In the last decade, people around the world have come to associate red baseball caps with white lettering with Donald Trump supporters and ultra conservative thought.
But the ideology behind what’s written on those hats — “Make America Great Again” or MAGA — was around for many years before former President Trump made it a central theme of his White House campaign.
The origins trace back to policies established during the civil rights era. MAGA supporters want to return to the time of Jim Crow, a time marked by enforced segregation and widespread discrimination.
Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act, the concepts now associated with MAGA persist. Throughout my career in civil rights and social justice, I have seen supporters of this way of thinking gradually erode the civil rights advancements made during the 1960s. Today, as Election Day looms, it is more crucial than ever that we remain united in our push for equality and fairness. Through legal challenges and political activism, MAGA advocates have persistently sought to reverse the progress achieved by the civil rights movement.
The Supreme Court’s Bakke decision in 1978, which occurred during my time in college, marked a pivotal moment in the history of affirmative action. In Regents of the University of California v. Bakke, the Court ruled that the use of racial quotas in university admissions was unconstitutional, a decision with lasting implications for affirmative action policies. A decade later, in 1988, the Supreme Court reinforced this stance in the City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., ruling 6-3 that prior discrimination could not be used to justify rigid quotas in public contracting. These two rulings represented a significant shift away from civil rights era victories and signaled the rise of the MAGA way of thinking.
In 2013, the Supreme Court declared key provisions of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional. In Shelby County v. Holder, the Court significantly weakened Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act by ruling that Section 4(b)the formula used to determine which jurisdictions were subject to federal oversight—was outdated and therefore unconstitutional. This decision crippled the enforcement of voting rights for Black Americans and everyone else, but highlighted the urgent need for Congressional action to restore the act to the way it was.
The erosion of voting rights has made it easier for state-mandated voter suppression to exist. Strict requirements for identification at the polls, purges of voter rolls and fewer voting hours have blocked many Americans from being able to cast ballots. In fact, the Brennan Center for Justice reports that at least 19 states enacted 33 laws designed to make voting more difficult between Jan. 1, and Sept. 27, 2021.
Right now, MAGA supporters are focused not only on returning Donald Trump to the White House, but also targeting Black history education in schools. By labeling Black history as critical race theory and exploiting the ignorance of some white Americans — these ideologues have successfully pushed to ban Black history in many schools. advocated for the banning of Black history in many school curricula. This has blocked needed conversations about America’s complex racial history, but also diminished the quality of education for our country’s youngest.
Critical race theory (CRT) — a framework built on the belief that racism is systemic — is not taught in primary schools; it is a legal framework taught in law schools across the nation. However, left-leaning thinkers have failed to effectively challenge the false narrative surrounding CRT, handing a victory to MAGA supporters.
Through the courts, politics, and strategy, MAGA advocates have successfully shaped the conversation on race and politics
For instance, the refusal by U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell to seat U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court demonstrates this dynamic, and sets the stage for the Court’s long term and the country’s future.
Trump’s MAGA rhetoric gives the movement both a name and identity, and fueled the Jan. 6 insurrection. This event starkly revealed the unrestrained support the former president extended to the MAGA movement, serving as a blatant showcase MAGA concepts.
How do we overcome the influence of MAGA ideologues and their control over this nation’s narrative, laws, and policymaking? The 2024 election stands as the most consequential election of our time. The Democratic Party must approach this election differently than in previous campaigns. Democrats and progressives must confront MAGA ideologues directly and articulate the grave consequences this ideology poses to the health and vitality of our democracy.
Ultimately, we must expand Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives, and elect Vice President Kamala Harris as the next president of the United States. If she wins the election, Harris must prioritize the appointment of progressive jurists committed to upholding legal precedents, such as Roe v. Wade, and safeguarding the integrity of our democracy.
