Although it’s true the vast majority of poor southern whites in 1861 were not really interested in seceding and fighting a rich slave owner’s war (Davis had to implement conscription), the governments of most southern states were pretty clear that they were seceding primarily to protect the institution of slavery. It’s literally written in their articles/declarations of secession. Read Texas’ declaration of secession and those cards are clearly on the table.
People need to stop perpetuating this myth that the war was some noble fight over state’s’ sovereignty and rights. It was always about slavery, primarily.
So it’s weird that so many po white people today are nostalgic for something that a good deal of their po white ancestors probably weren’t even in favor of, or in the least believe slavery was just a minor, tertiary reason for secession and war. Especially those in places like western Virginia (remember, it was once a unified state and in a twist the western part had to secede from VA to rejoin the union. Most west of the piedmont region weren’t wealthy slave owners so the economic impact of slavery ending would not have been felt as a direct threat to their way of life).
This is a lasting effect of the Lost Cause Narrative which was widely spread from the period of reconstruction through the early 20th century, that masses of whites, including some with no roots in the south, were led to believe some disneyfied, sanitized gone with the wind view of that episode in US history
If people took 5 minutes to read the Confederate Constitution, they would see the main issue always was slavery and the expansion of slavery. But they won't, just like they won't read the declarations of secession. Lincoln not only fought to stop slavery spreading west, he also fought to stop it spreading to Mexico, Central America and South America.
Most right wingers oppose reparations, as much as they continue to live in a fantasy world about the Civil War. The south has done a great job rewriting history and brainwashing people on the matters, it's going to take as much work to deprogram them.
Every person living in the US has benefited from slavery. It built the country. And some people are under the impression that slavery is some kind of ancient history. It's not, Whites Only signs are in lots of living folks's memory. Black people have never had the time to build the generational wealth white people have due to slavery and then Jim Crow/redline/discrimination laws written and enforced by white people all over this country.
In a few cases they may have started and often, white people have stopped it dead in it's tracks (Tulsa Oklahoma is a good example).
I think trusts, such as been done in other nations (Australia, Germany) would be a good step. But it will never happen because this country cannot even retain the laws enacted in 1965 to provide equal voting rights. The same way most economic investments put in place to help everyone that needs it have been decimated. The majority of white people will eventually find themselves in the same circumstance as black and brown people as income inequality grows. The legislature and supreme court will see to that. And so many white people are so brainwashed that they keep...on...voting...for...this. I've never seen anything like it.
