Race has ceased to be an issue in US politics. Discuss (45 marks)

In order to tackle this question, you should first construct a line of argument, and subsequently provide 3 reasons in support of this and 3 reasons to counter it, but aim to plug this line of argument throughout the essay, to ensure that the examiner is continually reminded of your stance. This shows that you have a clear opinion, but are aware of the two sides of the argument.
Introduction: The issue of race in US politics has been prevalent for the past half a century, however it could be argued that this era has come to an end, signaled by the election of the country’s first black president. The fact that race based issues no longer feature in campaigns or in Congress, and the attitude of the Supreme Court towards affirmative action suggests that race has ceased to be significant. However, examples of institutional racism, analysis of the voting patterns of ethnic groups and the pressing issue of immigration contradict this view, showing that despite the advances that have been made in recent years, the issue of race is still prevalent in US politics.
Sample paragraphOne way in which race is still a significant issue in US politics is the controversy over illegal immigration. Although the nature of racial politics may have changed, it is by no means obsolete, as the recent issue of illegal immigration undoubtedly has racial undertones, highlighted in the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump blurred the lines between immigration and race when he justified his desire to build a wall along the border with Mexico with the assertion that Mexicans are “rapists” and “drug dealers”, voicing the racial undertones that have affected the issue of immigration reform. This racist undertone was also seen in the controversial Arizona SB 1070 law in 2010, which compelled police to ask for papers from anyone they have a reasonable suspicion of being without status. Many critics of the law said that it encouraged racial profiling, such as journalist Alex Lack who wrote that the law “amounts to an ethnically divisive and deeply hostile social policy”, which demonstrates the way in which race is still an issue in US politics, even though it may have taken a different form. Political scientists Cook-Martin and Fitzgerald have also deduced that the USA’s policy of “preference visas” discriminates against immigrants from Mexico, as each country has the same annual cap, regardless of population size, which means that big countries with extensive migration histories like the Philippines and Mexico have the same cap – about 26,000 visas a year – as countries like Andora or Lesotho with small populations and little history of migration to the United States. This system means that Mexican immigrants typically wait in line outside the United States more than twice as long as people from other countries, showing again that policies of immigration have racial undercurrents, and therefore race is still a significant issue in US politics.