How Rand Paul’s libertarian streak ran afoul of history
Some of you may remember the famous Jesse Helms ad of 1990 in his race against Democrat Harvey Gantt, a black man. It featured a pair of white hands angrily crumpling up a letter, while the announcer explained that the man had just been informed that he didn’t get a job because a less qualified minority did. (The ad was written and produced by Alex Castellanos, now a regular on CNN).
Until this week, when I ran across the political flyer to the right from the 1964 campaign, I didn’t fully appreciate the rich political heritage behind the Helms ad, or why it drew such a strong reaction. In ‘64, in the wake of the signing of the Civil Rights Act by President Johnson, Barry Goldwater and his advisers had decided that their best chance was to play to white Southern resentment by pitting white against black on economic terms. (To be fair, it was an age-old tactic that southern Democrats had been using at the state and local levels for decades to keep themselves in power.)
The text of the flyer is a little blurry, so let me make it clear:
EMPLOYEES
READ THIS:
Did you know that Lyndon Johnson’s Civil Rights Bill can get you fired from your job and give it to a person of another race? No matter what ability you have to do your job … or how much seniority you have on your job … you can lose your job because of Johnson’s Civil Rights Bill. This is your last chance. Vote to put an end to racial favoritism…vote to protect your job…your family…your home.
EMPLOYERS
READ THIS:
This is your last chance to save your freedom to run your own business as you choose!
As I’ve tried to make clear, I believed Senate candidate Rand Paul when he insisted that his (now-retracted) opposition to the Civil Rights Act was based on strict libertarian principles rather than racism. On a purely intellectual level, you can make a valid if unconvincing argument to that effect. But the strong similarity between that position and the clear appeal to racism in the flyer helps explain why the public reacted so strongly to Paul’s argument, however based in principle it might be. Paul was naive to expect any other reaction.
The flyer is also an artifact of a transition point in U.S. politics. In 1960, in a race that was decided by a razor-thin margin nationwide, Democrat John F. Kennedy defeated Republican Richard M. Nixon in Georgia by the overwhelming margin of 62.5 percent to 37.4 percent. Even Kennedy’s Catholicism couldn’t threaten the South’s strong ties to the Democratic Party. (And yes, Catholicism was still an issue back then in the South. My Virginia-born grandmother, I’m told, was not very happy to be introduced to my father’s Catholic bride-to-be.)
Four years later, after LBJ’s signing of the Civil Rights Act and Goldwater’s embrace of the tactics exemplified by the flyer, everything changed and Georgia voted Republican for the first time ever. Again, it wasn’t even close, with Goldwater pulling 54.1 percent to LBJ’s 45.9 percent. The only other states that Goldwater carried that year — in addition to his native Arizona — were South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, none of which had voted Republican since Reconstruction.
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365 comments Add your comment
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
4:50 pm
Dave, Dusty
Nope…the last time this very same type thread with a similar illustration (Lester Maddox) on the same topic (Paul and the CRA fracas) I called it a cheap shot and Dusty agreed…that’s why I wanted to know if this is “Cheap Shot II” (pronounced Sheep Sho Deux for the Jacobins amongst us–STILL)
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
4:51 pm
One last one (I promise) for Bosch
http://www.sciencefictionfantasyhorror.com/images-articles/2005/09/scary-clown-2005.gif
All of those “energized” voters?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR3xwTXZhXQ
N-GA
May 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
Dave R. (your 4:42) – The fact that she’s your role model says a lot more about you than anything. I’ve made more in 1 year than she’s earned in her entire lifetime, but that is hardly something to suggest I’m better than she is. But it is hard to really say that she has “earned” that money. It tells me that people are easily entertained by marginally educated entertainers. There are those who might believe that a school teacher does more to earn his/her salary than Palin does to earn hers.
Keep up the good fight!
May 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
Scout, really you should read and get your facts straight….it is no doubt that there were many Republicans who voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Its clear fact. A majority of Dems too although smaller. ….. But as pointed out by Jay’s blog, the Republicans then played to those who feared equal rights and played to the racism and then welcomed with open arms the likes of David Dukes, etc. who switched from Dem to Republican, etc. The issue is NOW. Rand Paul forgets history and the failure of libertarism to correct racism…a nice theory that did not work in practice. Just as today private enterprise in some areas discriminate against gays despite the large number of people that they may offend. Paul’s “ideology” is a important part of the discussion as to how we govern. The fact is that the ideologues espousing “theory” can rarely deal with the reality. There are some things that we as a people do not tolerate. Free speech is permitted but when you received government funds or you partake in commerce between the states it is also the right under the constitution to regulate.
As for your “quotas”, nice antedotes but hardly means that they were representative or were not your interpretation of what was being said. Or that prevailing minds were not trying to overcome the possible prejudice of your decision making if you were a manager etc. There are a thousand reasons and your antedotes are not proof of much except your particular bias.
scott
May 27th, 2010
4:52 pm
im tired of you i was born in georgia and have lived all around the south i am a racist and about every white person i know in the south if you talk to them 1 on 1 is still racist
The Cynical White Boy
May 27th, 2010
4:55 pm
Actually, caucasians may benefit from no longer being “the majority” one day in America. When that day comes, they can follow a well established precedent and immediately file an EEOC claim whenver they are not hired, not promoted or become the objects of so-called “adverse action” in the employment field.
Del
May 27th, 2010
4:56 pm
On people who are scary…John Brennan, he’s scary.
Jay
May 27th, 2010
4:56 pm
In interviews, he was critical of the provisions in CRA that forced businesses to open their doors to black customers. For example, with the Louisville Courier–Journal he said:
Rand Paul: I like the Civil Rights Act in the sense that it ended discrimination in all public domains and I’m all in favor of that.
Questioner: But…?
Rand Paul: (nervous laugh) You had to ask me the “but.” um.. I don’t like the idea of telling private business owners – I abhor racism – I think it’s a bad business decision to ever exclude anybody from your restaurant. But at the same time I do believe in private ownership. But I think there should be absolutely no discrimination on anything that gets any public funding and that’s most of what the Civil Rights Act was about to my mind.
That stance was consistent with Paul’s 2002 letter to the editor to a Bowling Green newspaper, in which he said it was fine for the Fair Housing Act to apply to public housing, but not to private housing (http://pageonekentucky.com/2010/05/20/rand-paul-made-same-racial-comments-in-2002/ ):
” At first glance, who could object to preventing discrimination in housing? Most citizens would agree that it is wrong to deny taxpayer-financed, “public” housing to anyone based on the color of their skin or the number of children in the household.
But the Daily News ignores, as does the Fair Housing Act, the distinction between private and public property. Should it be prohibited for public, taxpayer-financed institutions such as schools to reject someone based on an individual’s beliefs or attributes? Most certainly. Should it be prohibited for private entities such as a church, bed and breakfast or retirement neighborhood that doesn’t want noisy children? Absolutely not.
Decisions concerning private property and associations should in a free society be unhindered. As a consequence, some associations will discriminate.”
However, Paul now says he supports the Civil Rights Act applying both to private and to public institutions. Says the Washington Post (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/plum-line/2010/05/rand_paul_spox_fed_govt_should.html ):
>em>Asked for further clarification, Jesse Benton, a spokesman for the Paul campaign, confirmed that Paul does in fact think the Federal government should have the power to ban private businesses from commiting racial discrimination. He told me:
“Civil Rights legislation that has been affirmed by our courts gives the Federal government the right to ensure that private businesses don’t discriminate based on race. Dr. Paul supports those powers.”
Clearly, Paul reversed himself on the core question involved here, namely: Does the federal government have the power to end segregation by private industry?
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
4:59 pm
“Dave R. (your 4:42) – The fact that she’s your role model says a lot more about you than anything. I’ve made more in 1 year than she’s earned in her entire lifetime, ”
Dusty–
Well, that ought to answer your question from the other night of why he’s here in the much benighted state of Jaw-ja…Capitalist Running Dog of Carpetbag-Scalawag Yankee Imperialist Colonialism…mmm rape and pillage…! Just an observation…
Pogo
May 27th, 2010
5:00 pm
Well, as much as your liberal/progressive mind wants and does believe the flyer wasn’t at least a little accurate Jay, IF you worked in the real world (instead of the protected progressive environs of your little AJC journalistic gig), you might just see that at least some of the content actually proved to be true. For those of us that really do work in todays corporate environment, it is a common occurance where the person that is less qualified is hired or promoted in the name of “diversity” over a person that is more qualified but who does not contribute to the demographic “mix” trying to be obtained (for political reasons). The sad part of it is, when people are hired because of what they are instead of how qualified they are, they know it, the people around them know it and the situation becomes toxic for all parties involved. I don’t know how to fix it but hiring based upon quotas only add disfuntion to an organizaton. Of course, there are those that will take advantage of any situation and that probably sleep quite well knowing that they did not deserve the job but are proud to take advantage of the diversity bit. In fact, I know a person or two who think exactly that way and the pretty much think they are “teflon coated” because of it. And to a degree, they are correct. And no, I have never been overlooked for a promotion for a job because of diversity. But I am in a position that sees it happening and the result is inevitably bad for the person and for the company. Civil rights should be enjoyed by all. Special rights should be enjoyed by none.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
5:02 pm
“The fact that she’s your role model says a lot more about you than anything.”
N-GA, you assume that she is some sort of role model for me. As usual, you fit the breakdown of the word “assume” to a T.
I was pointing out, correctly, that AmVet’s statement that she accomplished (and I quote) “nothing” was incorrect. And it was.
And who the heck are you to determine whether or not someone has “earned” their money or not? How many speeches have you had to give in front of a crowd of a hundred? A thousand? (I have – it ain’t easy) Ten thousand people? Have you had your private life dragged into the tabloid press? Have you governed a state? A city? Do you have to wake up every day and wonder just what attack is going to occur upon you or your family today?
Role model? No. But I DO know that she has earned every stinkin’ penny she’s received since this roller coaster ride began.
Jay
May 27th, 2010
5:02 pm
And to those of you uncomfortable discussing issues about race …. sorry. It’s a topic worthy of discussion, a topic that requires discussion. Most folks here are handling it responsibly, and I appreciate it.
Del
May 27th, 2010
5:02 pm
Bosch,
Here’s a clown song sung by one.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnwJ5KIcKX4&feature=fvw
Wahoo
May 27th, 2010
5:04 pm
@ Amvet “I can see why the libs are petrified of Paul. As was noted earlier they were also scared moose sh_tless of Sister Sarah, and look what she went on to do. (What? Really? Oh yeah.? Nothing?)”
I never understood the fear of Palin from the left. Her ski helmet doesn’t get appreciably smarter once it is containing her head. Further, IMO she played directly into certain stereotypes that democrats use against republicans.
If I were a democrat, I would be far more concerned with Paul than Palin. You can disagree with him all you want, but I don’t think he’s as easy target as Palin, and I think his libertarian views resonate with a large number of Americans who are fed up with their government.
Personally, I would be appreciative of a body politic that can finally move past race as a motive of virtually everything. I think it is past time to give up racial/gender preferences of all sorts. I don’t think perpetuating racial preferences will make up for past racial sins, nor do I think it fosters a race-neutral society, which, I would hope, is the objective. I’m well beyond ready to move forward to a race-neutral climate – I just wish more people would join me, and reject the leadership of those who garner wealth, power and stature from perpetuating racial divide.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
5:05 pm
josef, did I miss something asked of me previously?
Del
May 27th, 2010
5:05 pm
Sorry try this one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnwJ5KIcKX4&feature=fvw
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:06 pm
JAY
Discussion of race, you say? Where’s brown? Where’s red? Where’s yellow? You and many of us are so bound in the terms of 1964 that we are totally incpabale of looking at those whose voices are yet to be heard…sorry, but this is as much “living in the past” as my own refusal to move beyond 1865, wouldn’t you say? Same song, different verse.
Dusty
May 27th, 2010
5:07 pm
Josef,
I quit trying to convince anyone long ago that the color wheel has complimentary colors. If they can’t see it, I get a little short on patience. And those who use it to whip up the racial winds are the worst.
But, nevermind, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES? Do you know I have never eaten more than two slices of fried green tomatoes? Not much fried food of any kind.
Love? hmmm Give me fried chicken or it aint luv!!
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:07 pm
DAVE
No, it was just your response to Dusty’s response to me on Cheap Shot II.
Keep up the good fight!
May 27th, 2010
5:09 pm
Pogo….again you show your particular bias by claiming that some achieve their jobs because of “diversity”. You do not have a single document which says “this person was hired because of a quota or race” It is your interpretation that they are there for that reason. Others may disagree. Your “common occurrence” claim (just how many jobs with different companies have you held to be able to claim that this is a common occurrence in business) is just more bias opinion.
Dave
May 27th, 2010
5:09 pm
Discrimination? Or Predjudice?
http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/culture/racism/4776-What-Discrimination.html
http://townhall.com/columnists/WalterEWilliams/2006/10/04/discrimination,_prejudice_and_preferences
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
5:09 pm
josef, I still thought her comment about Redneck writing a better column than Bookman was funny.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:10 pm
DUSTY
When my fellow liberals finally bring me before the Inquisition and condemn me to auto da fe, I’ll ask for fried green tomatoes as my last meal before meeting my M-ker…I’ll trade you my share of fried chicken for your share of the green tomatoes…
Kamchak
May 27th, 2010
5:11 pm
I never understood the fear of Palin from the left.
Not sure how many times we go over this until it sinks in—I’m not afraid of Sarah Palin—amused by, yes—fear, no.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:11 pm
Dave R
On Redneck…his command of the dialect is not very good, but I do believe you and Dusty have a point…
Jay
May 27th, 2010
5:12 pm
We’ve discussed brown here very recently, Josef, in the case of Jessica Cololt. We’ve discussed gay here very recently. Issues of red and yellow, for various reasons, don’t have political consequence in these parts.
I do find the “Cheap Shot” description rather odd though. Cheap Shot at who?
Jay
May 27th, 2010
5:13 pm
There are days I would certainly agree about Redneck.
More days than I would care to acknowledge.
You can call me Will
May 27th, 2010
5:15 pm
Did someone say civil tights. Nope. That’s not it… Was it men’s rights. No. That’s not it…
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
May 27th, 2010
5:16 pm
Why don’t you get RedNeck to write your column? He’s even better at this hatred thing. He’s even funny on rare occasions. RedNeck the Riveting Reviler coming up at the AJC!!
Well, I’m ready to take the call when the AJC is ready to make it. Nobody knows I placed 2nd in that contest to find Wooten’s replacement, the job this runny-nose Wingfield got. I ain’t too good at spelling and squiggly marks and stuff like that, but I’m a pretty fair writter.
But I’m not sure I can live on the starvation wages people like Bookman make. Maybe I should hold on to my beer truck for awhile. Besides, I can do alot more damage to the libruls and Those People the way things are than by writting a blog and letting AJC people cross everything out just because when I don’t like somebody I come right out and say it. And I talk about their mother too.
And you know good and well if I posted a film with a woman in orange shorts it would be about Sister Dusty and alot of you would be begging not to see it again. Instead of asking to see it more.
Have a good night everybody.
mike
May 27th, 2010
5:17 pm
Yawn. Playing the race card yet again?
Well, when the only tool you have is a hammer, you see a lot of nails.
Can’t wait for November.
mike
May 27th, 2010
5:19 pm
“Why don’t you get RedNeck to write your column? ”
Nah. His kind of ignorant and hateful bigotry is revolting to all civil people.
Jay may be a partisan, but at least his is not an ignorant and hateful bigot.
Wahoo
May 27th, 2010
5:20 pm
@ Kamchak “Not sure how many times we go over this until it sinks in—I’m not afraid of Sarah Palin—amused by, yes—fear, no.”
I was responding specifically to Amvet’s comment “As was noted earlier they were also scared moose sh_tless of Sister Sarah”
Notwithstanding your view, I know many liberals who were indeed afraid of her. Maybe it was because she could rile up the GOP base – I don’t know. For the record, I share your sentiment. On my personal scale she vacillates between amusing and “needs to go have a snowmobile accident”.
Normal
May 27th, 2010
5:21 pm
Can’t stay, but somebody earlier had a new name for Obama…Uncle tomobama…Not wanting to stir the pot, mind you, but have you considered Oreobama? You know, black on the outside, but white on the inside? He’s the consummate politician, so he has to think like an old white man…goes with the occupation.
Food for thought…headed out, see y’all later…
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 27th, 2010
5:22 pm
And yes, Catholicism was still an issue back then in the South.
Parts of the South perhaps but Catholicism was never a big issue on the Gulf Coast. There’s always been a very large Catholic population there. After all the Mardi Gras in the US started in Mobile, Alabama.
The South isn’t some big homogeneous place where everything is the same. It never has been.
Kamchak
May 27th, 2010
5:22 pm
Well, when the only tool you have is a hammer…
…go out and by an air compressor, hoses and pneumatic nail guns. You’ll make the money back in two days.
Normal
May 27th, 2010
5:23 pm
Dusty,
Did it occur to you that, come November, my vote will nullify your’s?
Jay
May 27th, 2010
5:25 pm
A job switch, Redneck?
Tempting, because there are days when driving a beer truck must have its benefits. Among other things, everyone would be glad to see me, right? Maybe even Mike.
Kamchak
May 27th, 2010
5:26 pm
Notwithstanding your view, I know many liberals who were indeed afraid of her.
I don’t know any who is afraid of her. This is Frank Luntz wet dream. The politics of fear has manifested itself into the language of debate. Opposition now presupposes fear.
LydiasDad
May 27th, 2010
5:28 pm
Rand got in trouble for not being politically correct. Right and wrong has nothing to do with political correctness; in fact it often conflicts. The left just wants what feels good–not what is right.
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
5:30 pm
Kam, you *better* be afraid! She’s done……………so much.
I only hope that for the comedic factor alone, she does more…(Where did I put those damn notes?…)
Dusty
May 27th, 2010
5:31 pm
So…Jay writes another epistle on how broadminded he is and stirring up racial animosity is just something to be enjoyed. He calls it discussion. That is the prime version of bigotry. Bookman’s deliberate placing of racial commentary tries to make the comments of one insignificant politican as the mindset of every Republican.
It is not the mindset of Republicans. Perhaps it is the mindset of a libetarian politician who believes that every individual has the right to decide on his business practices as one phase of freedom. I don’t pay attention to Rand Paul because he is of little importance as far as I can tell. So I haven’t listened to his explanations. Don’t care. He has free speech like the rest of us.
.
Anti-lib
May 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
Amen Dusty!
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:32 pm
JAY
Oh, I will agree we occasionally throw the dog a bone…and of course Arizona has forced us into a recognition that the brown are there…the yellow? When, where? I missed it. And red…yeah? Please refer me to when YOU have brought that one up…
Cheap Shot…did I say it was directed to a person? No, it’s directed at a group of people…like I said, you can do the same thing by looking at the election returns from 1928 and 1964 and spin that the opposite direction…
And I never mentioned gay…that’s been much a topic…we’re center stage right now…but let me ask you, and I am not being snarky, what ARE the red civil rights issues…? What do you mean that the red and yellow don’t have “political consequences” in these parts? The red sure does in this household…oh, that’s right, the Vanishing American…
As SoCo and I were saying the other night, we’ve got to move on beyond 1964 and realize that civil rights is not a black-white issue and so long as we keep discussing it from that paradigm, we’re going nowhere fast…
Kamchak
May 27th, 2010
5:34 pm
AmVet
You better you better you bet
tom
May 27th, 2010
5:37 pm
The Libitarian party has dismissed Rand Paul as a representative of their party. The guy stepped on it big time. Might not recover.
Ken
May 27th, 2010
5:38 pm
While I agree with you that Rand Paul should have expected a strong reaction, where I disagree with you is from whom. The strong reaction is from the media, whether it be television or print. Not from the public. The public is too smart for the media. This will not effect the outcome of the race. It is sickening to me how the left and right play their games and play on people’s fears. If you support Rand Paul you are a racist. That is the left’s position if they are ever challenged on anything. Or the republican side, if you don’t support the war or the republican way, then you are not a real american, you are not patriotic, and you don’t support the troops. Both are lies of the political parties, pushed by people like Limbaugh, Coulter, Maddow, Olberman, FoxNews, CNN, MSNBC, countless right wing or left wing newspapers with writers who are either left or right wing. Maddow does not even try and hide her lobbying for the Democratic candidates. Paul was naive and thought she was fair, because he was treated fairly in the past. That was when the Paul’s were a thorn in the republican party. Now that Maddow’s party is threatened by him, it is try and smear and bring up every possibly inconsequential question to try and paint him as a racist, so the Democrats can win. At least O’Reilly who is totally in bed with NeoCon thought, at least makes an attempt to pretend he is neutral. (independent objective argument in the media is dead). Your views are obviously equally slanted. The only chance is blogs, where there are some who will call out both parties. This people are rare though. Most people with any intelligence level, knows that 1) He is not going to try and appeal the act. 2) the portion of the act he was referring to would never happen except for a small portion of places in the United States, where most people don’t want to be anywhere near anyways.
I have also heard in the 08 election from McCain/Palin, (almost 100% Palin), that they represent real americans (whatever the hell that means). Now the left is having there turn, and I am starting to hear references like Tea Party people who believe in smaller government are not real americans or are extremists.
The sad part is the policial establishment are the real extremists. Who else could run up a credit card bill this high (the deficit) give blanket authority to an outside quasi corrupt government organization like the federal reserve whose policy is to still from the poor and middle class and give to bankers and have no accountability. And by the way, a lot more republicans stood up against the banks then they Dems. The banks on the Dem’s and the oil companies own the elephants. It is not complicated.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
5:45 pm
“The Libitarian (sic) party has dismissed Rand Paul as a representative of their party.”
Tom, re: your 5:37: That isn’t remotely true. ONE person (the Vice Chair for Kentucky) has dismissed him as not being libertarian enough, and didn’t have anything to do with his comments about the Civil Rights Act.
From newstimes .com: “Koch said Paul’s views on a variety of subjects differ from the Libertarian Party, including his promised support for any measures to ban abortion and his opposition to same-sex marriage.
“Trying to impose a national standard for that would throw the whole system out of balance, and that’s definitely not Libertarian,” Koch said.
Koch also said Paul is out of step with Libertarians in his unwillingness to call for U.S. troops to leave Iraq and Afghanistan.”
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
5:46 pm
Okay,
Topic. What is the CDIB card and what does it mean? Don’t go googling, just off the top of your head…
Samantha
May 27th, 2010
5:46 pm
Bet Blumenthal’s systematic lies about his military service NEVER qualifies to run afoul of history with Bookman.
Pogo
May 27th, 2010
5:47 pm
After listening to Obama’s so-called addressment of current pressing issues, it is apparent that he is nothing more than an egomaniacal underqualified politician who is continuously shedding his political skin to address the flavor of the day while at the same time keeping his REAL controlling core value, “social justice”, intact. It is embarrassing to watch him at a press conference. No wonder he doesn’t give more of these because “uh and ahh” don’t cut it in the real world. His press secretary, for all the information he provides, shouldn’t even show up. Of course, I guess its really hard to provide cover for the actions of a corrupt, European idolizing and Chicago trained politician. And no, he isn’t European, but he would like the rest of us to live as though we were. That European model of a one world order is really working out well isn’t it?
Bosch
May 27th, 2010
5:48 pm
“The public is too smart for the media.”
Bwahahahahahaha!!! I guess that’s why folks like Scout and Andy eat up everything Fox throws out as the Gospel.
and Del – no fair. Barbra is equally as scary.
Scout
May 27th, 2010
5:52 pm
As usual, I see many of you do not know the difference between racism, bigotry, prejudice, bias or plain just not liking someone.
I sincerely believe I don’t have a “racist” bone in my body ……….
I am sure I (and you) have been a little bigoted, prejudiced or biased at one time or another ……….
I don’t like Auburn fans or liberals ……….
Jefferson
May 27th, 2010
5:53 pm
If Paul is talking he is hurting himself. What he says just won’t work and he can’t stay elected if he wins. If he wins, so what — nothing fundementally will change.
Mary Elizabeth
May 27th, 2010
5:55 pm
I am glad that Jay brought up Rand Paul’s remarks again this week because even though I rarely respond on blogs, I decided to – this one time – to give firsthand witness to the Jim Crow era in Georgia in the 1950s when I was a white teenager. Not only was Paul politically naive to make his statements regarding the Civil Rights Act, his emotional insensitivity to racial injustice in the South (and in the rest of the nation) became blatantly obvious when he did so.
Here are examples of my teenage experience in South Georgia in the 1950s, written in stream of consciousness form for time and space: driving my Mom’s weekly maid to her home, a small one-room “shack” (as they were called by whites back then) with black dirt, not grass on the ground – a nice black lady who just could not bring herself to sit in the front of the car with me, even upon my many requests; going to the movie theatre with all the black kids “housed” in the balcony only; separate restrooms; separate water fountains; fundamentalist preachers speaking in terms of bluebirds and redbirds as God’s plan to justify segregation to their congregations who wanted only to hear that anyway; walking down the town’s sidewalk and averting my eyes downward when passing a black male; no black people in my school, my church, my restaurants, certain stores; everything preprogrammed as to how one should think regarding race relations, the role of women, Catholics, Jews, etc. I left in 1963 for the North, and returned in 1970 teaching in an all black school for one semester before integration occurred. I had to screen beforehand every place in town where I took the children on a field trip to make certain that the students would not be turned away and humiliated by that act. I was told to do this by a kind, wiser, and older black teacher. She was right to tell me this as many privately owned business would still not accept the black children without a scene in 1970 in Georgia.
What I think is missing from the consciousness of many people who write on this subject is that the public/private debate is not as sanitized emotionally as would appear on the surface. When the South lost the Civil War, it resented Federal (or Northern) “intrusion” into Southern affairs out of bitterness of defeat of its “lost cause” – which was immorally based on the superiority of some human beings over others. Thereafter, this “lost cause” consciousness manifested itself in States Rights, and even today Georgia’s conservative legislators are perpetuating this Southern Independence of Federal Government Control theme by passing laws forbiding the federal government to have control of microchips placed in one’s body, forbiding Obamacare to coming into Georgia or by repealing it so that it cannot enter our domain, refusal to accept Stimulus money from the government, and the Texas governor continues to speak of the old Secession theme to appeal to some constituents. (Scout, and others, the reason that more Democrats did not
vote for the Civil Rights Act was because they were conservative, former Dixiecrat Democrats, who were segregationists at that time. Many of those conservative Democrats have now become Southern Republicans, in following the lead of Sen. Strom Thurman, the former segregationist senator from S.C.) In other words, ideological positions have remained so fixated, in the South and throughout our nation, because we divide ourselves from our fellow human beings, instead of choosing to “see” those who are different as ONE with us, as equals in every fundamentally human way. Distrust of the federal government, in the South, has morphed into distrust of any government so that we are foolishly dismantling our state public government schools and other public services for a glorified private sector, when there should always be a balance between the private and public sectors in our nation for the well being of all of us. Our nation has lost its balance. It is no surprise that the present Republican Party has its base in the conservative South for all of the reasons I have mentioned above. We cannot divorce ourselves from our history if we are to be conscious human beings. Furthermore, if we desire to become spiritually enlightened human beings, as Bishop Schori was appealing for us to become, in her remarks, we will care for this planet, our collective home and, I will add, care for ALL of its people as being One with us and stop the endless divisions as perpetuated on Fox News, and through broadcasters such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. We will speak out, as I am trying to do here, in the South and break up the tendency to stereotype those who are different from us. Look inside EACH person, not outside by race or religion or sexual orientation, for answers to each person’s merit and spirit and do not be intimidated to speak similar words in your families, churches, and social organizations even if they do not agree with you. Many times they do agree with what I have said here, but are afraid to speak differently from their nurturing group. This type of perception would, of course, include increasing our care for Latino children who find themselves within our nation as their parents sought survival through work here, even as we build a better system for immigration system together.
Lastly, Josef Nix, I do not think that Jay’s picture choice last week on the Rand Paul comments was “hyperbole,” as you mentioned last week, based on my teenage experiences which I gave above. I was very glad to see that Jay did not remove that picture as his words would have lost much of their emotional impact without the picture – which was my experience and that experience was felt throughout many parts of our nation. As I recall, his comments transitioned and his last two paragraphs reinforced the validity of that photograph being chosen perfectly well.
Depth of understanding, which some call wisdom is more highly to be valued than knowledge. We must, as all people on our planet home, begin to know deeply in our hearts that we are truly all one, under God, however we individually perceive God to be.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
5:58 pm
So Mary Elizabeth, based on these words you wrote, you seem to be against affirmative action. True?
“Look inside EACH person, not outside by race or religion or sexual orientation, for answers to each person’s merit and spirit and do not be intimidated to speak similar words in your families, churches, and social organizations even if they do not agree with you.”
Dusty
May 27th, 2010
6:00 pm
Well, as usual RedNeck can picture prejudice in a more rediculous way than Bookman. (But the orange shorts things is worn thin. Bosch wore that one out a long time ago.).
As Bookman said in his recent addon to Josef. “Isssues of red and yellow for various reasons, don’t have polticial consequences in these parts”. THESE PARTS? As in Southern? That age old insinuation that not red & yellow but black is the hated color in the South where more progress has been made in the elimination of black discrimiantion than other parts of the country? Bookman sits in the middle of Atlanta and insinuates such a thought?
But, go for it, Bookman. You are playing the innocent. But it does not fit the picture.
IN the meantime, I go to complete Chinese chicken and rice. I think it is yellow. Better check!!
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:01 pm
Dusty
Probably told you this one before, but what the hay, Unmentionable says to lighten up and talk to somebody who knows what an Indian is…
White lady was driving through New Mexico and saw an old Navajo walking down the road, stopped and gave her a ride. The old lady rode for a while in silence, then looked at the bag on the seat, and asked the white lady what was in it. “A bottle of wine I got for my husband.” The old Navajo opened it. studied the bottle for a few minutes, then said, “pretty good deal.”
TaxPayer
May 27th, 2010
6:01 pm
All together now, If I had a mike, I’d mike in the morning, I’d mike in the evening…
Jay
May 27th, 2010
6:01 pm
I’m thinking I should let Mary Elizabeth write my next column.
jt
May 27th, 2010
6:02 pm
Rand Paul: (nervous laugh) You had to ask me the “but.” um.. I don’t like the idea of telling private business owners – I abhor racism – I think it’s a bad business decision to ever exclude anybody from your restaurant. But at the same time I do believe in private ownership. But I think there should be absolutely no discrimination on anything that gets any public funding and that’s most of what the Civil Rights Act was about to my mind.
I hate quibling, but I still standby the fact that Doctor Paul NEVER said he was against the CRA. He claimed to NOT LIKE certain aspects of it.(private property). He didn’t say he would not have supported it.
I think that that is an important distinction. The second link was the same. He had problems with certain aspects of the CRA as all Americans who cherish private property should.
As far as his “reversal”, this is straight from the Horse’s mouth———————–
“I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person. I have clearly stated in prior interviews that I abhor racial discrimination and would have worked to end segregation. Even though this matter was settled when I was 2, and no serious people are seeking to revisit it except to score cheap political points, I unequivocally state that I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
“Let me be clear: I support the Civil Rights Act because I overwhelmingly agree with the intent of the legislation, which was to stop discrimination in the public sphere and halt the abhorrent practice of segregation and Jim Crow laws.
“As I have said in previous statements, sections of the Civil Rights Act were debated on Constitutional grounds when the legislation was passed. Those issues have been settled by federal courts in the intervening years
“My opponent’s statement on MSNBC Wednesday that I favor repeal of the Civil Rights Act was irresponsible and knowingly false. I hope he will correct the record and retract his claims.”
“The issue of civil rights is one with a tortured history in this country. We have made great strides, but there is still work to be done to ensure the great promise of Liberty is granted to all Americans.
“This much is clear: The federal government has far overreached in its power grabs. Just look at the recent national healthcare schemes, which my opponent supports. The federal government, for the first time ever, is mandating that individuals purchase a product. The federal government is out of control, and those who love liberty and value individual and state’s rights must stand up to it.
“These attacks prove one thing for certain: the liberal establishment is desperate to keep leaders like me out of office, and we are sure to hear more wild, dishonest smears during this campaign.”
If you want to find racism Jay, go look at your nearest friendly federal correction facility.
itpdude
May 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
Jay, you are probably the best editorial writer on the AJC staff. And I disagree with you on a lot.
You are supremely fair in your assertion about making an intelligent argument against the CRA. And personally, I think PARTS of the act should be rescinded, such as forcing private businesses to let black people in their establishments. Is it a jackass move to say, “no blacks?” Uhhh, yeah.
But that’s also freedom, hoss. If some business doesn’t want my white business, is it a jackass move? Yup. But that is freedom. If someone doesn’t want me in their house because I’m white, is it a jackass move? Yes. But that is freedom. If a black woman won’t date a man because he’s white, is that a jackass move? Yes. But that is freedom.
Or would you force the black woman to bed a white man in the name of “equality” or some such blather?
It’s one thing to discriminate in government. We SHOULD be equal under the law. But quite another to say, “I serve a black clientele.”
And here is the proof that liberal whites are not serious about black equality: They would rather dwell on a black not allowed to sit at a lunch counter but raise NOT A PEEP about how black men are FAR more likely to be sentenced to death for murder. Or how black men receive far harsher penalties under our “justice” system.
But liberal whites want to raise Cain about a black not being allowed in a country club or a pool or some other joint. It’s a pretty pathetic commentary on the white liberal left when they are more concerned about the swarthy bourgeois being seated at a fancy restaurant table while the poor buck Negro is being sentenced to death on skimpy evidence. Pretty pathetic.
TaxPayer
May 27th, 2010
6:05 pm
Jay’s Guest Column? Saturday or Sunday, perhaps. Give it a try, Jay.
jt
May 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
Once again in case you missed it.
If you want some racism, go down to any Federal Correctional Facility.
You’ll see all you want..
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:06 pm
“I’m thinking I should let Mary Elizabeth write my next column.”
Why am I not surprised, Jay.
TaxPayer
May 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
If we all lived in the dark, what would we do. Develop keener senses of smell?
Jay
May 27th, 2010
6:08 pm
Why WOULD you be surprised, Dave R?
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:09 pm
I’m not. It makes as little sense as this one does.
dax
May 27th, 2010
6:09 pm
well i think goldwater must have read into the future. it’s so true. i tried to get on to be a fireman. i couldn’t. it’s because i’m a white male. yeah i know, the lowest of the lows…according to liberals. worse thing is, i was never alive during slavery, but i’m told to feel guilty for being white.
jt
May 27th, 2010
6:09 pm
Go visit Rice Street.
Therein lies some more racism.
INSTITUTIONALIZED racism. Thanks to the benovolent Federal government.
And Rand Paul only makes a comment about curtailing some powers and the pundits go berserk.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:10 pm
Mary Elizabeth…
Well, the hyperbole comment was a flashback to an earlier exchange between me and Jay when I had to agree with him on a matter of hyperbole when I would rather not have. Yes. it is hyperbole. Just as is tonight’s. I am a native of the South myself and grew up here in the 1960s, left for a few years to go up to the Northwest to university but chose to come back home in no small part due to the overt prejudice against Indians (Unmentionable was subject to it on the job and on the street). I have my own stream of conscious memoires as well and could, if I chose, tell stories of personal experience to make your hair stand on end, but one thing I have learned–the South is no more predisposed to bigotry and racism than any other part of Western Civilization…just like all the rest, we have our success and we have our failure…to zero in on 1964 and not move beyond, as I said, is the same hyperbole I employ when not moving beyond 1865. The difference here is that I know I am doing it and will admit to it…like to stir a stink…
itpdude
May 27th, 2010
6:11 pm
BTW, sweet post by Mary Elizabeth. Incredible stuff and thank you, ma’am.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:12 pm
And, Jay, my man…you see we keep on discussing it in terms of black and white…I rest my case…only Dusty, SoCo and I seem to be able to see beyond that…
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:14 pm
Jay
You were in the Northwest. Were you there at the time of the Boldt Decision?
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:14 pm
Hey, josef, don’t forget ME!
TaxPayer
May 27th, 2010
6:18 pm
The ones that scare me the most are the high caroten content folks. Those folks, well, for one thing, they eat like rabbits. It’s just plain, how do I say this as nicely as possible… it’s just, disgusting! And that orange day-glo appearance. Well, It’s just not natural!
Legend of Len Barker
May 27th, 2010
6:18 pm
Enjoyed the column, Jay. The 1960 and 1964 elections were something I had looked at a few months ago. 1960 was where it all changed. I was reading the Atlanta Daily World for black high school sports scores because they were something neither the Journal nor the Constitution carried.
The Daily World was for Kennedy and ran several pro-Kennedy ads. Black voters in Atlanta voted for Nixon. It was close, but it was a Nixon win.
Within four years, everything changed in Georgia. Ernest Vandiver not only desegregated UGA (and took charge of the issue, unlike in Alabama or in Mississippi) and then helped to desegregate Atlanta high schools a year later.
Kennedy’s assassination is interesting to read in the more rural papers around the state. Most of the youth were hit solidly by his death; the adults were stunned, but most papers weren’t overly emotional. JFK as well as Robert Kennedy had made an enemy out of the South. Not only for their pro-integration stance, but for Robert’s involvement with the Freedom Riders.
LBJ was a backstabber. A Texan who supported Civil Rights and not caring who he offended to make it happen.
Carl Sanders had been elected in 1962. While Sanders didn’t do anything as “offensive” as Vandiver, I think it says something about the state when Lester Maddox – initially regarded as a joke because of the depth of his views and his abrasiveness – won the election.
Jay
May 27th, 2010
6:19 pm
I arrived there after it was handed down, Josef, but certainly saw it being implemented and the consternation it caused.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:22 pm
Dave R..
Don’t forget ME?
Fill me in…my jerking knee is clouding my perception at the moment…
Scout
May 27th, 2010
6:25 pm
jt:
If you want to see some “racism” try walking down Auburn Avenue tonight at 10pm with a Confederate Battle Flag and a $100 bill taped to your forehead (all of which is you right to do and Constitutional) and see what happens.
BTW, if anyone does that you are also stupid.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:27 pm
josef: “And, Jay, my man…you see we keep on discussing it in terms of black and white…I rest my case…only Dusty, SoCo and I seem to be able to see beyond that…”
Don’t forget me. You helped me to understand more about native-americans and their plight than I knew before.
And since I’m color-blind about all things human, I don’t think black or white in any case.
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 27th, 2010
6:29 pm
Jay, Josef
As someone not familiar with the Boldt Decision, what are y’all’s takes on it?
Legend of Len Barker
May 27th, 2010
6:30 pm
There is a reason why the Civil Rights Act was pushed through, including those provisions on who private businesses could and could not serve:
The South had pretty much proven over the course of the last 100 years that federal intervention was the only way to change things.
Take away slavery? We’ll set up Black Codes.
Ensure that blacks are citizens? We’ll disenfranchise with grandfather clauses, white primaries, and literacy requirements (which Herman Talmadge dropped when more whites were been disenfranchised than blacks)
Black men looking to express opinions? Lynch law. There are confirmed lynchings in this state that happened because a black man was reading issues of northern black newspapers and passing them out.
Lynch law was so scary that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in a case that it would not extradite a man to Georgia because Georgia could not ensure his safety. This was in the 1930s or 1940s.
Two school systems in Georgia had done any bit of desegregation (Atlanta and Chatham) before the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This was 10 years after Brown vs. Board of Education supposedly overturned segregation.
Then you have guys like Lester Maddox boasting that the feds couldn’t make the Pickrick serve black citizens. Blacks were good enough to cook food in Maddox’s restaurant, but weren’t good enough to go inside the dining area. He wasn’t the only one. James H. Gray, Albany’s media mogul purchased a swimming pool a year after the city shut both of them down. He purchased the white one, for whites only, and went out of his way to decline service for black citizens.
I don’t think a reversal of this would send us back to segregation. But it was something absolutely necessary to end segregation in the South.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:32 pm
Scout, your 6:25 was funny!
Probably true, but funny
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
6:32 pm
Yes, great post Mary.
Brutally honest and wise…
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:35 pm
JAY
Good. Then we have a point of relation here. I was a young Turk at the time, leaving my native land as a political refugee with a bad taste in my mouth and ready to change citizenship. I mean there I was in liberal la la land. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Then came the Boldt Decision. What I was hearing caused me to fire off a letter to the editor of the B’ham Herald, in which I compared what I was hearing to the worst excesses of “back home.” The editor had me come in, talked to me and ran the letter complete with a picture of me and top of the op-ed page. I didn’t understand why, but what the hey, takes your plaudits, eh? We were totally unprepared for the backlash from the liberal white Northwesterners. The threats were every bit the equal of the klanners back home. It was an eye opener.
During it all, I got a call from a fellow wanting “to talk to you about Indians.” My reaction was, well, not exactly welcoming. He laughed, “maybe I ought to introduce myself more properly. I’m Joe Louie, Tribal Chairman of the Nooksack.” We met and he invited me to an “Indian ceremony.” It was the graduation exercise and dinner for the tribal school being held at the local “good hotel.” I was seated to his right and he made an introduction and then the “festivities” continued in the boring and drawn out fashion of any Civitans Club anywhere in the land. I was about to go bonkers when the valedictorian whispered, “come on out back with me for some Indian ritual.” Well, the statute of limitations is out now, but it was Yakima Fireweed, and you, having been there in time and place, know what that meant!
But what I learned from that was this: call it whatever you want to, anytime “they” get their rights upheld, the mainstream is going to squawk, even when that mainstream would call me every kind of dog known being from down South, you know…totally incapable of dealing with their own same song, different dance…much of what we see hereabouts…
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:38 pm
The Boldt Decision upheld the treaty rights the Indians had to half of the salmon catch. That being a major industry in the area, the white (and a few black) fishermen went on a rampage…
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
6:40 pm
Looks like the reactionaries better prepare for yet another defeat.
Conservative Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson said Wednesday he will support a proposed repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” law against gays serving openly in the military – upping the odds that the measure will pass.
The Nebraska lawmaker, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced his decision as the panel gathered to hammer out a military policy bill that is expected to include a provision to repeal the controversial law.
“I don’t believe that most Nebraskans want to continue a policy that not only encourages but requires people to be deceptive and to lie. The ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy does just that,” said Mr. Nelson in a prepared statement.
The measure is now expected to have enough support to clear the panel in a vote as early as Thursday, setting up a full vote in the Senate, where 60 votes in the 100-member chamber likely will be needed for passage.
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/Nelson-Repeal-Dont-Ask/2010/05/27/id/360281
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:40 pm
Dave R…
I was unaware that anyone was paying any attention. I make no pretense to being any kind of authority on the subject, but having spent the last 35 years sharing beads and blankets with one, I do have an interest in the matter…
And, again, CDIB?
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
6:44 pm
And another…
About a week after acknowledging he “misspoke” about his military service during the Vietnam era, a new poll released Thursday shows Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal remains popular among Connecticut voters and maintains a double-digit lead in the race.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, conducted May 24-25, shows Blumenthal leading the endorsed Republican Senate candidate, former wrestling executive Linda McMahon, by a 56 percent to 31 percent margin in the race to fill the seat being vacated by the retiring Sen. Chris Dodd.
Blumenthal had led McMahon 61 percent to 28 percent in a March 17 survey.
“It looks like Connecticut voters forgive Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, or feel that there is nothing to forgive in the Vietnam service flap,” said poll director Douglas Schwartz. “While he has taken a hit with voters, his poll numbers were so high to begin with that he still maintains a commanding lead over Linda McMahon.”
Scout
May 27th, 2010
6:44 pm
Legend of Len Barker :
Do you think there is more pure racism/bigotry/segregation today in the North or in the South ?
Scout
May 27th, 2010
6:46 pm
AmVet:
You are correct and sadly with Memorial Day coming up that a dishonor to every one of those 58,000+ names on the Vietnam Wall.
Scout
May 27th, 2010
6:47 pm
Excuse me: “that is a dishonor”
Hillbilly Deluxe
May 27th, 2010
6:47 pm
Josef
Thanks, I wanted a little more perspective than a Google search. Lots of those treaties had the old “as long as the grass grows and the rivers flow” line but it turned out more like Joe South’s line, “the grass don’t grow and the river don’t flow like it did in my childhood days”.
From your brief synopsis, sounds to me like the sticking point was money, as it nearly always is. As long as there is no money to fight over, people can get along fairly well but throw 30 pieces of silver on the table and everything changes. But in my view, the treaty said 50% and a deal’s a deal.
I’ve said before that people have been abusing each other since the dawn of time; only the methods and the “reasons” change.
Dave R.
May 27th, 2010
6:48 pm
josef, you told us not to google it, but I cheated.
Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood card
Curious Observer
May 27th, 2010
6:49 pm
I think it says something about the state when Lester Maddox – initially regarded as a joke because of the depth of his views and his abrasiveness – won the election.
He didn’t “win” the election, Len. It was thrown into the state legislature, and the choice was really between a Republican and Lester. At that time, Republicans still carried the stench of integration to Southerners, and the Democratic, anti-integration legislature selected Lester.
Still, to give him credit, Lester Maddox did more for higher education in Georgia than any other governor, before or since. And among other actions, he cracked down on the speed traps in Ludowici, removing the authority of the police to issue tickets. Finally, he appointed more blacks to higher government positions than any other governor, before or since.
I worked at Colony Square during his last years, and I occasionally met him during a lunchtime stroll down 14th Street. He was a sad, lonely figure at the time. But for all his displayed bigotry during his campaigns, I couldn’t help but believe that there was something fundamentally decent about the man. Though he stood in many of his public statements for many things I abhor, his actions in office bore my belief out. I suppose I’m about as liberal as they come, but I pay tribute to Lester Maddox’s accomplishments. His was a strange contrast between public, abhorrent statements and real progress in racial relations and progressive development. May God rest his soul.
Jay
May 27th, 2010
6:52 pm
That ’s a pitch-perfect description of that time and place, Josef. Anti-Indian bigotry in the West — particularly in the intermountain West — is as virulent as any form of racism in the country.
I remember walking into a two-bit country club bar in Wyoming with a friend from the local reservation — a guy who had been at the confrontation at Wounded Knee — and being startled by how nervous he was about how he might be treated. You’d have thought he was a black man breaking the color line down South, which in effect he was.
And that was in the early ’90s.
josef nix
May 27th, 2010
6:52 pm
BTW
Anybody noting the Cherokee ad running with the blog post? We are. And, Jay, let your handlers know that, yes, some of us do pay attention to the advertisers who make it possible for us to sound off here…
And how does it play hereabouts? Well, mixed emotions…one side says “yes, go and try to understand. ” Another side says, “come on up, white and black folks, and see ‘real’ Indians (oops Native Americans) doing real Indian things on the reservation and bring your Andrew Jackson’s to spend…”
Teller of Tall Tails
May 27th, 2010
6:53 pm
Scout,
I hear once DADT is repealed, a new ritual will become more commonplace in the military — in the middle of the night, certain people of the manly man, soap in sock variety will be stripped and dressed in pink leotards and left out on the parade grounds at the most inopportune times. What do you think. Will it change their behavior.
AmVet
May 27th, 2010
6:55 pm
“…dishonor to every one of those 58,000+ names on the Vietnam Wall.”
Maybe so, I’d put it on par with say, someone telling scurrilous lies about some of America’s finest young men and women and future leaders in the United States Army, refusing to shake hands with their Commander in Chief.
Scout
May 27th, 2010
6:56 pm
Legend of Len Barker:
I suppose you remember that free blacks were not allowed to vote in many Northern States for years after the war, some States required a $1,000 cash bond for a black to even enter the State and coming up to modern times I am sure you remember those fine citizens of Boston turning over school buses when someone tried to tell them where their kids would go to school. And don’t leave out what the American Army did to Native Americans after 1865. I could go on and on …….. but I think you get the picture.
No one is innocent.