That was a year before the U.S. military was desegregated, seven years before the Supreme Court formally outlawed school segregation, and 17 years before Congress passed significant civil rights legislation.
The reality of a political system lagging behind popular culture applies to more than issues of racism. As noted in my book, Politics Has Failed: America Will Not, the culture leads and politicians lag behind in just about all areas of life.
A national lynching memorial—the National Memorial for Peace and Justice—was recently opened in Montgomery, Alabama.[2]
Each weekday, Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day explores interesting and newsworthy topics at the intersection of culture, politics, and technology.
- May 17, 2018 – 46 U.S. police officers killed by felons in 2017
- May 16, 2018 – 50 percent of 2018 U.S. advertising sales will be on digital platforms
- May 15, 2018 – 32 percent of American children living with an unmarried parent
- May 14, 2018 – 890 billion dollars held by U.S. philanthropic foundations
- May 11, 2018 – 9 percent reduction in hours worked by Americans since 1960
- To see other recent numbers, check out the archive.
Scott Rasmussen’s Number of the Day is published by Ballotpedia weekdays at 8:00 a.m. Eastern. Click here to check out the latest update.
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Columns published on Ballotpedia reflect the views of the author.
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