Nixon probably did better with blacks than Reagan did, but black turnout was far higher in 1984 than in 1972. Just look at the total votes cast in the black belt counties and this will become obvious.
I should point out, regarding turnout, that Nixon received more raw votes in Macon, AL than any other Republican has since then; likewise in several other black belt counties.
True, the black vote was more Republican then (remember that as recently as 15 years before, most blacks who could vote voted Republican, or were at least swing voters). I was just pointing out that the percentages were deceiving since although blacks could legally vote in 1972, many still hadn't gotten registered yet.
