Angry White Male Syndrome (AWMS)

• In Event: 30420 - Section on Racial and Ethnic Minorities Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 8: Racial Politics, Whitelash

Abstract

Politically, AWMS has given rise to some quite effective campaigns where candidates have manipulated and capitalized upon these pent-up frustrations. George Wallace, during the early 60s, articulated their views when he declared, " In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever". This was what Ronald Reagan described as a "silent majority" which was neither silent nor a majority. This 'silent majority' represented the disenfranchised core of Americans who rejected civil rights and women's rights and were staunchly pro-American defenders of militarism, capitalism, and imperialism. In 1992, Ross Pierrot and Patrick Buchanan tried to ride this wave of white male paranoia into the House. Newt Gingrich and then George Bush would also tap into this fear, or what Jude Davies calls a "crises of representation," where at the core, one finds discontent by perceptions of being displaced by "others." The current manifestation of AWMS is being played out in the GOP campaigns, with the most obvious example being Donald Trump. Unfortunately, the milder versions of Rubio and Cruz are no less adamant in their appeal.

Author

• Rodney D. Coates, Miami University-Ohio