On July 9, 1868, Americans changed the U.S. Constitution for the fourteenth time, adapting our foundational document to construct a new nation without systematic Black enslavement. In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution had prohibited slavery on the basis of race, but it did not prevent the establishment of a system in which Black Americans continued to be unequal. Backed by President Andrew Johnson, who had taken over the presidency after an actor had murdered President Abraham Lincoln, white southern Democrats had done their best to push their Black neighbors back into subservience. So long as southern states had abolished enslavement, repudiated Confederate debts, and nullified the ordinances of secession, Johnson was happy to readmit them to full standing in the Union, still led by the very men who had organized the Confederacy and made war on the United States.
Hi everyone. Not surprising that we are so few this morning as HCR published 4hrs ago and its still not arrived on my personal system. I guess many others are in the same boat.
Texas is a top example now of why rights need to be enforced on the federal level. Everyone should listen to the Rachel Maddow podcast for tonight. Texas arrested a man who stood for 6 hours in line to vote just because he was a few months from the end of probation for a years old conviction. They set his bail at $100,000, and he could get years in prison. These laws preventing people wo have been released from prison from voting should be abolished on the federal level. Florida also has such laws.
Here's the Jane Willen article copied and pasted for those who wish to read it:
"Keep the Faith: All the lessons history class didn't teach
Rev. Jane A. Willan
Special to the Telegram & Gazette
I was an American history major in college. I went to a good a college. I loved history. Here’s what I learned:
The civil war was fought about slavery. Nope. It wasn’t. It was fought over economics and the power of state’s rights. Nothing to do with the freedom of enslaved people.
I was taught that the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves. Wrong again.
I learned that a shining moment in the growth of our country was the G.I. Bill. Thanks to a caring government, all returning servicemen from WWII were provided with money for education, housing loans, and job assistance. Sorry, but no. The GI Bill was for white Americans only.
Probably the first bit of American history that I ever learned was that the Pilgrims were friends with the Indians, and they celebrated a happy meal together which we now call Thanksgiving. Not even close. The Europeans brought disease that killed up to 90 percent of the native peoples in coastal New England within three years of landing in Plymouth Harbor. The Pilgrims response to the death and destruction they caused? Governor Bradford attributed the plague to “the good hand of God,” which “favored our beginnings” by “sweeping away great multitudes of the natives...that He might make room for us.” Not once mentioned in any story of the Pilgrims that I have ever heard.
The Civil War, post-WWII America, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Pilgrims. For a history major who loved history — I’ve gotten a lot of it wrong for a long time.
But at least I am aware of these historical events, as incorrect as my understanding might be. It turns out that there is a tsunami of American history that I have never even heard of (to my embarrassment).
I had never heard of Red Summer, a period of time around 1919 when white mobs incited a wave of anti-Black violence in dozens of cities all over the country.
I know almost nothing about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment (1932-1972). Seriously, 1972?
I wasn’t aware until recently that during World War II, historically Black universities and colleges offered refuge for Jews fleeing Nazi Germany.
Nothing in any of the American history that I studied ever told me about Katherine Johnson, a black woman who was a mathematician for NASA. Without her, we would never have sent astronauts into orbit and or landed a man on the moon.
I either know the wrong history (as in, “history that is myth”) or I am ignorant of actual, real history. This makes me nervous.
I have noticed that white people resist any truth about the power and prevalence of white supremacy in this country. And I think that is because white people really and truly believe what we were taught — that throughout the history of America, white people have been good and kind and heroic. Since we never heard about historical facts such as the Tulsa Race riots or Tuskegee syphilis experiment, or the annihilation brought about by the Pilgrims, we had no reason to think that white people were anything but decent. In other words, if you were taught as children that white people didn’t commit the atrocities that they committed, then why would you accept that white supremacy is alive and well. How could you?
Today, people of color are the victims of white supremacy in every aspect of American life including at the hands of law enforcement. According to Harvard historian, Donald Yacovone, “If America is to be a nation that fulfills its democratic promise, the history of slavery and white supremacy have to be taught in schools across the country. We need to acknowledge that white supremacy remains an integral part of American society and we need to understand how we got to where we are.”
And maybe, if white people like myself, didn’t grow up with images of America made up by heroic, kind, happy white people (the pilgrims in their pointy hats, the returning soldiers from WWII) then maybe white people wouldn’t be so shocked when statues of Confederate generals are torn down or when school boards vote to do away with racist team mascots. Maybe we could see why we need to heal. Because until we see why, we will never change.
When it came time to celebrate Independence Day this year, I found myself feeling less than celebratory. What are we really celebrating? For the first time ever, Independence Day didn’t feel nearly as significant as Juneteenth.
Here’s what Frederick Douglas had to say about July 4th. “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence … is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
Maybe this is a year that we should all mourn. We should mourn who we think we were. Mourn away, grieve away the myths of our history that we hold onto so desperately.
And next year, forget July Fourth. Let’s save all our celebrating for Juneteenth."
What about the third article of the Fourteenth Amendment? Shouldn't Congresscritters who refused to vote for the certification of the 2020 electoral votes, and those who have given their assent to the January 6 insurrection attempt, even by downplaying the significance of the insurrection or its seriousness, (not to mention any who may have been actively involved in one way or another) be subject to the terms of the third article?
We don't comment frequently, and generally comment about the mental health aspects of current events. This morning, one of our local pastors and author (a former history major) wrote a beautiful column about the abrupt historical awakening many of us are experiencing.
IMO, it is really exceptional and synchronous with the ethic and intent of Heather and this group.
Money and privilege has always tried to rule the United States. Open and free courts and unhampered voting is what keeps democracy alive. Everyone needs to be responsible for our form of government or it stops being democracy.
Currently, we need the 14th Amendment to protect our vote. It is looking like Congress won't. State's Rights is code for oppression. The Supreme Court is a dumpster fire disaster, smouldering in xenophobia, racism, misogyny, and catholicism. Would they weaken the 14th?
Morning all--I, too, didn't get the email version but I have the substack site bookmarked and figured it was yet another glitch in the system. Reading HCR's letter all I could think was, "well, and here we are: exactly what the kleptocrats wanted to happen has happened."
Hi everyone. Not surprising that we are so few this morning as HCR published 4hrs ago and its still not arrived on my personal system. I guess many others are in the same boat.
Texas is a top example now of why rights need to be enforced on the federal level. Everyone should listen to the Rachel Maddow podcast for tonight. Texas arrested a man who stood for 6 hours in line to vote just because he was a few months from the end of probation for a years old conviction. They set his bail at $100,000, and he could get years in prison. These laws preventing people wo have been released from prison from voting should be abolished on the federal level. Florida also has such laws.
Here's the Jane Willen article copied and pasted for those who wish to read it:
"Keep the Faith: All the lessons history class didn't teach
Rev. Jane A. Willan
Special to the Telegram & Gazette
I was an American history major in college. I went to a good a college. I loved history. Here’s what I learned:
The civil war was fought about slavery. Nope. It wasn’t. It was fought over economics and the power of state’s rights. Nothing to do with the freedom of enslaved people.
I was taught that the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves. Wrong again.
I learned that a shining moment in the growth of our country was the G.I. Bill. Thanks to a caring government, all returning servicemen from WWII were provided with money for education, housing loans, and job assistance. Sorry, but no. The GI Bill was for white Americans only.
Probably the first bit of American history that I ever learned was that the Pilgrims were friends with the Indians, and they celebrated a happy meal together which we now call Thanksgiving. Not even close. The Europeans brought disease that killed up to 90 percent of the native peoples in coastal New England within three years of landing in Plymouth Harbor. The Pilgrims response to the death and destruction they caused? Governor Bradford attributed the plague to “the good hand of God,” which “favored our beginnings” by “sweeping away great multitudes of the natives...that He might make room for us.” Not once mentioned in any story of the Pilgrims that I have ever heard.
The Civil War, post-WWII America, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Pilgrims. For a history major who loved history — I’ve gotten a lot of it wrong for a long time.
But at least I am aware of these historical events, as incorrect as my understanding might be. It turns out that there is a tsunami of American history that I have never even heard of (to my embarrassment).
I had never heard of Red Summer, a period of time around 1919 when white mobs incited a wave of anti-Black violence in dozens of cities all over the country.
I know almost nothing about the Tuskegee syphilis experiment (1932-1972). Seriously, 1972?
I wasn’t aware until recently that during World War II, historically Black universities and colleges offered refuge for Jews fleeing Nazi Germany.
Nothing in any of the American history that I studied ever told me about Katherine Johnson, a black woman who was a mathematician for NASA. Without her, we would never have sent astronauts into orbit and or landed a man on the moon.
I either know the wrong history (as in, “history that is myth”) or I am ignorant of actual, real history. This makes me nervous.
I have noticed that white people resist any truth about the power and prevalence of white supremacy in this country. And I think that is because white people really and truly believe what we were taught — that throughout the history of America, white people have been good and kind and heroic. Since we never heard about historical facts such as the Tulsa Race riots or Tuskegee syphilis experiment, or the annihilation brought about by the Pilgrims, we had no reason to think that white people were anything but decent. In other words, if you were taught as children that white people didn’t commit the atrocities that they committed, then why would you accept that white supremacy is alive and well. How could you?
Today, people of color are the victims of white supremacy in every aspect of American life including at the hands of law enforcement. According to Harvard historian, Donald Yacovone, “If America is to be a nation that fulfills its democratic promise, the history of slavery and white supremacy have to be taught in schools across the country. We need to acknowledge that white supremacy remains an integral part of American society and we need to understand how we got to where we are.”
And maybe, if white people like myself, didn’t grow up with images of America made up by heroic, kind, happy white people (the pilgrims in their pointy hats, the returning soldiers from WWII) then maybe white people wouldn’t be so shocked when statues of Confederate generals are torn down or when school boards vote to do away with racist team mascots. Maybe we could see why we need to heal. Because until we see why, we will never change.
When it came time to celebrate Independence Day this year, I found myself feeling less than celebratory. What are we really celebrating? For the first time ever, Independence Day didn’t feel nearly as significant as Juneteenth.
Here’s what Frederick Douglas had to say about July 4th. “The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence … is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought life and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn.”
Maybe this is a year that we should all mourn. We should mourn who we think we were. Mourn away, grieve away the myths of our history that we hold onto so desperately.
And next year, forget July Fourth. Let’s save all our celebrating for Juneteenth."
And by the way, citizens of Texas will be looking after the legal implications of abortion in that great state:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/09/us/abortion-law-regulations-texas.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20210710&instance_id=35042&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=58293279&segment_id=63136&user_id=c2b65cc5ef378b8830525e9de209f534
Interesting article yesterday in The Atlantic online about how Republicans are playing "constitutional hardball" to steal the 2024 election. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/07/democracy-could-die-2024/619390/
What about the third article of the Fourteenth Amendment? Shouldn't Congresscritters who refused to vote for the certification of the 2020 electoral votes, and those who have given their assent to the January 6 insurrection attempt, even by downplaying the significance of the insurrection or its seriousness, (not to mention any who may have been actively involved in one way or another) be subject to the terms of the third article?
We don't comment frequently, and generally comment about the mental health aspects of current events. This morning, one of our local pastors and author (a former history major) wrote a beautiful column about the abrupt historical awakening many of us are experiencing.
IMO, it is really exceptional and synchronous with the ethic and intent of Heather and this group.
https://www.telegram.com/story/lifestyle/2021/07/10/keep-faith-all-lessons-history-class-didnt-teach/7893710002/
Money and privilege has always tried to rule the United States. Open and free courts and unhampered voting is what keeps democracy alive. Everyone needs to be responsible for our form of government or it stops being democracy.
Same here -- perhaps HCR didn't hit send?
Currently, we need the 14th Amendment to protect our vote. It is looking like Congress won't. State's Rights is code for oppression. The Supreme Court is a dumpster fire disaster, smouldering in xenophobia, racism, misogyny, and catholicism. Would they weaken the 14th?
Morning all--I, too, didn't get the email version but I have the substack site bookmarked and figured it was yet another glitch in the system. Reading HCR's letter all I could think was, "well, and here we are: exactly what the kleptocrats wanted to happen has happened."
So there was a time when Congress fixed problems rather than did nothing at all. Wow.
I'm a subscriber but did not receive today's newsletter.
Thank you.
HCR, thank you for your writing!! You are the first thing I read every morning.
And if the Republicans take the Senate back next year, 6 to 3 will likely become 7 to 2 on the Court.
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/stephen-breyer-retirement-plan-backfire.html