The Democrats being discussed were known as the Dixiecrats. They were ultraconservative ex-confederates and slave holders and relatives of the same. They were were only identified as Democrats because the then Party of Loncoln called itself Republican. Because the Republican Party of the time was associated with freeing the slaves, they wanted nothing to do with it the only other organized party was the Democrats.

Enter WWII, post war politics saw the two parties swap political stances and platforms. Democrats were for reform and pushed Civil Rights (that is except the Dixiecrats of course). The Dixuecrats pushed back and forestalled the progress of the Cibil Rights movement until 1964 when it could no longer be stopped. After the 1964 passage of the Votets Rights Act, the Dixecrats switched parties and became Republicans where their politics of anti-civil rights found more support.