"Whites" was chiseled an inch deep into the marble above the left side entrance to the doctor's office on Main Street in Shaw, Mississippi. Above the right side entrance was "Colored". The year was 1980, sixteen years after the passing of the Civil Rights Act, but nobody said anything because the marble slabs had a solid coat of green paint, and I guess some thought that was good enough to abide by what was now Federal law. But while the paint did cover the marble slabs, it did little to hide the words White and Colored.
I didn't say anything; my used clothing store was about six doors down the block, and while 98% of our business was from the blacks with whom we'd always had good relations, we knew that to raise the issue would have ruined our business — and perhaps worse, since people knew where we lived. That's just the way things were.
The two senators I knew from my youth were two of the longest-serving in the U.S. Senate, John C. Stennis (for whom the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) is named) and James O. Eastland were both Democrats — Blue Dog Democrats by today's definition, since they were at least as conservative as today's neo-cons (and as I've often said, Eastland was the most powerful racist in America for a generation). Everybody knew their place and didn't dare disturb the status quo — with the exception of a few trailer-dwelling white trash families, the whites usually did pretty well, the blacks who worked for them got by, and the blacks who did own businesses struggled just to stay in business (a topic for another time). But every white was very patriotic, very Christian, and we only dealt with the blacks because we had to. Of course there were the occasional romances between blacks and whites - the blacks didn't get riled up about it, but the whites — you'd think Satan had just personally possessed the family whose son was caught with a black girl — but sooner or later everyone would settle down, the girl would have her child, the guy would be sent away, and there was never, ever any thought of marriage between the two. If a black guy were so foolish as to be found in a compromising position with a white girl, however — well, the readers can rest assured that the stories they'd heard of the racist South were no exaggeration.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Glenn Contrarian
addendum - I last saw the 'white' and 'colored' signs in Shaw, MS in 1984 - the year that The Cosby Show first aired.
2 - Dave Nalle
You paint with an awfully broad brush there, Glenn. Lumping all Republicans into one category is convenient, but incredibly biased. The party is characterized more than anything else by how unmonolithic and diverse it is.
Even before the last election at least a third of the GOP held much more socially liberal beliefs than you acknowledge in your article, and those elements of the party are growing in numbers and power after the debacle of 2008.
The GOP has always been accepting of minorities in a very authentic way. And the reason minority political figures do well in the GOP is not tokenism, but because those who have the strength of character to survive the harassment they get from non-republican members of their ethnic group for joining the GOP often have the qualities it takes to lead.
There's also a lot more acceptance of gays than you realize in the GOP. Ever heard of the Log Cabin Republicans? Are you aware that in a CBS News poll last year 46% of the Republicans polled favored civil unions or gay marriage? Not much lower than the percentage among Democrats.
This is kind of a "when was the last time you beat your wife article." Perhaps we should start talking about Democrats and their hatred of jews and desire to sell the US out to international socialists. I mean you all want that, right?
Dave
3 - Roger Nowosielski
I basically agree with you, Glenn, except that it's not a rebirth so much as continuation of old values, I think. The Left is like a sleeping giant and it needs to be energized from time to time. Obama's election served as a catalyst. As to the Right, I happen to think it would be good for the country if it remained as is - if only for the fact that the Left needs a foil and a worthy opponent. I think this tension is good (a very delicate but much needed balance in our fragile democracy) because it keeps both ideological wings in check and honest. Too many gains by the Left would result in statism, which would be self-defeating in the long run because it would be usurped then by the official position and the Left would have lost its independence and voice; as to the gains by the Right, I don't think we have much to worry about. Let it be!
I don't want to get ahead of myself too much here, because I'll discuss these matters in the follow-up to my last article. But those are my comments so far.
Roger
4 - Doug Hunter
The left has certainly done good in regards to race, they have successfully turned 90+% of blacks into lemmings mindlessly voting democrat in every election. Nevermind that blacks actually line up socially with republicans, they're so damn scared of the evil righty whiteys that have been propagandized into their heads. Say a lie long enough and loud enough and it becomes the truth.
Thanks for contributing to the lie with this article.
5 - Roger Nowosielski
I guess it's kind of funny that Dave refers to 2008 as a debacle before the Obama term has even started. How is that for open-mindedness and giving our president-elect the benefit of the doubt? I would say that it comes awfully close to prejudging the matters, unless of course one is a prophet and can foretell the future.
Interestingly though, our now departing President had gotten as much popular support as he could possibly hope for, in U.S. and worldwide, right after 9/11. The fact that he squandered it all was a matter of his own doing.
If I understand it correctly, GOP is supposed
to excel in such qualities as fair play and objectivity? But perhaps it's just a myth.
6 - Roger Nowosielski
The Left hasn't, Doug. The Democratic Party and the politicians may have, and you may be right on that. They're not the same thing, though.
7 - Christopher Rose
That's right Doug; black people are obviously not capable of thinking for themselves at all and should be returned to slave status...
8 - Jordan Richardson
Nevermind that blacks actually line up socially with republicans
How do you figure that, Doug? Or do I even want to know...?
9 - Clavos
How do you figure that, Doug? Or do I even want to know...?
Though not comprehensive, one example is the overwhelming anti gay marriage Black vote in California.
Blacks (especially lower class Blacks) do tend to be socially conservative and belong to Fundie religions.
10 - Glenn Contrarian
Dave -
Apparently, you missed the point of the article - and Roger did not. Whether any of us Democrats like it or not, we need the Republican Party, as Roger said, if only as a foil.
My article was NOT meant as a "when was the last time you beat your wife" diatribe. My article was meant as a warning! Why? Because of the corruption of power. If the Democrats become too powerful, they'll become every bit as corrupt as the Nixon administration (but I doubt we'd ever reach the depth of Dubya's).
And my warning - "evolve or die" - wasn't an off-the-cuff remark - and the dearth of support by minorities in the past two elections should be absolute proof of the matter, of the Republican Party's failure to adapt with the radical changes in the American psyche and with the American general population's public PERCEPTION of what the Republicans stand for.
You must agree that politics is often not based on facts, but on perception...and the Republicans are losing the war of public perception. For example, while the Republicans 'own' the platforms of "patriotism" and "defense", the Democrats have successfully gained ownership of "civil rights" and "equal rights", and you see the result in the electorate.
Lastly, I stated that the Republicans see the danger, and they're trying to do something about it - but as long as the PUBLIC PERCEPTION remains that the Republicans are the party that accepts neo-Nazis, prefers "whites only" neighborhoods and country clubs, and has a leadership singing "Barack the Magic Negro", the Republicans will continue to diminish in greater-than-direct proportion with the changing racial makeup of the American electorate...and whatever you may say about 45% of Republicans favoring civil unions for gays, the PUBLIC PERCEPTION is that Republicans think LGBT's are perverts unworthy of the same rights as 'normal' Americans.
As much as we DO need the Republicans, their continuing failure to adapt with the changing of American PUBLIC PERCEPTION presents a danger to them, and to the American political tradition in general. My warning remains: "Evolve or die".
11 - Baronius
"the minorities see which party's welcome is genuine, and which party's welcome smacks strongly of patronization"
Come on, Glenn! Both parties patronize everyone. At least the Republicans do it personally, by appointing high-level blacks. The Democrats patronize blacks collectively by talking about illiteracy and welfare as if those are "African-American issues". Far more insulting, if you think about it.
The prominent conservative blacks are by-and-large smarter people than their white counterparts. The black conservative had to see through a greater number of stupid cliches than most white conservatives did. Likewise, black conservatives are doubly smarter than black liberals. So while Marshall and Thomas both got on the court partially because of their skin color, Thomas has emerged as an independent mind, where Marshall was a run-of-the-mill liberal.
12 - Brunelleschi
Don't kid yourself Dave N.
We know where the bigots hang out. GOP, their home.
13 - Brunelleschi
Glenn-
The GOP can't evolve. They don't believe in it. Instead, they have to pray.
:)
I guess they didn't pray hard enough in Nov.
14 - Glenn Contrarian
Baronius -
You've GOT to be kidding. Despite the ABSOLUTE fact that majority-African-American areas have poorer schools, far less access to affordable health care, far less opportunity for jobs that pay a living wage, and the endemic problem of broken households, you think the issues of illiteracy and welfare are an INSULT to them?
Baronius, gone are the days of 'welfare queens', of those who would simply sit at home just collecting a paycheck commensurate with the number of kids they had. However, the SOCIAL SERVICES are still crucial. These include food stamps, affordable (or free) health care, reduced or free school lunches, job training and assistance...the list goes on.
Maybe you're sitting there fuming about all your oh-so-precious tax dollars going towards all this...but without these services the crime rate will skyrocket...and then MORE of your tax dollars will go down the drain.
However, if the education available to them is brought up to equal that which suburbanites enjoy, and if those social services - which are so often derisively referred to as 'welfare' - continue to be offered, you often do see improvement over time. I remember my mother being on food stamps - just as Obama's mother was - and taking advantage of many other social services. These kept us going until I was able to provide for me and mine...
...and I ASSURE you that the American taxpayers have made a significant profit on the investment they have made on me.
But then, I think I might be wasting my time discussing this matter with someone who makes a blanket statement that anyone in group A is 'doubly-smarter' than anyone is group B...which is by definition a prejudicial statement.
15 - Lumpy
What is this bizarre obsession lefty writers have with redefining the right based mostly on their own prejudices with little or no reference to reality. A syndrome ably demonstrated here.
16 - Glenn Contrarian
lumpy -
I guess these are just made-up events having no reference to reality:
"Barack the Magic Negro"
Bush moving to a neighborhood where people of color were banned until 2001
a candidate for the RNC chair giving up his membership at a whites-only country club
Yeah, that's EVIL to assume that such acts by the LEADERSHIP of the Republican party says anything at all about Republicans. Oh, silly, silly me!
17 - Jet
GLENN!!!!! I'm SHOCKED that you'd think such a thing. The elephant prejudiced?
18 - Baronius
Do you know what "Barack the Magic Negro" is about? It's a parody of Al Sharpton. It makes fun of the left-wing claims that Obama doesn't represent the authentic black experience. The thrust of the comedy is that liberals can say almost anything about blacks and get away with it, but conservatives would be dragged across the coals. Of course, that's what's happened in the past few weeks in the supposed scandal about the song. And here you are, Glenn, proving it again.
For a look at the orginial concept of the "magical negro", you can read film criticism or the article in the LA Times that inspired the parody song.
19 - Clavos
But then, I think I might be wasting my time discussing this matter with someone who makes a blanket statement that anyone in group A is 'doubly-smarter' than anyone is group B...which is by definition a prejudicial statement.
Pot.
Kettle.
Black.*
*For confirmation, read the article.
20 - Dave Nalle
I guess it's kind of funny that Dave refers to 2008 as a debacle before the Obama term has even started.
Roger, was Obama president in 2008? I was referring to the election itself, of course. It was a debacle for the Republicans, obviously.
I'd say you're the one jumping to conclusions and prejudging here.
If I understand it correctly, GOP is supposed
to excel in such qualities as fair play and objectivity? But perhaps it's just a myth.
So far the GOP seems to be bending over backwards to support Obama. It's actually kind of creepy to see them all kissing the butts of Obama appointees in the confirmation hearings. They're not even bothering to ask the most basic questions about many of them.
Dave
21 - Cindy D
I guess that means no one is asking Dave.
22 - El Bicho
I love white guys telling black people what's in their best interest.
23 - Dave Nalle
ou must agree that politics is often not based on facts, but on perception...and the Republicans are losing the war of public perception.
I agree with this, and it's a great accomplishment of the disinformation machine of the left. The problem is that when you put people that manipulative and dishonest in power the result can be pretty grim.
For example, while the Republicans 'own' the platforms of "patriotism" and "defense", the Democrats have successfully gained ownership of "civil rights" and "equal rights", and you see the result in the electorate.
Which is ironics, since their idea of civil rights and equal rights are the forced equality of slavery and 'rights' which are just entitlements granted by their masters.
The following statement from your article, which I'm quoting again, is a perfect example of how twisted and biased your reasoning is.
the Republicans are the party that accepts neo-Nazis,
Really? Where can you find some evidence of a policy of recruiting them? The truth is that no party has a policy of recruiting neo-nazis, and they can just as easily join either party if they want to. And in fact, most of them have no party affiliation. David Duke ran for the senate and for president as a Democrat. Only later did he try running as a Republican, so I guess he saw the Democratic party as the natural first choice for a racist.
And ultimately this is a ludicrous accusation. If Jeffrey Dahmer voted Democrat would that mean that the party welcomed serial killers? Your fallacious logic is pathetic.
prefers "whites only" neighborhoods and country clubs,
You have evidence of this? Legally there haven't been any whites only neighborhoods since the late 1960s as the result of the Fair Housing Act which was sponsored by and overwhelmingly supported by Republican legislators. And I know for a fact that this claim is bullshit. My deed at my old house said the same thing. I looked into it back then and the fact is that all deeds and covenants containing that restriction were universally made invalid in Texas under the Texas Fair Housing Act in 1973, but in many cases the wording itself was not changed. Here's an article about this by a lawyer.
and has a leadership singing "Barack the Magic Negro"
So Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party now? Because his show is the only place I know of that song being played. Plus the idea of the "magic negro" is an established concept in academic literary/dramatic criticism which predates Obama's rise to prominence and was never considered negative towards african americans in any way, and is only a criticism of writers (particularly screenwriters) who used it as a Deus ex Machina.
the Republicans will continue to diminish in greater-than-direct proportion with the changing racial makeup of the American electorate...and whatever you may say about 45% of Republicans favoring civil unions for gays, the PUBLIC PERCEPTION is that Republicans think LGBT's are perverts unworthy of the same rights as 'normal' Americans.
The point is that these are false perceptions which can be changed. If the disinformation machine on the left can spread the lies then Republicans ought to be able to counter that propaganda with propaganda of their own.
My warning remains: "Evolve or die".
And I still maintain that it is the perception which needs to be changed more than the party.
Anyway, thanks for providing me with some great material for my next article about how bigoted and mendacious the left is.
Dave
24 - El Bicho
"So Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party now? Because his show is the only place I know of that song being played."
Google RNC candidate Chip Saltsman
25 - Dave Nalle
I believe Saltsman is polling fifth at under 10% in the RNC contest. That doesn't make him a leader of the GOP. I can call myself leader of the world and it doesn't make it so.
Ironically the winner of the RNC chairmanship is likely to be black - either Michael Steele or Ken Blackwell.
Dave