“Clyburn and most of the black caucus members should be safe—the districts will be drawn to maximize their chances of keeping their seats.”
So in GOP strongholds like SC, the majority will not be used to eliminate sure “minority” districts, lest they be criticized for racism?
Majority/minority districts are the creation of SCOTUS. As such, they will be inviolate and the racist Clyburn completely safe.
Sometimes that actually works to the benefit of the Republicans--a black Democrat gets a super-safe seat which is almost impossible for him to lose, and the surrounding districts become easier for Republican candidates to win. The white Democratic candidates are the ones who lose out. Of course in most cases that's no loss to the nation. It does have the effect of guaranteeing that most black Congressmen will pursue policies narrowly geared to the perceived interests of African Americans, and generally act and orate in such a way as not to be viable candidates for statewide offices.
Think of majority-minority districts this way: gather all the Blacks (certain 'rat votes) into a concentrated district, let them enjoy their 85% wins and the resulting corruption, while the rest of the state has a shot at increased republican representation.
It is a backfire from the days when blacks stupidly demanded their "fair share" of representatives. The legislatures said "OK, we'll give you this district and that district over there forever. Enjoy." Meanwhile Whites were able to wield the decisionmaking power in even more districts, suitably gerrymandered, with Blacks concentrated in congressional "ghettoes."
Even if the DOJ would allow the elimination of the Southern Black districts it’s not in our interest to do so. Spreading out the Black vote would endanger current GOP seats. Better to pack them in tight than try to sweep the state. We win, White Democrats lose.