How a Defunct White Supremacist State Became a Cult Favorite on the Right
Last year, Rep. Mike Collins, a second-term Georgia Republican who is challenging Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff this fall, posted a meme that appears to have gone largely unnoticed. On the left was a photo of Donald Trump in the Oval Office, pointing to someone just out of the frame. The photo was accompanied by a […]
In recent years, the defunct white supremacist state of Rhodesia has gained a following among conservative circles in the United States. The once-apartheid nation, located in southern Africa, is now being promoted by right-wing politicians and online figures as an example of racial purity and self-determination.
Republican Congressman Mike Collins, who is running against Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff in Georgia's upcoming election, posted a meme featuring a photo of Donald Trump in the Oval Office and dialogue from the 2006 film "Blood Diamond." The reference to Rhodesia in the film prompted several online users to make comparisons between the fictional Rhodesian state and the real-life country.
Several other Republican candidates have also expressed support for Rhodesia. Brandon Herrera, a Republican candidate for a Texas congressional seat, filmed a video where he participated in a "Rhodesian Live Action Role Play" (LARP) event, complete with Rhodesian military gear and dialogue from "Blood Diamond." Meanwhile, Cade Lamb, the son of Arizona Republican congressional candidate Mark Lamb, promoted his father's campaign using a T-shirt design reminiscent of Rhodesian army recruitment posters.
The Rhodesian state, under white minority rule, resisted Black self-determination and was closely associated with apartheid South Africa. It has since gained notoriety among white supremacists and far-right groups. Some even see Rhodesia as a role model for racial purity and national sovereignty, despite its history of human rights abuses and brutal conflicts.
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