Professor Richardson, thank you for the excellent post. Your recognition of the Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v Bd of Ed anniversary is an excellent reminder that when inequities exist, there is hope. Hope that we can do better.
Unfortunately, we are regressing, as you recognize and state clearly. Pam Bondi is a disgrace unparalleled in the history of the Department of Justice. She has no business having the title of Attorney General. We are under threat of the loss of rule of law, and when that goes out the window, so does hope - because the structural foundations upon which our democracy is built are blown up.
Our only hope out of the 3 branches is the Judicial. It will require enormous legal resources to battle Trump’s all-consuming quest for power. It is a shaky alternative because the SCOTUS justices at the top are questionably in favor of true rational, logical consideration of issues in front of them v. Advancing a political ideology. Clarence Thomas is arguably the most impeachable.
I thank you for your work. You may realize it or not, but many of us wait for your article to get a glimmer of optimism and insight that reflects our present circumstances in light of our history.
In my personal experiences in Hartford, my mother always taught me never to use the “N” word. And that Black folds should be treated equally. I took that learning to heart when one day, a childhood chum down the street described the new neighbors using the “N” word. I kindly asked Marty not to use that word. As obstinate child will do, he began shouting that word at me until a jumped up and lunged at him and we commenced a horrible fight; two white kids battling over that word. I finally put him in a choke hold, headlock we used to call it, and his face soon turned red even as he kept screaming that word. Tears were running down his face and at that moment I knew I had to let him go or I would kill him.
I let him go and go up and as I walked him, he continued to yell that word at me. After probably 60 plus years, I can still hear Marty yelling that ugly word at me.
I recall a remark my daddy once made to a friend of his during the “riot” season, when mostly Black folks were engaging in street rampages maybe after MLK’s assassination. My father said, “It’s not the ones from Hartford causing all the trouble it’s the ones coming up from the south.” The “ones” of course being Black folks. But he was proud of his one Black friend, a man named Art, who was a bus driver and who was frequently invited our our house for lunch. Much later, I often wondered why Art’s family was never invited over for dinner so I could play with his kids. I’ll never know.
Then by the time of my adulthood, I was dating a Black woman. I had stayed with her family one Thanksgiving weekend down in DC. I was of course very humbled by the acceptance. Later Mitzi wanted to meet my parents. I knew this was going to be interesting. So i surprised my mother one day and introduced Mitzi. Later, mama confronted me and expressed that she was with me to only improve her social standing. I responded that this was not so because Mitzi came from upper middle class family and I came from a lower middle class one. Then she remarked that our kids would be hurt. That one remark bothered and hurt me. It was the only time she ever did say something that hurt. I forgave her for that. My mother wasn’t too worldly. Just a neighborhood girl who went from living on a small side street in a provincial town then into high school and on into a state job until she finally said yes to my father’s repeated come-ons. I turned to her and asked her and then left without waiting for a response, “But who am I?” After all, I was the mix of Italian catholic and eastern Jewish orthodoxy.
Then Mitzi wanted to meet my father. So I waited for my mother to go to church one Saturday afternoon. My father was sitting where he always sat on Saturday afternoons, reading the afternoon newspaper beside the gas space heater in the 2nd floor apartment. After I explained to him that I was dating a Black woman and wanted to bring her home, yes, I had my own “Guess who’s coming to dinner” moment, well, I observed the blood drain from my father’s face. I had seen that look before right before he was about to explode. And explode he did.
He yelled at me about how much I had failed and carried on for a while. I was patient. By then I was no longer intimidated by how he expressed his own frustrations in life by lashing out. By and by, I asked him if he was finished. Then I said, “Now it’s my turn.” I responded, “Don’t ever expect me to come crying on your death bed.”
I calmly turned around, gently opened the kitchen door, closed it and walked out. I believe those were the last words I ever spoke to my father. Within one year he was dead of a massive heart attack.
So I had the interesting experience of mirroring what had been taking place in our history. That his having that one Black friend was likely a justification and perhaps gave him a pass that he wasn’t like the other racists because he had his one Black friend over for lunch every so often.
Sorry I can’t edit at the top I can see typos but editing won’t allow me to reach the words because of the length of the story.
Read every word.....many of us have similar stories. I love persons from all countries and all colors, shapes of eyes, backgrounds....etc. I have learned so much from each one. We do ourselves a disservice by rejecting persons "different" from ourselves.
What a boring unproductive world we would be without each one.
The persons I have difficulty with are those who reject me because I do not wear heels (too painful) or wear fancy, expensive clothing...Comfortable and clean clothes are good enough for me. I don't like makeup...icky!!!! They do not look beyond the exterior.
Emily, I can relate. I gave up heels long ago. I am retired now and I go around mostly in my garden clothes and even for most events, do not get out of jeans. As for makeup, I do not use that either. And yes, many people do not look beyond the exterior. I also put up with mansplaining and listening to my spouse while ignoring me.
I bought some lipstick when I was in 8th grade. Threw out an almost unused tube when I graduated from college. The stuff I have now is probably 20 years old. The upside of this is that people will recognize me without my makeup especially when I do wear it, it is not really noticeable.
Emily none of my friends, nor I, wear heels or make-up, and actually doing both is considered out of the norm in my community. Wearing heels stands out as crippling yourself. Perhaps we are all of an age where we do not dress up as much as get dressed most days, except for special occasions. Dressing up does not mean heels, although it might mean boots. I think some of the girls wear heels for prom. Like a fancier heeled sandal, or heels, or platform shoes.
My daughter, who is 20, does not wear make-up, but does like to dress up and she has some pairs of heels which are rarely worn. They are low heels, of second hand designer shoes. They tend to be collectables more than shoes she would wear except to fancy occasions where she knows she will not walk a lot. Since she does not drive and walks and uses public transportation mostly in the German city in which she lives, she has no reason to wear heels.
I do see women in my city in Germany with make-up on. Mostly young women, and a lot of them are Eastern European, or Turkish, or Arab. I am more likely to see a woman wearing a hijab than make-up.
I live in a city in Germany where people generally do not dress up in the places I frequent.
Wow, thanks for sharing Bill! Those moments when we are shocked by friends & loved ones behavior…pierces the soul and is life altering as you say. And how wonderful you evolved past the cultural indoctrination, however subtle, to disparage “the other”. Brings to mind that song from South Pacific, “Carefully taught” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPf6ITsjsgk My parents had the soundtrack album from the movie & played it frequently….I was around 9 at the time & we kids would sing along with the song. Heh, the other one we really liked singing to was “I’m gonna wash that man right outta my hair”! When I and my sibs were kids we’d sometimes come home and ask of our parents “what does XXXX mean?”. It would have been some name or phrase a schoolyard kid had used to describe someone, be it race, culture, religion or the like. My mom would say “we don’t use that word, it is disrespectful, mean and hurtful”. Having never heard such language at home we were clueless that such words were slurs.
As I was about to enter third grade at our south-side Chicago public school, our area was under what was called the "white flight". Many stories about that. But anyhow, I remember my mom saying "You might have some little black kids in your class. Don't treat them any different."
It had never occured to me to treat them differently.
Miselle, my first experience of racism occurred on the south side of Chicago and I have never forgotten it. I was about 7 and the area we were driving through was swarming with police. It turned out that a black family was moving into the neighborhood. I thought then that it was wrong an awful thing to happen. I was born and raised in northern Indiana among people who had what I would call the casual racism of the north. Then I did not know about the KKK in Indiana in the 1920s and never had a black classmate until I was in high school. I spend three and a half years in Sierra Leone, first as a student at Fourah Bay College in Freetown (I remember the JFK assassination) and then as a Peace Corps volunteer. I came back with a very different view of American society. Now we live in a diverse neighborhood and one of our long time neighbors apparently moved (after spending a whole lot on their house) in part because of the change in the demographics. Incidentally, a majority of the students at the middle school down the street are on free or reduced lunch.
I wonder Michele, will there still be lunches for these children. It’s one of the programs they are cutting if this budget passes. As a retired teacher, I know that the children on free or reduced breakfast and lunch are children of the working poor.
Yes Barbara, “Carefully Taught” my favorite song from “South Pacific “ as well. It speaks volumes and is the ugly truth. While in college, I wrote a paper and stated that mankind, in a sense, uses art, music and literature as an expression of the beauty and the ugliness we are capable of creating. For example, I can think of two plays “Showboat”, “West Side Story”, and the movie “Gentleman’s Agreement”. I could list many more and I’m sure you could, as well.
These days, I tend to think of the painting by Edward Munch “Scream”. 😂
How about your mom? What was your relationship like afterwards? And thank you for sharing your story; I see these names popping up in these letters all the time, I like hearing whatever personal history they share.
I brought home a handsome Asian fellow to meet my mom. Her comment: "Good genetic mixture!" which for decades I considered a weird comment. I now realize that she was trying to be supportive, but neither she nor I had the language.
My dad was furious, but I didn't realize it until decades later when I could honestly recognize his expression in our wedding photos.
Neither was a particularly warm grandparent, so there's that.
Bill, quite the personal story. There is much in here that many would never wish to put in print. People do change. I suspect your father would have eventually also changed. As an atheist, I don't get too embroiled in the "hereafter" business. However, I do like to think that there is something else beyond us that makes one imagine the possibility for one's improvement. I know; one has to improve while on this earth, and if that fails, then those still alive may revile one who hasn't shown the will for the needed or expected improvement. I don't know if you've ever forgiven your father; I'm not going to get into your business on that account, nor any other. However, speaking for myself, I do feel a softer calm when I think of one who hasn't really lived up to the principles of rights given to us in this nation. I also had a friend whose parents, especially his father, who were racist. In high school, this friend of mine was close to me in spite of his father's racial dystopia which was shared in less brutal ways by his son. Inwardly, I knew he was a good person because he demonstrated it frequently. He just needed a jostle to the left for him to become more whole. I was never able to get him there; he died buried under the Bailey's Crossroads building collapse in Falls Church VA. in 1973. I believe he would have come through to the right side of history had he lived. Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I'd like to believe that he would have. I'd like to believe if we have the time to correct ourselves, we would eventually do so. I know there's a lot to be argued in this last statement; is it possible though, because of the baggage that they carry, that we all carry, that there are those who simply don't have enough time to develop the needed moral fiber in their lives to be the human beings they should be?
Thank you for your kind words. As with all things political, time will tell. It’s been a while since I’ve traveled there. My last visit was in 2009 with plans to return in 2013. Of course, that never happened. I’d like to go back at least one more time. Time will tell also on that score.
I never had much of a paternal influence. My mother’s two cousins were like my fathers and I looked to them for guidance. The day my father was buried, I was relieved. And to this day I have no regrets. My father also disappointed my mother that too was unforgivable.
This will all be in my memoirs after my cat book is published.
Such a sad story, repeated often all over the land I assume. Our families disappoint us in so many ways. We must break the cycle. It may be our last chance in this lifetime
FYI only: when editing, I find that I can reach areas with the arrow buttons (> <) when page up and page down fail to show the complete text, and the text body won't scroll. That happens especially when typing on my tablet or phone, instead of the desktop computer ...likely due to the use of a floating keyboard. ??
Well said but I think we need to remain rational in our arguments and the idea that Clarence Thomas is impeachable simply demonstrates our lack of a grip on reality. While I can't stand Justice Thomas, I don't see anything at all in his conduct that would justify impeachment, let alone conviction and removal from office.
His legal thinking has always seemed flawed to me but that doesn't make it a high crime subject to impeachment. And even if you could get a bill of impeachment through the House, there is no way it could ever result in a conviction in the Senate where 67 votes would be required to strip him off his position.
I just wish we would stop wasting time on impeachment.
Like Congress is doing anything useful with their time Jon?
Have you not read the stories about Clarence Thomas's income tax evasion when he wrote off a $267,000 loan for his RV.
From the New Republic-
"Thomas is still refusing to reveal whether he repaid the principal on the $267,000 loan that he received from Anthony Welters, a wealthy health care executive and personal friend, to purchase his R.V. in 1999, according to a letter that Senators Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse have sent to an attorney for Thomas.
Thomas also has yet to say whether the loan’s principal was forgiven by the lender, the Democrats argue in the letter, which was obtained by The New Republic. If it was forgiven all or in part, the senators say, it could constitute “a significant amount of taxable income” that should be reported on federal tax returns."
The SCOTUS Justices should not be above the law just as everyone in the Trump WH shouldn't be. Of course it would be better to see Thomas prosecuted for income tax evasion, but that ain't never gonna happen.
The justices violate their own code by not calling out Thomas and Alito for major violations. Those of us who worked for the government could be fired, jailed and fined if we failed to report a $20 lunch. After senators protested, Roberts supposedly sent Thomas allegations to the judicial conference. Roberts supposedly sent Thomas allegations to the judicial conference.
I don't know why parties, and that includes the Biden DOJ, didn't bring recusal motions in key caces involving Trump, especially whan Ginny Thomas was involved with Trump. NPR said "Even if Clarence Thomas didn't know what his wife was doing, Gillers maintains, these texts indicate he would have had to willfully ignore her conduct, and in any event, he certainly knows now." https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088720571/ginni-thomas-tex-messages-mark-meadows-2020-election
BTW those senators apparently didn't know anything about the rules, because the judicial conference, which is hell on wheels, has mechanisms to take complaints and act on them.
Meanwhile the rules for recusal or disqualification require affidavits. Apparently hundreds of lawyers were witnesses and apparently none of them has had to come forward. In some cases, speeches were specifically not recorded, but apparently the justices felt free to discuss pending cases, which by definition is "prejudice." I wonder whether any of those witnesses were counsel in those cases.
I suppose we can call it unlucky. With Roberts we have a fascist at the top: Citizens United and Shelby County vs. Holder, turning our system to one bought by the wealthy. And Clarence Thomas, a shallow, bitter, unprincipled enemy of common folks and minorities.
When he worked in the Reagan administration, Roberts hobby horse was to diminish the civil rights and voting rights for all non-white people, his racist proclivities still burn hot, and with the religious leaning of the other five right wing Justices, they will continue to rule in favor of white Christian nationalism and make white Christian men superior to all other citizens.
I genuinely believe that Thomas would concur with Dred Scott today if he had the chance.
The presidential immunity decision is reason enough to impeach all six of the corrupt right-wing Justices who backed presidential immunity.
The president should be investigated, indicted, and prosecuted for any crime he or she commits as the president, and he/she should be prosecuted while still in office. Today's Supreme Court has been compromised and corrupted by the Federalist Society, which is controlled by religious radicals that belong to the Catholic Church's Opus Dei and funded by the ultra-rich to rule in favor of the ultra-rich to be able to purchase the politicians and political positions that will ensure that the ultra-rich will always be more "equal" than the rest of us.
The president should always act within the law and should have the incentive stay within the law or be prosecuted.
That's a great thought - impeach the Supreme Court justices, "the Fascist Six," but it isn't likely to happen. But, if we could win a tsunami of elections in the next four years, it might be possible. The question right now is: can our democracy survive even the next 20 months? Or even the next six months? We'd have to win the support of the 20%, 30% of the MAGATs at the bottom who are being driven into destitution along with the indifferent Democrats who sat out the last election. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the elections will be rigged by the MAGAT Republicans.
Never gonna happen. Please. You can cite another dozen articles if you like. Do you seriously think this Republican Senate which refused to convict the Manchurian Cantaloupe TWICE is going to waste time on this?
A heart attack won’t help. Nothing can help as long as Republicans hold either the Senate or the presidency, and by the time Democrats are in a position to change the composition of the court (if that ever happens), it will be far too late to save civilization. Probably will be too late by 2028, regardless of the composition of the US government at that time. White voters have done us in. We should continue to try to get back on track, but our odds of success are not good. Those white voters are not going to change their mind, and it takes both a monumental effort and considerable good luck to outvote them.
Thomas is corrupt. That is a fact. He has been bought. He has been bribed. And he hid the bribes, several times. That is a fact. Should articles of impeachment be introduced? Yes. Why, when it is a "waste of time?" When we know there is no chance for success now? Because it says we believe in the rule of law. It must be said.
However, to focus purely on an effort that is doomed to fail is indeed a waste of energy. File it. State it. Then move on to fighting to save our nation from the disasters of DOGE and an insane presidency.
When we regain control (we will) the articles of impeachment can be resurrected and applied wherever appropriate. Thomas will be second in the lineup.
The right-wing politicians don't have integrity or are of good character, so they will never impeach and convict their fellow right-wingers. But if bringing impeachment charges will show the public how corrupt they are, people who believe in the rule of law will keep that in mind for the next election.
There is plenty of impeachable conduct for Clarence Thomas, if the standards of the regular judges in our system applied to him. But you are right: impeachment is a far reach especially if free and fair elections are replaced by nominal-only elections. If Democrats could again get majorities in house AND senate there could conceivable imposition of a judicial code of conduct applying to SCOTUS as well as term limits. But it is all an uphill battle as the 180 day Project 2025 timeline strives to kill the power of the Courts, Congress and Senate as well as the free press and media. Our courts have to show some teeth or they will cave as surely as the courts did under the Third Reich, supplanted by the Nazi Judicial machine.
That's an interesting stance, that you shouldn't undertake something unless you are certain to win. I think differently. If something is the right thing to do, then do it, against the odds, and do it again, if you have to, etc.
And there Jon lies one of America’s biggest problems! Impeachment is our Constitutional responsibility. If we have been given the tools in which to support our Laws and we choose ignorance on how “that is done”, we are complicit in losing to the criminals and thugs who think they are above the Law. Thomas has used the court to enrich himself like a street walker.
It’s worse than a waste of time Jon. It’s bereft of thought of what’s to immediately follow, and who’s in control.
Some single out Thomas, many include Alito, others wish to go after even more. I guess people forget that the path to the top bench starts with the sitting President. Followed by approval by the MAGA led committee. Then followed by the lockstep majorities in the House and Senate. So, how’s that going to work?
It takes zero imagination to realize Drumpf may well prefer to replace members of SCOTUS with clones of Miller, Bondi, Noem. Perhaps too many misunderstand the requirements for appointment to the court. Possibly they think, falsely, one needs to be a distinguished jurist with a background as a scholar in constitutional law.
As you eloquently pointed out, they should give it a rest. Our greatest remaining hope is that at least a majority on the court will emerge and do their job with all the force they are entitled to muster
Rick, historian Jefferson Cowie points out in his book "Freedom's Dominion" that voting rights needed support from the Federal government to actually be effective. Otherwise White Supremacists continue to prevent Blacks and other groups from access to both registering and voting in enough number to actually help their candidates win offices. So, we have never been a true electoral democracy, because the Feds cannot be in all places and where they are not, voting disenfranchisement is in full force. The Republicans are continuing with this in every way they can.
My book club read Cowie's book, and saw him speak in Berlin while we were in the middle of the book. He explained how Populism had a big appeal in the US. I wrote a piece on his talk.
Then, we decided that we wanted to better understand what he meant by populism, and we invited him to talk to Democrats Abroad in general. That he did at the end of April. I got a better understanding of his idea that populism is not actually a good governing strategy, because populists don't really stand for anything except the ideas they think will win. He also went into elements of populism that are appealing, such as a return to a better past, and an us and them building of a common enemy.
Cowie also said that he was surprised that Dems were not doing more to protect voting rights. I wrote about that talk here.
One of the reasons I don't miss a vote, and have raised my child, and taught my students that voting is important, is because I respect those who fought for me, a brown-skinned women, to be able to vote.
I helped in the struggle as well. My Black father would be at his office on Saturday mornings giving eye exams and fitting people for glasses, while my White, German mother and I were at a shopping center in a middle class Black neighborhood collecting money for the NAACP. We were the largest collectors on the South Side of Chicago back then according to my father. I was three. While my mom held the can, I got to stand on my toes in my black patent-leather shoes and reach up and put the tag onto people's coat buttons, that said, "I gave to the NAACP!"
Linda Weide, what a lovely story about you, the patent leather shoes, and the buttons! As a Virginian, now living in Historic Printers Row, Chicago, whose mother was completely racist and whose father exactly opposite, I went to UNC-CH where I met my first Indian from India, and that, plus my father’s quiet support of every black I ever saw him with, led to the compliment of my life in a card at my 91st birthday party. It’s like a medal for one who lived through what Heather described from WWII onward. It comes from a black lawyer and friend who visited us on the small boat in France (my husband’s retirement dream) describing me as a “gift” to the neighborhood “and the world.” Now I have not only to write postcards to voters but also to get to work on Jasmine Crockett (or her choice) for president!
Great info. I’ve been a NAACP member for decades. It is a great organization. Roy Wilkins was pure class: handsome, intelligent, refined and committed to a great cause.
I agree wholeheartedly. Neither the Democrats or Republicans do enough to defend civil rights. The courts are mixed. Most shocking to me is the John Roberts Supreme Court. A man who says that racism is no longer an issue in voting rights in the United States, is a man who no longer exists body and soul on this planet. Which other place he may have gone off to, I leave for others to speculate.
I find today's Letter encouraging when I read how people can do a U-turn on their opinions. I wonder what it will take for someone to finally turn around on this DC madness?
Is there a Congressperson who has been feeling the tiniest bit uneasy, and that uneasiness is growing stronger--stronger than their fear?
What will it take? A Christian Congressperson who listens to the word of God one Sunday, and thinks about their own judgement day? A humanist Congressperson, who is utterly appalled by a reality show pitching immigrants against each other? A Congressperson who is content with what they have and who finds the greed of Trump and his billionairs posse to be disgusting?
Of the millions who read the Letter, probably only a fraction also read the comments. There is a chance that one of them is an elected official, or someone who works in their staff.
I hope this is true, and that someone is reading my comment. If this is being read by a Congressional aide, or their close friend or family--help them gain courage!
Ask them: where will your name go in history?
I'm sure some people here will consider me an idealistic optimist. Guilty as charged. I need that thread to hold on to, to keep my sanity.
Yes, it is! There are some incredibly intelligent people on here who add context and also local information. I feel like I'm with my tribe when I read (most of) the comments. I've blocked the random troll (if they are still here).
Racism and authoritarianism are being fed once more. The appeal to our "lower selves" is being received by men and women who thirst for power....who are dazzled by Mara Logo. They are men and women who are heartless and cruel unless you are a strict member of the gang and willing to sell your soul to Trump.
Compassion is dead...cruelty is at the helm of this administration. Most of the persons Trump has assigned to powerful positions, do not know how to serve the American citizens within their assigned positions and lack the character to carry out their assigned responsibilities with humility and dignity... not to mention intellectually. It is "YES" to Trump and "NO" to the rule of law and to the values of most American citizens!
God sees those men sent to El Salvador...each one...who did NOT receive a proper trial.
Each person was created in the image of God. As a Christian, I believe each one is precious in His sight. I also believe Christ lived with us, demonstrating ways in which we are to live and to love one another. He gave Himself...shed His blood ...suffered unspeakable pain for each of us....became the sacrifice God, His Father required to cover our sins. He also defeated death through His resurrection power. Through His life, He demonstrated ways to live out our lives....to use our hearts and minds and strength for good. Everyday, we have the opportunity to turn from selfishness...from complacency...to be an example of love...of truth. We have the opportunity to demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ.
"We are under threat of the loss of rule of law, and when that goes out the window, so does hope-because the structural foundations upon which our democracy is built are blown up."
We have the ability to stand against these forces of evil.
I don't want to be an image of God. I don't want to see me as omnipotent. I don't want to create chaos and confusion, because people dared attempt to build a tower to reach me. I do think there is an analogy here.
Rick, an excellent post. Thank you. Every time I think of Bribery Thomas as the replacement for Thurgood Marshall, I want to throw up. And then there is Sammy. Roberts may be thrashing around about the attacks on the judiciary, but he wrote the decision giving death star immunity for "official acts" As for Bondi, she should be disbarred.
It is delusional to suppose the judiciary might rescue us; the Supreme Court has made it clear it belongs to the Christonazis and therefore to Trump. Meanwhile, the military have proven themselves naught but oath-breakers by their refusal to defend the Constitution against its (publicly declared) domestic enemies. We are therefore sinking in the apocalyptic miasma foreseen by Walling, with both the fanatical white male Christonazi theocracy of the South and its attendant plague of white supremacist hatred and violence now metastasized throughout the nation. “The day these methods become general in the North,” Walling wrote, “every hope of political democracy will be dead, other weaker races and classes will be persecuted in the North as in the South, public education will undergo an eclipse, and American civilization will await either a rapid degeneration or another profounder and more revolutionary civil war….” This is precisely the reality that confronts us today, and until we acknowledge that terrifying truth and respond accordingly, our cause is lost.
I'm starting to feel optimistic. Trump/MAGA and their fascist, wealthy acolytes are over reaching. Ever our right wing SCOTUS seems to be waking up....slowly.
We have a struggle in front of us, but like the Civil Rights movement and the Anti Vietnam movement, we shall overcome!!
Hi Rick, thank you for an excellent comment representing all - hopefully - readers of Professor's daily letters. Clarence Thomas is a total disgrace but is black. I wonder why he does not live up to the expectation of his people.
Use this spreadsheet to call/email/write members of Congress. Reach out to your own, as well as those in other states on a specific committee important to a topic you’re sharing. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
We should thank Congressional Republicans who are resisting Medicaid cuts to the budget. Josh Hawley, R. MO :
“Many hospitals — particularly in rural and underserved areas — rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone,” the representatives wrote. “Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage.”
Co-signed by Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Pa., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., Jen Kiggans, R-Va., Young Kim, R-Calif., Robert Wittman, R-Va., Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., and Jeff Hurd, R-Colo.
Not at all. Protestants fought for King James at Culloden. Russian immigrants fought for NAZIS on the Eastern Front, because they believed they were defeating Communism. Families were split in the Civil War, because some members supported the Union; others the Confederacy
Yup 5calls is awesome. That’s what I was using first, then wanted to be able to email after my kids went to bed and couldn’t find an easy way to email members, so I made one 😅 I have 5calls listed at the top of my spreadsheet noting how great it is, especially for scripts
I might offer a suggestion to it. I try to make 5 calls a day: to my 2 senators and my house rep. Then I randomly pick two others based on what I hear in the news. If you have the time (or one of the other good people here who could post in a reply) can you suggest two senators/reps with one particular issue, and their phone number?
Jessica Chasten does this with her Chop Wood, Carry Water substack, but she suggests we call our own reps, and also, I doubt everyone here reads her excellent Substack. (they should!)
For instatnce, Daniel's list below is quite helpful. We can call and THANK them as well as yell at them.
I was just reading her Substack - yes I highly recommend her!
Maybe call and say thanks to some of the republicans who spoke up against the Medicaid cuts? There’s a comment up above on this strand from Daniel and he lists them :)
As I read this history Professor Richardson put together, all I could think about was — should this brutish, arrogant, racist, xenophobic, trans-phobic, incompetent cabal of crooks and dumb thieves known as MAGA succeed in what it is so clearly trying to do — no high schooler in this country will ever be permitted to read history like this.
Instead, they’ll be fed the tender bullshit of slavery ‘not being as bad as all that.’ They’ll be spared details of lynchings and fed a bowdlerized version of the past organized around sparing their delicate, vulnerable little minds from knowing the details of injustice and terror that used to be part of the common fabric of everyday American life. They’ll be explicitly forbidden to draw a line from the past to the present, and be unable to answer — should they even dare to ask the question — ‘how did we get here?’ They’ll never know any details of the civil rights movement, much less the role one gay Black man, Maynard Rustin, played in making that famous ‘I Have a Dream’ day in 1964 actually happen.
So don’t let let them get away with it. Don’t allow these bastards to re-write history to their liking. Don’t permit them to deny young people the right and duty to learn about history the way it really was, not how Trump ‘s toads and lackeys would prefer them to think.
Maybe AI read my comment yesterday here about making others aware of HCR's newsletter and public appearances and her books, etc. and sent me a link to that story. /s
Thanks for the link. I wondered how HCR Put together LfaA, while teaching, writing and speaking. Dedication, focus, and tirelessness, attributes needed for a rebellion.
Thanks for that, Gary. Excellent article. I do worry about her. One of my very favorite YouTubers (Beau of the Fifth Column) burned out last year. Thankfully, his wife took it over, but I still think about him and hope he's okay. I wish they'd do a quick video of him just saying hi.
Was a big Beau fan and now really am enjoying Belle and the facts along with a dose of humor that she now brings to the table. That is probably my favorite You Tube channel. Link below so you others can check it out ⬇️:
Presumably behind view of MSM, a few wise people are looking long term about a USA version of the Nuremberg Trials. Dr. Richardson has described the piece-meal approach that has led this country to now. German society, in large part accepts their history. The US myths that create and support racism must be replaced in multigenerational reeducation.
I doubt, however, that citizens will overcome belief in « free will » to embrace secular enlightenment.
I’m too old to see both sea level rise and civilization of the ignorant brains….
Reality can, and frequently does, crush us like bugs; creator and destroyer. Yet we tend to proper most when we are very frank about her, as well as about ourselves; our own strengths and errors.
I appreciate the reminder that Americans of conscience have both worked across racial divides before and won battles over the popular hatreds and power interests committed to white supremacy. But I am not heartened by the many decades it took after winning a mighty ciivil war to win back the rights we as a nation thought it had secured. We have long thought we won the battles of the post WWII period to build a global democratic order that freed colonies, resecured civil rights in this country, and finally began to “fix” liberalism’s understanding of “men” as only one gender of humanity. One fatal election lost, however closely, and we see destruction wrought all around us. Can we rebuild what has been smashed in less than the half-century it took to even begin to win back the rights granted in law after the civil war? We are again seeing constitutional rights tossed aside, the machinery of government broken, and the international “triumph of democracy” in global lawmaking and institution-building subverted. Will it take 50 years to get another wave of progressive reconstruction to repair and replace what was broken and begin again to grow freedom on these shores?
“..when the memory of my tribe shall have become a myth among the White Men, when your children’s children think themselves alone in the field or the silence of the path less woods, they will not be alone.” Chief Seattle
Fact based stories of heroes (of one sort or another) have always been a source of inspiration. Stories that make the ideals and struggle that were theirs relatable to our own complicated experiences of navigating life. We talk a lot about scoundrels, and with good reason; but we also need to conjure with the lives of those who won the good fight, or put everything they could muster into the effort.
Chump knows that scoundrels are more newsworthy. That’s why he has collected such a vile bunch of “deplorables.” The P2025 puppet masters know this too.
Harold L. Ickes had started out as a progressive Republican and President of the Chicago NAACP. Perhaps he had some influence on President Harry Truman and his evolving positions on segregation.
I like to think so since Ickes was a good friend of my wife’s grandfather, a life-long Republican and descendant of one of the brothers of the three who served in Congress at the same time (the only three brothers to do so at the same time), as the Republican party was being formed. They served the first (34th) of 3 terms in Congress under the party designation of “O,” for Opposition (coalition or caucus depending upon the source), before 2 more terms under “R.”
One of the things that kept me in the party that my wife's ancestors had played a large part in starting, was that her life-long Republican grandfather was such a good friend of Harold L. Ickes that my mother-in-law thought he was an uncle (he visited more often than her real uncles).
Thoughts of Ickes’ possible influencing of Truman came when I overheard the start of a phone conversation between my wife’s life-long Republican grandfather (Ickes good friend), and Harry Truman in 1971. It seems they stayed in touch, at least by phone a couple times a year until they both passed away the next year.
Because of my wife’s and my own life-long, well respected, Republican grandfathers, I stayed a Republican, at least until 1996 when I saw the Newt Gingrich/Frank Luntz GoPac memo, "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control" wasn't going to be rejected, it was becoming more weaponized than ever (I quit the party about the same time Elizabeth Warren did).
Jim, last night, we were talking politics and my husband said "I don't consider Trump a Republican. I don't know what he is.....he's TRUMP."
I agree. Trump is "MAGA" but I bet in his mind, MAGA is just a term he slaps onto himself like that orange pancake makeup. He's through and through TRUMP. His followers aren't a party, they are a brainwashed cult, or savvy opportunists.
I keep faith there are true GOP in Congress still--only because I believe in a two-party system and the Trumpians absolutely do not budge. They don't know the word "compromise". Since Trump just learned the word "groceries" perhaps someone can tell him about this great new word, "compromise".
Progressive Republicans did more good than the conservative ones, as far as things like emergency relief but none of my old party seems very strong on "Federal" emergency relief. As you imply, we now have one who wants to stop all Federal Emergency relief and leave it up to the states, doing nothing comparable to the grudgingly federal relief provided by previous Republicans (I think always less than Democratic Presidents provided).
Trump backed FEMA efforts (in 2017), for Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, Irma in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and even an emergency declaration before Nate struck Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, but fell well short of what was needed in Puerto Rico, unlike the states.
Now it seems he doesn't want to provide federal support to any states, telling them the states will have to handle it on their own as the real and worsening climate threats make all the emergencies even harder to respond to. Seems he wants to treat all of the states (and his fantasy countries and areas he wants to take by conquest), even worse than Puerto Rico.
I assume almost all the smoke he's blowing on taking over other territories is to distract us from the incompetence and criminality of his appointees, but will have as devastating impact on coordinated emergency planning and relief for even his favorite red states much like that now showing as DOGE impact on the FAA (for just one example).
All the terrible things we're now facing didn't just pop up with one fatal election. We've been heading to this place for decades, starting with Nixon and, most especially, Reagan. Republicans have been sowing distrust in government, engaging in voter suppression, and chipping away at civil liberties for years. Democrats fought this erosion but many of them were complicit and/or placated. We must do better. My only hope for this horrible place in which we find ourselves is that many are truly awakening (getting woke, if you will) to the evil intentions of some of our neighbors and the weaknesses of our democratic institutions and guardrails. Once we overthrow the current regime, perhaps we'll be ready to put into place stronger protections and demand a more educated and determined citizenry.
When we are in a time of regression, each one of us must determine which of our talents, our time, and our gifts we are willing to dedicate to the cause of improving our world.
I chose to work within my community of faith which is diverse in many, many ways, as a voluntary deputy voter registrar helping to register people and providing them voting information, and I pledge to support with my finances and my time and my voice in protests.
Replying to JLGraham...when traveling we look at their websites...do they have a diverse congregation, do they say they are LGTBQ friendly, are they open to EVERYONE?
Mark, my best friend, while an elder at her Disciples of Christ congregation, worked tirelessly to get the congregation to be an open and affirming congregation, and succeeded in 2007 or 2008. She also worked with another congregation in a smaller city north of us which became open and affirming in 2010. The co-pastor at that church heard my wife and I reaffirm our vows the day Obergefell was announced. The other co-pastor was deeply involved in working with the unhoused population in our town. They are open to ALL.
While their messages are Christian faith based, often they encompass a greater group of people that subscribe to any faith, or no organized religion at all.
HCR presents us with another history lesson that shines as much light on the present as the past.
Thank you, teacher.
I wish some historian would write a detailed history of American race riots. I never knew about the Springfield riots, the same as I was never taught in school about the Greenwood Massacre in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa. Oklahoma.
If American children wee taught the real racial history of this country, including the genocide of indigenous peoples, it would be much easier to put it behind us. As it is, with the fairytale history we are given, we keep dragging that history with us like a millstone around our collective necks.
Actually, some progress was made in the eighties and nineties, but there was a lot of push-back. In retrospect, I think it was probably a mistake to teach Black history separately rather than to integrate all of American history with its racial challenges, but some states have rigid curriculum "standards."
I think the teaching of Black history was an attempt to put Black people back into American history from which they had been all but eliminated. A history of race riots, many of which were white people attacking Black people and destroying Black-owned property, is a sub-section of Black history. I agree, it all needs to become just one “our history”.
Spot on, Ralph. I never knew about Tulsa before visiting the African American Museum. So much is left out of our history yet the Washington/cherry tree nonsense lives on.
I'm a fan of history and educated in the 70's and 80's. I only learned about Greenwood from seeing "Watchman" in 2019 with my son. I was like, "what is all this about?" Since then I've read about Wilmington, a little about Rosewood Fl and a few others. I never heard of Springfield FL, thank you HCR.
It seems whenever Black people worked hard and put together a working, economically viable, growing community,, that belied the “inferior race” myth, a mob of white people invaded and destroyed it. And yet, as Maya Angelou said, “Still, I rise.”
There are a few internet databases that track information on lynchings and race riots. Some have links to contemporaneous news articles and other materials written or photographed at the time.
Sadly interesting to note, even the major northern news outlets wrote favorably of the lynchings and white riots at the time. If I recall rightly, it was in the New York Times that remarked the white riots were simply a natural escape valve letting off local steam.
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I always learn so much from your brilliant essays and today you helped me understand both the Plessy V Ferguson and the 1954 Brown V Board of Education cases. I always read your posts first thing in the morning!
I appreciate Heather's optimism as she looks back and sees progress.
But while the criminal roosts in the White House, and while history unwinds its sorry U.S. litanies, might we extend the hope in America's past democracy into hope now that Europe may rise?
I’m suggesting two things, intertwined. First, European ramped-up military support for Ukraine and, second, a program that European schools teach English (still the world language) to lead in cross cultural essay writing.
Students in high school upper grades and university early years would do intro essays, class by class, for eventual exchange with peer classes in neighboring cultures. All ask the same Qs: “how am I doing?” and “how are you doing?”
Citing specifics for how each person variously inhabits food-clothing-shelter, all cite the styles they start with from home cultures, and those they’re modifying for personal tastes.
American schools, gone to the testing vortex, cannot do this, must serve U.S. billionaires’ commercial conceits (testing thus all impersonal, abstracted-only categories and linear-simple causalities). Europe, if rallying for democracy, can have schools lift the repertoires of how all face personal challenges. These include arts from home countries and the world as they cite lives they are yet shaping for themselves and loved ones.
Two little scenes: I'm sitting waiting for the trolley-bus outside the museum in Budapest. A lady comes up and sits down beside me. She smiles and says, "xxxxxxx". I mutter apologetically , "Angol"! She says, "Could you tell me the time, please?" Second scene, in Vienna. I walk into a shop to buy some postcards. Because the proprietor was serving a customer, and because I'm a polite English person, I didn't interrupt him by speaking, which identified me at once as a non-European foreigner - you always greet, on entering a shop, and say goodbye on leaving. I chose my four cards and waited. The customer left, and the proprietor said to me, "Four euros". I said reproachfully, in German, "I haven't even said anything yet!" He burst out laughing and said, "Vier Euro!"
I was in a local Brauhaus in Koeln the other night with family. I placed my order and then decided to add apple sauce. The Koebes (waiter) stares at me in a manner only a Koebes can do and asks ‘’Why would you order that?’’
I tell him I like apple sauce – it’s fresh and sweet. He then proceeds to tell me I’m the only German to ever order apple sauce with that dish! It was better than the day I received my German language proficiency certificate.
This description is adapted from an AI-generated answer – and it’s a pretty good one.
Köbes is the Kölsch (also the word for our local beer & dialect) word for Jakob.
Legend has it that the Kölsch brewery apprentices could not afford to make the journey to Cologne by carriage and so had to work in guest houses and pubs along the way. Thus, Köbesse became the phrase for "making money on Jacob's pilgrimage."
The term in used in the Rhineland but particularly in Cologne and nearby cities.
My 1950s grade school training included introductions to differing cultures, but they were pretty superficial, if not outright stereotyping. In the age of effortless worldwide communication it should be possible (and I suspect there are already successful precedents) for students in other cultures to interact meaningfully with our own.
Through the years of our children's primary education we hosted AFS students from 12 different countries which exposed our kids and their classmates to different cultures and has given us a network of wonderful friends in other countries. It has been difficult and embarrassing to try to explain to them what has happened here. I find today's post hopeful, but also daunting to remember how difficult it has been to reach our current situation.
In 1992 I got Soros money to do the first inter-cultural guest lecturer program in any university in central Europe. Home base was Budapest, Hungary -- the country's flagship university there. Key was having several otherwise separate classes of students also attend weekly sessions where regular host Hungarian, regular English-language native, and rotating cultural figures from neighboring countries always appeared as a trio. Students could follow how the different voices joined common themes with views from their cultures.
I remember, after I got the funds set, I first asked the university's English language faculty (three sets of them, for 100 professors total) if any had particular friends or colleagues in any of the neighboring cultures.
Answer: zero.
I got this money, and organized this program with experiences such as one of the exchange students from Poland. I asked her, in her classes, how instructors turned to her as a voice from Poland, for examples from that culture she might add to discussions. She said, it never happened. She was just a lonely young woman, nobody interested in her resources.
Over the years I've done more things like this (elsewhere in Europe, in the U.S., in Asia), and I've polled, surveyed, read widely, done other research.
Testing rules, J L. Abstractions, categories, zombie linearity. All that has driven the human, the personal, out of schools, along with humanities. All the world now follows only the zombie U.S. models.
Lots, not plenty, of students step outside the confines of the SOL.
Musicians make music whether anyone listens or not. Painters paint even though no one is looking. Readers read even though there’s no test. Writers write even though no one is reading.
They all do this for the very same reason that thinkers think. All these activities are modes of thought. These actions bring clarity and depth. It must be done.
Absolutely, Bill (though I'm not sure what the SOL is to which you refer).
Many artists do work in near isolation, sometimes. Many work in spite of periods lacking financial success. But I think in every genre most have dear friends and colleagues -- good mentors, too, in their genre as well as in arts other than theirs. These personal debts highly nurture.
One of the things that has fed vitality to American arts, I think you'll agree, has been the constant flux brought by so many from other cultures coming to the U.S. Surprises, serendipity, and charming accident swim along in this American effervescence
Of course. People like to share what they do, what they think, what they eat, how they live and experience life. When there is opportunity. Lacking that, most would carry on anyway for the very reason cited.
I do except from that, but not entirely, performance. A performer may partially hone their art in even solitary moments, but need others to finally realize it. And now that I’ve said that there must be a lot of other things I’ve overlooked.
Sorry, an obscure but current reference, SOL = Standards of Learning testing which is administered in some public schools in Spring. Students are expected to at least meet the “Norm”. I guess failing that one also may be SOL, shit outta luck. Sounds to me like something out of Huxley’s “Brave New World”.
Teachers must teach to the test. Teachers are also evaluated according to the curve of their students’ performance. It’s not called SOL for nothing.
See, another thing I’ve overlooked, poets as one specific example. In the vast majority of cases, they do not make any living from their effort. If one does, it’s remarkable.
It seems that outright racists and those just socially ignorant and morally challenged can change their spots. Blinding someone got Truman’s attention when lynchings apparently did not. Reminds me of my daddy. As a young teen around 1954, I heard daddy say that equal was good enough. Such a flimsy excuse. We both knew, on some level, that equal was a mirage, not based in reality in NC, USA. We were poor, but blacks were dirt poor. I learned quickly, Daddy took a while. We were not a klan-inspired family, just too poor to worry about any but our large family of hungry mouths. We fight unnecessary but important battles. Jesus never taught hatred, nor did my parents, but we learned it. A little Golden Rule morality would suffice, but people mouth without conviction. Hence the important battles. America has, and has had, the opportunity to show the world how living up to our promise of equality under the law, negates the necessity for constant battles. Our founders knew that. What a different world if Hitler’s minions had stumbled across those fighting for equality instead of Jim Crow. Our actions reverberate. I fear that the jealously, greed and hatred reverberating now will destroy our beautiful Earth. Opposition can make a difference, but at a snails pace unless “Ike” has to be called in…
Wake up Dems, and become the “woke” you are accused of being.
Last year I read the student handbook of a Baptist university. The men are required to have hair no longer than collar lenght, I think no beard (or perhaps neatly trimmed) and there are specifications to their attire as well. I looked into it after reading a hilarious meme pointing out Jesus's long hair, lengthy beard, and "wearing a dress".
In my childhood, I recall homes with portraits of Jesus who not only was white, apparently also had blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
A little good news on this front; here on the ground in the Former Capitol of The Lost Cause, we’re getting along pretty well with each other. A lot of young folks with no use for racist idiocy have moved in, revitalizing the city. The statues that once lined Monument Avenue exalting those who commanded Confederate forces are gone and for the most part forgotten, city government is representative of the general population, and despite the usual dysfunction coming out of City Hall, the overall vibe is that Richmond is moving in the right direction. We’re not without our problems, the poverty rate is still too high and our public schools continue to face challenges, but all in all given our past, Richmond right now is a good place to be and there’s no love here for the current regime’s racist bullshit.
My UDC relatives helped erect those statues, and I lived on Monument in the early ‘80’s. It’s more beautiful now than when the statues were in place. I agree, Richmond is awesome, though to hear some more suburban residents (Hanover, Goochland) it’s a hellhole. Richmond has made some whopping big mistakes but truly is set on a path to finally become a world class community.
Thanks for the history. I didn't know the history of the NAACP or even Mr. Marshall.
Speaking of losing our rights - corporate media is burying this story from today. When the Supreme Court destroyed women's reproductive rights a lot of people assumed the foam-at-the-mouth Forced Birth movement would simmer down. But those familiar with those fanatics knew better. Sure enough they've just engaged in terroristic violence against an IVF clinic. These crazies need to be shut down hard.
Based on a previous post by Heather, I have started giving $ when I can to the NAACP. I encourage HCR readers to do the same. They have done and are doing good work.
Loud and proud! Yes that's right, that is who we are.Thank you Heather for your discussion of Brown vs Board of Education! Please Please do not give up on Public Education! Another one of our Civil rights being abandoned! Brown facillitated many of the public laws that enable EVERY child in our Country the opportunity to receive free public education. EVERY CHILD, NO MATTER RACE ,RELIGION, ECONOMIC LEVEL, ABILITY OR DISABILITY. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A DISIRE TO LEARN. Our teachers are many of our lowest paid professionals and yet many spend hundreds of dollars to supplement what state and federal dollars can't provide to give their students the best possible education. Yes. we like to BASH Public Education but many of our brightest, most creative and most dedicated educators seek the opportunity to teach there. If we lose our Public Schools we deprive our children, who are our future, of access to education being provided in a diverse environment where all students are represented.
My great-grandfather was William English Walling. My great-grandmother, Anna Strunsky Walling was also deeply involved. According to family lore they were both asked to speak on the Bolshevik revolution at Cooper Union. They were Socialists, had been to Russia and seen the revolution. W.E. Walling spoke of the revolution, Anna was to follow and talk of the women's condition. But her heart was so full of what they had seen in Springfield that she talked about that. After the speech Ida B. Wells approached them and said, "What are we going to do?" which is how that first meeting in their apartment happened. That's our story.
The road to world where the values of fairness and equality have been recognized is and has been a long one. What we are seeing now is a movement to move back to place where fairness and equality are no longer seen as a right but one that is to be parceled out to those who have power. The struggle is still there and we need to realize that those now in power represent the forces of inequality that we have been fighting for so many years. We are now seeing what progress that we have made being in danger and those who we have fought for so many years at the levers of power. We need to realize how dangerous are the times we are now living.
I wonder. Is there a road to any of these places, heaven or hell? If so, it must be a very short one. Since both lie within us, there is no destination.
This concept of how there is never enough vengeance for people who ostensibly have beaten down the opposition already, but they still have a pulse, so the beating down must continue, became apparent to me today in a much smaller, hardly comparable way. I belong to one of the many grassroots groups who continue to protest trump and his cohorts and his cruel actions week after week. We have a certain intersection on our one main street in our small rural community in AZ where we protest...The Trump supporters have been there with their gigantic Trump flags every time we are there. They never labor over signs with pithy protest sayings like we do, cuz I guess, like Trump himself, they feel the name trump is enough said.
They scream and swear at us every week, calling us losers among other things...But we also have people cheering us on...The Trumpers have won everything, congress, supreme court, etc., but because we are protesting and accusing their idol or deity of bad things, they are just livid...they feel like they are being attacked or that we feel we are better than them or something else, I don't know
Hate is hard to kill. Trumpers have been brainwashed. Most are racist and are afraid. They feel small, so puff themselves up. They feel alone, and being a Trumper makes them feel like they aren’t alone but part of something bigger. This goes for the White Christian Nationalists too. These are the minions being manipulated by the rich in power who know that these ignorant and easily deceived individuals will be their foot soldiers that can keep them in power and dominating the economy.
Most folk like to echo and mirror their neighbors, friends. Others are into networking. Those join a lot of organizations where, insofar as is possible, they echo and mirror in a larger group.
When I hear the birds twitter near dawn or the treetops whispering in the night, I try to imagine what they must be saying.
Keep up the good fight. MAGA is a cult and apparently willing to violate their own rights to punish Americans who don’t want what Trump and the GOP are selling.
I have friends/family who heavily rely on the social safety networks. I will do what I am able to support them when the sh!t hits the fan. I hate that they will be impacted, but if that is what FINALLY wakes up some people, I guess so be it.
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I always learn so much from your brilliant essays and today you helped me understand both the Plessy V Ferguson and the 1954 Brown V Board of Education cases. I always read your posts first thing in the morning!
Professor Richardson, thank you for the excellent post. Your recognition of the Plessy v Ferguson and Brown v Bd of Ed anniversary is an excellent reminder that when inequities exist, there is hope. Hope that we can do better.
Unfortunately, we are regressing, as you recognize and state clearly. Pam Bondi is a disgrace unparalleled in the history of the Department of Justice. She has no business having the title of Attorney General. We are under threat of the loss of rule of law, and when that goes out the window, so does hope - because the structural foundations upon which our democracy is built are blown up.
Our only hope out of the 3 branches is the Judicial. It will require enormous legal resources to battle Trump’s all-consuming quest for power. It is a shaky alternative because the SCOTUS justices at the top are questionably in favor of true rational, logical consideration of issues in front of them v. Advancing a political ideology. Clarence Thomas is arguably the most impeachable.
I thank you for your work. You may realize it or not, but many of us wait for your article to get a glimmer of optimism and insight that reflects our present circumstances in light of our history.
^^^^This 👆^^^^ Well said Rick!
In my personal experiences in Hartford, my mother always taught me never to use the “N” word. And that Black folds should be treated equally. I took that learning to heart when one day, a childhood chum down the street described the new neighbors using the “N” word. I kindly asked Marty not to use that word. As obstinate child will do, he began shouting that word at me until a jumped up and lunged at him and we commenced a horrible fight; two white kids battling over that word. I finally put him in a choke hold, headlock we used to call it, and his face soon turned red even as he kept screaming that word. Tears were running down his face and at that moment I knew I had to let him go or I would kill him.
I let him go and go up and as I walked him, he continued to yell that word at me. After probably 60 plus years, I can still hear Marty yelling that ugly word at me.
I recall a remark my daddy once made to a friend of his during the “riot” season, when mostly Black folks were engaging in street rampages maybe after MLK’s assassination. My father said, “It’s not the ones from Hartford causing all the trouble it’s the ones coming up from the south.” The “ones” of course being Black folks. But he was proud of his one Black friend, a man named Art, who was a bus driver and who was frequently invited our our house for lunch. Much later, I often wondered why Art’s family was never invited over for dinner so I could play with his kids. I’ll never know.
Then by the time of my adulthood, I was dating a Black woman. I had stayed with her family one Thanksgiving weekend down in DC. I was of course very humbled by the acceptance. Later Mitzi wanted to meet my parents. I knew this was going to be interesting. So i surprised my mother one day and introduced Mitzi. Later, mama confronted me and expressed that she was with me to only improve her social standing. I responded that this was not so because Mitzi came from upper middle class family and I came from a lower middle class one. Then she remarked that our kids would be hurt. That one remark bothered and hurt me. It was the only time she ever did say something that hurt. I forgave her for that. My mother wasn’t too worldly. Just a neighborhood girl who went from living on a small side street in a provincial town then into high school and on into a state job until she finally said yes to my father’s repeated come-ons. I turned to her and asked her and then left without waiting for a response, “But who am I?” After all, I was the mix of Italian catholic and eastern Jewish orthodoxy.
Then Mitzi wanted to meet my father. So I waited for my mother to go to church one Saturday afternoon. My father was sitting where he always sat on Saturday afternoons, reading the afternoon newspaper beside the gas space heater in the 2nd floor apartment. After I explained to him that I was dating a Black woman and wanted to bring her home, yes, I had my own “Guess who’s coming to dinner” moment, well, I observed the blood drain from my father’s face. I had seen that look before right before he was about to explode. And explode he did.
He yelled at me about how much I had failed and carried on for a while. I was patient. By then I was no longer intimidated by how he expressed his own frustrations in life by lashing out. By and by, I asked him if he was finished. Then I said, “Now it’s my turn.” I responded, “Don’t ever expect me to come crying on your death bed.”
I calmly turned around, gently opened the kitchen door, closed it and walked out. I believe those were the last words I ever spoke to my father. Within one year he was dead of a massive heart attack.
So I had the interesting experience of mirroring what had been taking place in our history. That his having that one Black friend was likely a justification and perhaps gave him a pass that he wasn’t like the other racists because he had his one Black friend over for lunch every so often.
Sorry I can’t edit at the top I can see typos but editing won’t allow me to reach the words because of the length of the story.
Bill Katz,
Read every word.....many of us have similar stories. I love persons from all countries and all colors, shapes of eyes, backgrounds....etc. I have learned so much from each one. We do ourselves a disservice by rejecting persons "different" from ourselves.
What a boring unproductive world we would be without each one.
The persons I have difficulty with are those who reject me because I do not wear heels (too painful) or wear fancy, expensive clothing...Comfortable and clean clothes are good enough for me. I don't like makeup...icky!!!! They do not look beyond the exterior.
Emily, I can relate. I gave up heels long ago. I am retired now and I go around mostly in my garden clothes and even for most events, do not get out of jeans. As for makeup, I do not use that either. And yes, many people do not look beyond the exterior. I also put up with mansplaining and listening to my spouse while ignoring me.
I bought some lipstick when I was in 8th grade. Threw out an almost unused tube when I graduated from college. The stuff I have now is probably 20 years old. The upside of this is that people will recognize me without my makeup especially when I do wear it, it is not really noticeable.
Ha, Karen, I have pretty much been “wash ‘n wear” my whole life!!!🤣
What a boring world we would have. Couldn’t agree more
Emily none of my friends, nor I, wear heels or make-up, and actually doing both is considered out of the norm in my community. Wearing heels stands out as crippling yourself. Perhaps we are all of an age where we do not dress up as much as get dressed most days, except for special occasions. Dressing up does not mean heels, although it might mean boots. I think some of the girls wear heels for prom. Like a fancier heeled sandal, or heels, or platform shoes.
My daughter, who is 20, does not wear make-up, but does like to dress up and she has some pairs of heels which are rarely worn. They are low heels, of second hand designer shoes. They tend to be collectables more than shoes she would wear except to fancy occasions where she knows she will not walk a lot. Since she does not drive and walks and uses public transportation mostly in the German city in which she lives, she has no reason to wear heels.
I do see women in my city in Germany with make-up on. Mostly young women, and a lot of them are Eastern European, or Turkish, or Arab. I am more likely to see a woman wearing a hijab than make-up.
I live in a city in Germany where people generally do not dress up in the places I frequent.
Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️
Thank you for sharing your stories, Bill. Very poignant and powerful and, unfortunately, ringing of today’s truth.
Wow, thanks for sharing Bill! Those moments when we are shocked by friends & loved ones behavior…pierces the soul and is life altering as you say. And how wonderful you evolved past the cultural indoctrination, however subtle, to disparage “the other”. Brings to mind that song from South Pacific, “Carefully taught” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPf6ITsjsgk My parents had the soundtrack album from the movie & played it frequently….I was around 9 at the time & we kids would sing along with the song. Heh, the other one we really liked singing to was “I’m gonna wash that man right outta my hair”! When I and my sibs were kids we’d sometimes come home and ask of our parents “what does XXXX mean?”. It would have been some name or phrase a schoolyard kid had used to describe someone, be it race, culture, religion or the like. My mom would say “we don’t use that word, it is disrespectful, mean and hurtful”. Having never heard such language at home we were clueless that such words were slurs.
As I was about to enter third grade at our south-side Chicago public school, our area was under what was called the "white flight". Many stories about that. But anyhow, I remember my mom saying "You might have some little black kids in your class. Don't treat them any different."
It had never occured to me to treat them differently.
Miselle, my first experience of racism occurred on the south side of Chicago and I have never forgotten it. I was about 7 and the area we were driving through was swarming with police. It turned out that a black family was moving into the neighborhood. I thought then that it was wrong an awful thing to happen. I was born and raised in northern Indiana among people who had what I would call the casual racism of the north. Then I did not know about the KKK in Indiana in the 1920s and never had a black classmate until I was in high school. I spend three and a half years in Sierra Leone, first as a student at Fourah Bay College in Freetown (I remember the JFK assassination) and then as a Peace Corps volunteer. I came back with a very different view of American society. Now we live in a diverse neighborhood and one of our long time neighbors apparently moved (after spending a whole lot on their house) in part because of the change in the demographics. Incidentally, a majority of the students at the middle school down the street are on free or reduced lunch.
I wonder Michele, will there still be lunches for these children. It’s one of the programs they are cutting if this budget passes. As a retired teacher, I know that the children on free or reduced breakfast and lunch are children of the working poor.
Yes Barbara, “Carefully Taught” my favorite song from “South Pacific “ as well. It speaks volumes and is the ugly truth. While in college, I wrote a paper and stated that mankind, in a sense, uses art, music and literature as an expression of the beauty and the ugliness we are capable of creating. For example, I can think of two plays “Showboat”, “West Side Story”, and the movie “Gentleman’s Agreement”. I could list many more and I’m sure you could, as well.
These days, I tend to think of the painting by Edward Munch “Scream”. 😂
I had same upbringing. From
Small yankee town.
That song speaks volumes, needs a resurrection
That one was a whammy. Thanks for your bravery in sharing it.
What happened to you and Mitzi?
She left me not long after that time period.
🥺 her work was done, I guess, helping your parents down off their pedestals.
How about your mom? What was your relationship like afterwards? And thank you for sharing your story; I see these names popping up in these letters all the time, I like hearing whatever personal history they share.
It was fine.
I brought home a handsome Asian fellow to meet my mom. Her comment: "Good genetic mixture!" which for decades I considered a weird comment. I now realize that she was trying to be supportive, but neither she nor I had the language.
My dad was furious, but I didn't realize it until decades later when I could honestly recognize his expression in our wedding photos.
Neither was a particularly warm grandparent, so there's that.
I found I can use the directional arrow keys to move to the areas that can't otherwise be reached with the mouse or scroll feature
Bill, quite the personal story. There is much in here that many would never wish to put in print. People do change. I suspect your father would have eventually also changed. As an atheist, I don't get too embroiled in the "hereafter" business. However, I do like to think that there is something else beyond us that makes one imagine the possibility for one's improvement. I know; one has to improve while on this earth, and if that fails, then those still alive may revile one who hasn't shown the will for the needed or expected improvement. I don't know if you've ever forgiven your father; I'm not going to get into your business on that account, nor any other. However, speaking for myself, I do feel a softer calm when I think of one who hasn't really lived up to the principles of rights given to us in this nation. I also had a friend whose parents, especially his father, who were racist. In high school, this friend of mine was close to me in spite of his father's racial dystopia which was shared in less brutal ways by his son. Inwardly, I knew he was a good person because he demonstrated it frequently. He just needed a jostle to the left for him to become more whole. I was never able to get him there; he died buried under the Bailey's Crossroads building collapse in Falls Church VA. in 1973. I believe he would have come through to the right side of history had he lived. Maybe I'm kidding myself, but I'd like to believe that he would have. I'd like to believe if we have the time to correct ourselves, we would eventually do so. I know there's a lot to be argued in this last statement; is it possible though, because of the baggage that they carry, that we all carry, that there are those who simply don't have enough time to develop the needed moral fiber in their lives to be the human beings they should be?
And you’re from Syria. I hope the new leader will bring stability and growth to your people.
Thank you for your kind words. As with all things political, time will tell. It’s been a while since I’ve traveled there. My last visit was in 2009 with plans to return in 2013. Of course, that never happened. I’d like to go back at least one more time. Time will tell also on that score.
I never had much of a paternal influence. My mother’s two cousins were like my fathers and I looked to them for guidance. The day my father was buried, I was relieved. And to this day I have no regrets. My father also disappointed my mother that too was unforgivable.
This will all be in my memoirs after my cat book is published.
Oh wow….
Such a sad story, repeated often all over the land I assume. Our families disappoint us in so many ways. We must break the cycle. It may be our last chance in this lifetime
Excellent shares here enlightens my own small yankee town upbringing .
Bill,
FYI only: when editing, I find that I can reach areas with the arrow buttons (> <) when page up and page down fail to show the complete text, and the text body won't scroll. That happens especially when typing on my tablet or phone, instead of the desktop computer ...likely due to the use of a floating keyboard. ??
Hmmm thnx for info on yrs of frustration !
Well said but I think we need to remain rational in our arguments and the idea that Clarence Thomas is impeachable simply demonstrates our lack of a grip on reality. While I can't stand Justice Thomas, I don't see anything at all in his conduct that would justify impeachment, let alone conviction and removal from office.
His legal thinking has always seemed flawed to me but that doesn't make it a high crime subject to impeachment. And even if you could get a bill of impeachment through the House, there is no way it could ever result in a conviction in the Senate where 67 votes would be required to strip him off his position.
I just wish we would stop wasting time on impeachment.
.
Like Congress is doing anything useful with their time Jon?
Have you not read the stories about Clarence Thomas's income tax evasion when he wrote off a $267,000 loan for his RV.
From the New Republic-
"Thomas is still refusing to reveal whether he repaid the principal on the $267,000 loan that he received from Anthony Welters, a wealthy health care executive and personal friend, to purchase his R.V. in 1999, according to a letter that Senators Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse have sent to an attorney for Thomas.
Thomas also has yet to say whether the loan’s principal was forgiven by the lender, the Democrats argue in the letter, which was obtained by The New Republic. If it was forgiven all or in part, the senators say, it could constitute “a significant amount of taxable income” that should be reported on federal tax returns."
https://newrepublic.com/article/181627/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-democrats-letter
The SCOTUS Justices should not be above the law just as everyone in the Trump WH shouldn't be. Of course it would be better to see Thomas prosecuted for income tax evasion, but that ain't never gonna happen.
The justices violate their own code by not calling out Thomas and Alito for major violations. Those of us who worked for the government could be fired, jailed and fined if we failed to report a $20 lunch. After senators protested, Roberts supposedly sent Thomas allegations to the judicial conference. Roberts supposedly sent Thomas allegations to the judicial conference.
That was a few months before he issued the order that the justices wou;ld be governed by the judicial code. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
I don't know why parties, and that includes the Biden DOJ, didn't bring recusal motions in key caces involving Trump, especially whan Ginny Thomas was involved with Trump. NPR said "Even if Clarence Thomas didn't know what his wife was doing, Gillers maintains, these texts indicate he would have had to willfully ignore her conduct, and in any event, he certainly knows now." https://www.npr.org/2022/03/25/1088720571/ginni-thomas-tex-messages-mark-meadows-2020-election
BTW those senators apparently didn't know anything about the rules, because the judicial conference, which is hell on wheels, has mechanisms to take complaints and act on them.
Meanwhile the rules for recusal or disqualification require affidavits. Apparently hundreds of lawyers were witnesses and apparently none of them has had to come forward. In some cases, speeches were specifically not recorded, but apparently the justices felt free to discuss pending cases, which by definition is "prejudice." I wonder whether any of those witnesses were counsel in those cases.
I suppose we can call it unlucky. With Roberts we have a fascist at the top: Citizens United and Shelby County vs. Holder, turning our system to one bought by the wealthy. And Clarence Thomas, a shallow, bitter, unprincipled enemy of common folks and minorities.
When he worked in the Reagan administration, Roberts hobby horse was to diminish the civil rights and voting rights for all non-white people, his racist proclivities still burn hot, and with the religious leaning of the other five right wing Justices, they will continue to rule in favor of white Christian nationalism and make white Christian men superior to all other citizens.
GJLoft -- Let's not forget Thomas's disrespect of and rape of Anita Hill, which preceded his gross financial improprieties.
I genuinely believe that Thomas would concur with Dred Scott today if he had the chance.
The presidential immunity decision is reason enough to impeach all six of the corrupt right-wing Justices who backed presidential immunity.
The president should be investigated, indicted, and prosecuted for any crime he or she commits as the president, and he/she should be prosecuted while still in office. Today's Supreme Court has been compromised and corrupted by the Federalist Society, which is controlled by religious radicals that belong to the Catholic Church's Opus Dei and funded by the ultra-rich to rule in favor of the ultra-rich to be able to purchase the politicians and political positions that will ensure that the ultra-rich will always be more "equal" than the rest of us.
The president should always act within the law and should have the incentive stay within the law or be prosecuted.
That's a great thought - impeach the Supreme Court justices, "the Fascist Six," but it isn't likely to happen. But, if we could win a tsunami of elections in the next four years, it might be possible. The question right now is: can our democracy survive even the next 20 months? Or even the next six months? We'd have to win the support of the 20%, 30% of the MAGATs at the bottom who are being driven into destitution along with the indifferent Democrats who sat out the last election. The problem is compounded by the fact that many of the elections will be rigged by the MAGAT Republicans.
Maybe some don’t see it now, but the fact is, we don’t have 4 years to turn this around.
Never gonna happen. Please. You can cite another dozen articles if you like. Do you seriously think this Republican Senate which refused to convict the Manchurian Cantaloupe TWICE is going to waste time on this?
Pray for a heart attack instead.
A heart attack won’t help. Nothing can help as long as Republicans hold either the Senate or the presidency, and by the time Democrats are in a position to change the composition of the court (if that ever happens), it will be far too late to save civilization. Probably will be too late by 2028, regardless of the composition of the US government at that time. White voters have done us in. We should continue to try to get back on track, but our odds of success are not good. Those white voters are not going to change their mind, and it takes both a monumental effort and considerable good luck to outvote them.
You forgot centrist democrats.
Sometimes truth hurts …
Thomas is corrupt. That is a fact. He has been bought. He has been bribed. And he hid the bribes, several times. That is a fact. Should articles of impeachment be introduced? Yes. Why, when it is a "waste of time?" When we know there is no chance for success now? Because it says we believe in the rule of law. It must be said.
However, to focus purely on an effort that is doomed to fail is indeed a waste of energy. File it. State it. Then move on to fighting to save our nation from the disasters of DOGE and an insane presidency.
When we regain control (we will) the articles of impeachment can be resurrected and applied wherever appropriate. Thomas will be second in the lineup.
The right-wing politicians don't have integrity or are of good character, so they will never impeach and convict their fellow right-wingers. But if bringing impeachment charges will show the public how corrupt they are, people who believe in the rule of law will keep that in mind for the next election.
There is plenty of impeachable conduct for Clarence Thomas, if the standards of the regular judges in our system applied to him. But you are right: impeachment is a far reach especially if free and fair elections are replaced by nominal-only elections. If Democrats could again get majorities in house AND senate there could conceivable imposition of a judicial code of conduct applying to SCOTUS as well as term limits. But it is all an uphill battle as the 180 day Project 2025 timeline strives to kill the power of the Courts, Congress and Senate as well as the free press and media. Our courts have to show some teeth or they will cave as surely as the courts did under the Third Reich, supplanted by the Nazi Judicial machine.
You are right, don’t waste an ounce of energy.
Zat you, Ginni?
That's an interesting stance, that you shouldn't undertake something unless you are certain to win. I think differently. If something is the right thing to do, then do it, against the odds, and do it again, if you have to, etc.
His flagrant disregard for the ethics of gift acceptance is a good starting point. Stop assuming that this is based on emotion only.
And there Jon lies one of America’s biggest problems! Impeachment is our Constitutional responsibility. If we have been given the tools in which to support our Laws and we choose ignorance on how “that is done”, we are complicit in losing to the criminals and thugs who think they are above the Law. Thomas has used the court to enrich himself like a street walker.
Shame!
I guess major corruption isn’t a good enough reason.
It’s worse than a waste of time Jon. It’s bereft of thought of what’s to immediately follow, and who’s in control.
Some single out Thomas, many include Alito, others wish to go after even more. I guess people forget that the path to the top bench starts with the sitting President. Followed by approval by the MAGA led committee. Then followed by the lockstep majorities in the House and Senate. So, how’s that going to work?
It takes zero imagination to realize Drumpf may well prefer to replace members of SCOTUS with clones of Miller, Bondi, Noem. Perhaps too many misunderstand the requirements for appointment to the court. Possibly they think, falsely, one needs to be a distinguished jurist with a background as a scholar in constitutional law.
As you eloquently pointed out, they should give it a rest. Our greatest remaining hope is that at least a majority on the court will emerge and do their job with all the force they are entitled to muster
Failing that, we reap the whirlwind.
Rick, historian Jefferson Cowie points out in his book "Freedom's Dominion" that voting rights needed support from the Federal government to actually be effective. Otherwise White Supremacists continue to prevent Blacks and other groups from access to both registering and voting in enough number to actually help their candidates win offices. So, we have never been a true electoral democracy, because the Feds cannot be in all places and where they are not, voting disenfranchisement is in full force. The Republicans are continuing with this in every way they can.
My book club read Cowie's book, and saw him speak in Berlin while we were in the middle of the book. He explained how Populism had a big appeal in the US. I wrote a piece on his talk.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/is-populism-the-way-to-go?r=f0qfn
Then, we decided that we wanted to better understand what he meant by populism, and we invited him to talk to Democrats Abroad in general. That he did at the end of April. I got a better understanding of his idea that populism is not actually a good governing strategy, because populists don't really stand for anything except the ideas they think will win. He also went into elements of populism that are appealing, such as a return to a better past, and an us and them building of a common enemy.
Cowie also said that he was surprised that Dems were not doing more to protect voting rights. I wrote about that talk here.
https://lindaweide.substack.com/p/voting-rights-come-before-all-others?r=f0qfn
One of the reasons I don't miss a vote, and have raised my child, and taught my students that voting is important, is because I respect those who fought for me, a brown-skinned women, to be able to vote.
I helped in the struggle as well. My Black father would be at his office on Saturday mornings giving eye exams and fitting people for glasses, while my White, German mother and I were at a shopping center in a middle class Black neighborhood collecting money for the NAACP. We were the largest collectors on the South Side of Chicago back then according to my father. I was three. While my mom held the can, I got to stand on my toes in my black patent-leather shoes and reach up and put the tag onto people's coat buttons, that said, "I gave to the NAACP!"
Linda Weide, what a lovely story about you, the patent leather shoes, and the buttons! As a Virginian, now living in Historic Printers Row, Chicago, whose mother was completely racist and whose father exactly opposite, I went to UNC-CH where I met my first Indian from India, and that, plus my father’s quiet support of every black I ever saw him with, led to the compliment of my life in a card at my 91st birthday party. It’s like a medal for one who lived through what Heather described from WWII onward. It comes from a black lawyer and friend who visited us on the small boat in France (my husband’s retirement dream) describing me as a “gift” to the neighborhood “and the world.” Now I have not only to write postcards to voters but also to get to work on Jasmine Crockett (or her choice) for president!
Keep up the good work Virginia! ✌🏽
I love that image, and your work, Linda!
Thank you Susan! ✌🏽
Great info. I’ve been a NAACP member for decades. It is a great organization. Roy Wilkins was pure class: handsome, intelligent, refined and committed to a great cause.
What a wonderful memory! Good, brave people.
I agree wholeheartedly. Neither the Democrats or Republicans do enough to defend civil rights. The courts are mixed. Most shocking to me is the John Roberts Supreme Court. A man who says that racism is no longer an issue in voting rights in the United States, is a man who no longer exists body and soul on this planet. Which other place he may have gone off to, I leave for others to speculate.
Don’t forget Alito…complete disgrace and complete racist. Actually, both of them are racist.
I find today's Letter encouraging when I read how people can do a U-turn on their opinions. I wonder what it will take for someone to finally turn around on this DC madness?
Is there a Congressperson who has been feeling the tiniest bit uneasy, and that uneasiness is growing stronger--stronger than their fear?
What will it take? A Christian Congressperson who listens to the word of God one Sunday, and thinks about their own judgement day? A humanist Congressperson, who is utterly appalled by a reality show pitching immigrants against each other? A Congressperson who is content with what they have and who finds the greed of Trump and his billionairs posse to be disgusting?
Of the millions who read the Letter, probably only a fraction also read the comments. There is a chance that one of them is an elected official, or someone who works in their staff.
I hope this is true, and that someone is reading my comment. If this is being read by a Congressional aide, or their close friend or family--help them gain courage!
Ask them: where will your name go in history?
I'm sure some people here will consider me an idealistic optimist. Guilty as charged. I need that thread to hold on to, to keep my sanity.
When I forward the Letter, I always make sure to tell them to read the comments. Great place to learn.
Yes, it is! There are some incredibly intelligent people on here who add context and also local information. I feel like I'm with my tribe when I read (most of) the comments. I've blocked the random troll (if they are still here).
Rick Herbst,
Racism and authoritarianism are being fed once more. The appeal to our "lower selves" is being received by men and women who thirst for power....who are dazzled by Mara Logo. They are men and women who are heartless and cruel unless you are a strict member of the gang and willing to sell your soul to Trump.
Compassion is dead...cruelty is at the helm of this administration. Most of the persons Trump has assigned to powerful positions, do not know how to serve the American citizens within their assigned positions and lack the character to carry out their assigned responsibilities with humility and dignity... not to mention intellectually. It is "YES" to Trump and "NO" to the rule of law and to the values of most American citizens!
God sees those men sent to El Salvador...each one...who did NOT receive a proper trial.
Each person was created in the image of God. As a Christian, I believe each one is precious in His sight. I also believe Christ lived with us, demonstrating ways in which we are to live and to love one another. He gave Himself...shed His blood ...suffered unspeakable pain for each of us....became the sacrifice God, His Father required to cover our sins. He also defeated death through His resurrection power. Through His life, He demonstrated ways to live out our lives....to use our hearts and minds and strength for good. Everyday, we have the opportunity to turn from selfishness...from complacency...to be an example of love...of truth. We have the opportunity to demonstrate the unconditional love of Christ.
"We are under threat of the loss of rule of law, and when that goes out the window, so does hope-because the structural foundations upon which our democracy is built are blown up."
We have the ability to stand against these forces of evil.
Amen! The Lord's will be done!!
I don't want to be an image of God. I don't want to see me as omnipotent. I don't want to create chaos and confusion, because people dared attempt to build a tower to reach me. I do think there is an analogy here.
We need to be tireless and loud in demanding our elected representatives and the judiciary hold the line.
Very well said!
Bravo Rick
Rick, an excellent post. Thank you. Every time I think of Bribery Thomas as the replacement for Thurgood Marshall, I want to throw up. And then there is Sammy. Roberts may be thrashing around about the attacks on the judiciary, but he wrote the decision giving death star immunity for "official acts" As for Bondi, she should be disbarred.
It is up to us, the people, to keep fighting . Even the Judiciary cannot be counted upon without pressure from the grassroots
It is delusional to suppose the judiciary might rescue us; the Supreme Court has made it clear it belongs to the Christonazis and therefore to Trump. Meanwhile, the military have proven themselves naught but oath-breakers by their refusal to defend the Constitution against its (publicly declared) domestic enemies. We are therefore sinking in the apocalyptic miasma foreseen by Walling, with both the fanatical white male Christonazi theocracy of the South and its attendant plague of white supremacist hatred and violence now metastasized throughout the nation. “The day these methods become general in the North,” Walling wrote, “every hope of political democracy will be dead, other weaker races and classes will be persecuted in the North as in the South, public education will undergo an eclipse, and American civilization will await either a rapid degeneration or another profounder and more revolutionary civil war….” This is precisely the reality that confronts us today, and until we acknowledge that terrifying truth and respond accordingly, our cause is lost.
I'm starting to feel optimistic. Trump/MAGA and their fascist, wealthy acolytes are over reaching. Ever our right wing SCOTUS seems to be waking up....slowly.
We have a struggle in front of us, but like the Civil Rights movement and the Anti Vietnam movement, we shall overcome!!
Thank you for saying what so many of us feel and believe.
Hi Rick, thank you for an excellent comment representing all - hopefully - readers of Professor's daily letters. Clarence Thomas is a total disgrace but is black. I wonder why he does not live up to the expectation of his people.
Thank you Heather for the historical context. A must read. And I do hope your summer at home will be joyful 🕯️🥁🇺🇸
I second that! Well said.
Use this spreadsheet to call/email/write members of Congress. Reach out to your own, as well as those in other states on a specific committee important to a topic you’re sharing. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit
We should thank Congressional Republicans who are resisting Medicaid cuts to the budget. Josh Hawley, R. MO :
“Many hospitals — particularly in rural and underserved areas — rely heavily on Medicaid funding, with some receiving over half their revenue from the program alone,” the representatives wrote. “Providers in these areas are especially at risk of closure, with many unable to recover. When hospitals close, it affects all constituents, regardless of healthcare coverage.”
Co-signed by Reps. David Valadao, R-Calif., Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Pa., Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., Jen Kiggans, R-Va., Young Kim, R-Calif., Robert Wittman, R-Va., Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., Nick LaLota, R-N.Y., Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., and Jeff Hurd, R-Colo.
I’m shocked that two of my area Reps, Kiggans and Wittman, signed on. Kudos to the Williamsburg JCC Indivisible group for turning on the heat.
Hooray for the Virginians! This one thanks you, David Solomon.
Yes, I agree! I have heard rumors that some voted no in order to put forth something that cuts more - but I’m hoping those are just rumors
No, unfortunately true. That was apparently the primary reason the bill was blocked.Some Senators are equally as cruel as Trump.
Ugh. Unbelievable.
Not at all. Protestants fought for King James at Culloden. Russian immigrants fought for NAZIS on the Eastern Front, because they believed they were defeating Communism. Families were split in the Civil War, because some members supported the Union; others the Confederacy
NOT rumors. Nasty people who just want their name in lights. Find their addresses & we can all help transport the starving US citizens to their curb.
It’s nice to know that “sprinter” Hawley has some redeeming qualities.
Thanks for sharing! We need to deport the Afrikaners. They are fake refugees. Trump and muskrat are importing white supremacists to vote for fascists like them: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/deport-the-afrikaners
I don’t think they are allowed to vote. I agree that bringing these “refugees” here is a poor choice. I dont know the whole story.
I believe they will be able to vote once their citizenship goes through, and from my guess, that process will be fast tracked for them
It’s disgusting. The racist bring in backups to secure their ideas and their ugly hearts and diseased minds.
I believe at the INS, fast track means something less than 20 years should the applicant still be alive.
Great spread sheet! Another great tool is an app called 5Calls. Check it out!
Yup 5calls is awesome. That’s what I was using first, then wanted to be able to email after my kids went to bed and couldn’t find an easy way to email members, so I made one 😅 I have 5calls listed at the top of my spreadsheet noting how great it is, especially for scripts
Impressive job! Thank you for providing this useful tool.
Thank you Megan! Keep posting this every day!
I might offer a suggestion to it. I try to make 5 calls a day: to my 2 senators and my house rep. Then I randomly pick two others based on what I hear in the news. If you have the time (or one of the other good people here who could post in a reply) can you suggest two senators/reps with one particular issue, and their phone number?
Jessica Chasten does this with her Chop Wood, Carry Water substack, but she suggests we call our own reps, and also, I doubt everyone here reads her excellent Substack. (they should!)
For instatnce, Daniel's list below is quite helpful. We can call and THANK them as well as yell at them.
I was just reading her Substack - yes I highly recommend her!
Maybe call and say thanks to some of the republicans who spoke up against the Medicaid cuts? There’s a comment up above on this strand from Daniel and he lists them :)
What’s the link?
If you’re asking for the link for Chop Wood, Carry Water, it’s: https://open.substack.com/pub/chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions?r=5ggaym&utm_medium=ios
I appreciate her posts!
Thanks!
As I read this history Professor Richardson put together, all I could think about was — should this brutish, arrogant, racist, xenophobic, trans-phobic, incompetent cabal of crooks and dumb thieves known as MAGA succeed in what it is so clearly trying to do — no high schooler in this country will ever be permitted to read history like this.
Instead, they’ll be fed the tender bullshit of slavery ‘not being as bad as all that.’ They’ll be spared details of lynchings and fed a bowdlerized version of the past organized around sparing their delicate, vulnerable little minds from knowing the details of injustice and terror that used to be part of the common fabric of everyday American life. They’ll be explicitly forbidden to draw a line from the past to the present, and be unable to answer — should they even dare to ask the question — ‘how did we get here?’ They’ll never know any details of the civil rights movement, much less the role one gay Black man, Maynard Rustin, played in making that famous ‘I Have a Dream’ day in 1964 actually happen.
So don’t let let them get away with it. Don’t allow these bastards to re-write history to their liking. Don’t permit them to deny young people the right and duty to learn about history the way it really was, not how Trump ‘s toads and lackeys would prefer them to think.
In my Google news feed yesterday, there was this story --
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/author-heather-cox-richardson-provides-a-snapshot-of-the-time/article_da7a0e7b-7933-4fdc-9fff-140787b572bb.html
Maybe AI read my comment yesterday here about making others aware of HCR's newsletter and public appearances and her books, etc. and sent me a link to that story. /s
Thanks for the link to that great article!
Thanks for the link. I wondered how HCR Put together LfaA, while teaching, writing and speaking. Dedication, focus, and tirelessness, attributes needed for a rebellion.
Thanks for that, Gary. Excellent article. I do worry about her. One of my very favorite YouTubers (Beau of the Fifth Column) burned out last year. Thankfully, his wife took it over, but I still think about him and hope he's okay. I wish they'd do a quick video of him just saying hi.
Was a big Beau fan and now really am enjoying Belle and the facts along with a dose of humor that she now brings to the table. That is probably my favorite You Tube channel. Link below so you others can check it out ⬇️:
https://youtu.be/tmk4UCkujxo?si=MWLI6uyzmdXLgOgN
She is amazing!
Presumably behind view of MSM, a few wise people are looking long term about a USA version of the Nuremberg Trials. Dr. Richardson has described the piece-meal approach that has led this country to now. German society, in large part accepts their history. The US myths that create and support racism must be replaced in multigenerational reeducation.
I doubt, however, that citizens will overcome belief in « free will » to embrace secular enlightenment.
I’m too old to see both sea level rise and civilization of the ignorant brains….
Thank you Dr. Richardson
Hope one or more of the networks air “Judgement at Nuremberg” or one of the streaming services like Netflix produce a re-make
But where will they find another Marlène Dietrich? We need the original back on Netflix. I hope it still exists.
Reality can, and frequently does, crush us like bugs; creator and destroyer. Yet we tend to proper most when we are very frank about her, as well as about ourselves; our own strengths and errors.
👍✊ yes, It’s Come to This, and let’s stop having the text books all edited and printed in Texas.
I appreciate the reminder that Americans of conscience have both worked across racial divides before and won battles over the popular hatreds and power interests committed to white supremacy. But I am not heartened by the many decades it took after winning a mighty ciivil war to win back the rights we as a nation thought it had secured. We have long thought we won the battles of the post WWII period to build a global democratic order that freed colonies, resecured civil rights in this country, and finally began to “fix” liberalism’s understanding of “men” as only one gender of humanity. One fatal election lost, however closely, and we see destruction wrought all around us. Can we rebuild what has been smashed in less than the half-century it took to even begin to win back the rights granted in law after the civil war? We are again seeing constitutional rights tossed aside, the machinery of government broken, and the international “triumph of democracy” in global lawmaking and institution-building subverted. Will it take 50 years to get another wave of progressive reconstruction to repair and replace what was broken and begin again to grow freedom on these shores?
“..when the memory of my tribe shall have become a myth among the White Men, when your children’s children think themselves alone in the field or the silence of the path less woods, they will not be alone.” Chief Seattle
A wise man who still speaks
Fact based stories of heroes (of one sort or another) have always been a source of inspiration. Stories that make the ideals and struggle that were theirs relatable to our own complicated experiences of navigating life. We talk a lot about scoundrels, and with good reason; but we also need to conjure with the lives of those who won the good fight, or put everything they could muster into the effort.
Chump knows that scoundrels are more newsworthy. That’s why he has collected such a vile bunch of “deplorables.” The P2025 puppet masters know this too.
Harold L. Ickes had started out as a progressive Republican and President of the Chicago NAACP. Perhaps he had some influence on President Harry Truman and his evolving positions on segregation.
I like to think so since Ickes was a good friend of my wife’s grandfather, a life-long Republican and descendant of one of the brothers of the three who served in Congress at the same time (the only three brothers to do so at the same time), as the Republican party was being formed. They served the first (34th) of 3 terms in Congress under the party designation of “O,” for Opposition (coalition or caucus depending upon the source), before 2 more terms under “R.”
One of the things that kept me in the party that my wife's ancestors had played a large part in starting, was that her life-long Republican grandfather was such a good friend of Harold L. Ickes that my mother-in-law thought he was an uncle (he visited more often than her real uncles).
Thoughts of Ickes’ possible influencing of Truman came when I overheard the start of a phone conversation between my wife’s life-long Republican grandfather (Ickes good friend), and Harry Truman in 1971. It seems they stayed in touch, at least by phone a couple times a year until they both passed away the next year.
A short but interesting article on the Harold L Ickes Historical Marker (at the Altoona Area High School), is at https://explorepahistory.com/hmarker.php%3FmarkerId=1-A-342.html
Because of my wife’s and my own life-long, well respected, Republican grandfathers, I stayed a Republican, at least until 1996 when I saw the Newt Gingrich/Frank Luntz GoPac memo, "Language: A Key Mechanism of Control" wasn't going to be rejected, it was becoming more weaponized than ever (I quit the party about the same time Elizabeth Warren did).
Jim, last night, we were talking politics and my husband said "I don't consider Trump a Republican. I don't know what he is.....he's TRUMP."
I agree. Trump is "MAGA" but I bet in his mind, MAGA is just a term he slaps onto himself like that orange pancake makeup. He's through and through TRUMP. His followers aren't a party, they are a brainwashed cult, or savvy opportunists.
I keep faith there are true GOP in Congress still--only because I believe in a two-party system and the Trumpians absolutely do not budge. They don't know the word "compromise". Since Trump just learned the word "groceries" perhaps someone can tell him about this great new word, "compromise".
:-/
Progressive Republicans did more good than the conservative ones, as far as things like emergency relief but none of my old party seems very strong on "Federal" emergency relief. As you imply, we now have one who wants to stop all Federal Emergency relief and leave it up to the states, doing nothing comparable to the grudgingly federal relief provided by previous Republicans (I think always less than Democratic Presidents provided).
Trump backed FEMA efforts (in 2017), for Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana, Irma in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, Maria in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and even an emergency declaration before Nate struck Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, but fell well short of what was needed in Puerto Rico, unlike the states.
See https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/how-hurricane-maria-fueled-puerto-ricos-resistance/
Now it seems he doesn't want to provide federal support to any states, telling them the states will have to handle it on their own as the real and worsening climate threats make all the emergencies even harder to respond to. Seems he wants to treat all of the states (and his fantasy countries and areas he wants to take by conquest), even worse than Puerto Rico.
I assume almost all the smoke he's blowing on taking over other territories is to distract us from the incompetence and criminality of his appointees, but will have as devastating impact on coordinated emergency planning and relief for even his favorite red states much like that now showing as DOGE impact on the FAA (for just one example).
All the terrible things we're now facing didn't just pop up with one fatal election. We've been heading to this place for decades, starting with Nixon and, most especially, Reagan. Republicans have been sowing distrust in government, engaging in voter suppression, and chipping away at civil liberties for years. Democrats fought this erosion but many of them were complicit and/or placated. We must do better. My only hope for this horrible place in which we find ourselves is that many are truly awakening (getting woke, if you will) to the evil intentions of some of our neighbors and the weaknesses of our democratic institutions and guardrails. Once we overthrow the current regime, perhaps we'll be ready to put into place stronger protections and demand a more educated and determined citizenry.
When we are in a time of regression, each one of us must determine which of our talents, our time, and our gifts we are willing to dedicate to the cause of improving our world.
I chose to work within my community of faith which is diverse in many, many ways, as a voluntary deputy voter registrar helping to register people and providing them voting information, and I pledge to support with my finances and my time and my voice in protests.
Do something!
Replying to JLGraham...when traveling we look at their websites...do they have a diverse congregation, do they say they are LGTBQ friendly, are they open to EVERYONE?
They are out there, if you're interested.
Mark, my best friend, while an elder at her Disciples of Christ congregation, worked tirelessly to get the congregation to be an open and affirming congregation, and succeeded in 2007 or 2008. She also worked with another congregation in a smaller city north of us which became open and affirming in 2010. The co-pastor at that church heard my wife and I reaffirm our vows the day Obergefell was announced. The other co-pastor was deeply involved in working with the unhoused population in our town. They are open to ALL.
Good morning, Ally. Give kudos to your friend for me. It's heartening to hear about people like that.
Will do!
Thank you. I would like to hear much more about kindness and courage from communities of faith. Communities of hate seem counterfeit.
Thank You for your service, Mark.
I subscribe to the daily meditations from this organization.
https://cac.org/
While their messages are Christian faith based, often they encompass a greater group of people that subscribe to any faith, or no organized religion at all.
HCR presents us with another history lesson that shines as much light on the present as the past.
Thank you, teacher.
I wish some historian would write a detailed history of American race riots. I never knew about the Springfield riots, the same as I was never taught in school about the Greenwood Massacre in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa. Oklahoma.
If American children wee taught the real racial history of this country, including the genocide of indigenous peoples, it would be much easier to put it behind us. As it is, with the fairytale history we are given, we keep dragging that history with us like a millstone around our collective necks.
Actually, some progress was made in the eighties and nineties, but there was a lot of push-back. In retrospect, I think it was probably a mistake to teach Black history separately rather than to integrate all of American history with its racial challenges, but some states have rigid curriculum "standards."
I think the teaching of Black history was an attempt to put Black people back into American history from which they had been all but eliminated. A history of race riots, many of which were white people attacking Black people and destroying Black-owned property, is a sub-section of Black history. I agree, it all needs to become just one “our history”.
Spot on, Ralph. I never knew about Tulsa before visiting the African American Museum. So much is left out of our history yet the Washington/cherry tree nonsense lives on.
I'm a fan of history and educated in the 70's and 80's. I only learned about Greenwood from seeing "Watchman" in 2019 with my son. I was like, "what is all this about?" Since then I've read about Wilmington, a little about Rosewood Fl and a few others. I never heard of Springfield FL, thank you HCR.
It seems whenever Black people worked hard and put together a working, economically viable, growing community,, that belied the “inferior race” myth, a mob of white people invaded and destroyed it. And yet, as Maya Angelou said, “Still, I rise.”
There are a few internet databases that track information on lynchings and race riots. Some have links to contemporaneous news articles and other materials written or photographed at the time.
Sadly interesting to note, even the major northern news outlets wrote favorably of the lynchings and white riots at the time. If I recall rightly, it was in the New York Times that remarked the white riots were simply a natural escape valve letting off local steam.
I just don’t think “sadly” begins to cover it.
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I always learn so much from your brilliant essays and today you helped me understand both the Plessy V Ferguson and the 1954 Brown V Board of Education cases. I always read your posts first thing in the morning!
I appreciate Heather's optimism as she looks back and sees progress.
But while the criminal roosts in the White House, and while history unwinds its sorry U.S. litanies, might we extend the hope in America's past democracy into hope now that Europe may rise?
I’m suggesting two things, intertwined. First, European ramped-up military support for Ukraine and, second, a program that European schools teach English (still the world language) to lead in cross cultural essay writing.
Students in high school upper grades and university early years would do intro essays, class by class, for eventual exchange with peer classes in neighboring cultures. All ask the same Qs: “how am I doing?” and “how are you doing?”
Citing specifics for how each person variously inhabits food-clothing-shelter, all cite the styles they start with from home cultures, and those they’re modifying for personal tastes.
American schools, gone to the testing vortex, cannot do this, must serve U.S. billionaires’ commercial conceits (testing thus all impersonal, abstracted-only categories and linear-simple causalities). Europe, if rallying for democracy, can have schools lift the repertoires of how all face personal challenges. These include arts from home countries and the world as they cite lives they are yet shaping for themselves and loved ones.
I think you'll find that English is well-taught in European schools. Bilinguality always made good jobs available to me.
Can't speak for the rest of Europe, but in Germany that is certainly the case.
Two little scenes: I'm sitting waiting for the trolley-bus outside the museum in Budapest. A lady comes up and sits down beside me. She smiles and says, "xxxxxxx". I mutter apologetically , "Angol"! She says, "Could you tell me the time, please?" Second scene, in Vienna. I walk into a shop to buy some postcards. Because the proprietor was serving a customer, and because I'm a polite English person, I didn't interrupt him by speaking, which identified me at once as a non-European foreigner - you always greet, on entering a shop, and say goodbye on leaving. I chose my four cards and waited. The customer left, and the proprietor said to me, "Four euros". I said reproachfully, in German, "I haven't even said anything yet!" He burst out laughing and said, "Vier Euro!"
Thanks! I’ve got one for you.
I was in a local Brauhaus in Koeln the other night with family. I placed my order and then decided to add apple sauce. The Koebes (waiter) stares at me in a manner only a Koebes can do and asks ‘’Why would you order that?’’
I tell him I like apple sauce – it’s fresh and sweet. He then proceeds to tell me I’m the only German to ever order apple sauce with that dish! It was better than the day I received my German language proficiency certificate.
I love it! Bravo! "Köbes" is particular to the Rhineland? In Vienna he's Herr Ober.
This description is adapted from an AI-generated answer – and it’s a pretty good one.
Köbes is the Kölsch (also the word for our local beer & dialect) word for Jakob.
Legend has it that the Kölsch brewery apprentices could not afford to make the journey to Cologne by carriage and so had to work in guest houses and pubs along the way. Thus, Köbesse became the phrase for "making money on Jacob's pilgrimage."
The term in used in the Rhineland but particularly in Cologne and nearby cities.
My 1950s grade school training included introductions to differing cultures, but they were pretty superficial, if not outright stereotyping. In the age of effortless worldwide communication it should be possible (and I suspect there are already successful precedents) for students in other cultures to interact meaningfully with our own.
Through the years of our children's primary education we hosted AFS students from 12 different countries which exposed our kids and their classmates to different cultures and has given us a network of wonderful friends in other countries. It has been difficult and embarrassing to try to explain to them what has happened here. I find today's post hopeful, but also daunting to remember how difficult it has been to reach our current situation.
Actually, surprisingly not, J L.
In 1992 I got Soros money to do the first inter-cultural guest lecturer program in any university in central Europe. Home base was Budapest, Hungary -- the country's flagship university there. Key was having several otherwise separate classes of students also attend weekly sessions where regular host Hungarian, regular English-language native, and rotating cultural figures from neighboring countries always appeared as a trio. Students could follow how the different voices joined common themes with views from their cultures.
I remember, after I got the funds set, I first asked the university's English language faculty (three sets of them, for 100 professors total) if any had particular friends or colleagues in any of the neighboring cultures.
Answer: zero.
I got this money, and organized this program with experiences such as one of the exchange students from Poland. I asked her, in her classes, how instructors turned to her as a voice from Poland, for examples from that culture she might add to discussions. She said, it never happened. She was just a lonely young woman, nobody interested in her resources.
Over the years I've done more things like this (elsewhere in Europe, in the U.S., in Asia), and I've polled, surveyed, read widely, done other research.
Testing rules, J L. Abstractions, categories, zombie linearity. All that has driven the human, the personal, out of schools, along with humanities. All the world now follows only the zombie U.S. models.
Lots, not plenty, of students step outside the confines of the SOL.
Musicians make music whether anyone listens or not. Painters paint even though no one is looking. Readers read even though there’s no test. Writers write even though no one is reading.
They all do this for the very same reason that thinkers think. All these activities are modes of thought. These actions bring clarity and depth. It must be done.
Absolutely, Bill (though I'm not sure what the SOL is to which you refer).
Many artists do work in near isolation, sometimes. Many work in spite of periods lacking financial success. But I think in every genre most have dear friends and colleagues -- good mentors, too, in their genre as well as in arts other than theirs. These personal debts highly nurture.
One of the things that has fed vitality to American arts, I think you'll agree, has been the constant flux brought by so many from other cultures coming to the U.S. Surprises, serendipity, and charming accident swim along in this American effervescence
Of course. People like to share what they do, what they think, what they eat, how they live and experience life. When there is opportunity. Lacking that, most would carry on anyway for the very reason cited.
I do except from that, but not entirely, performance. A performer may partially hone their art in even solitary moments, but need others to finally realize it. And now that I’ve said that there must be a lot of other things I’ve overlooked.
" . . . a lot of other things I've overlooked."
Yes, indeed, Bill. Or, in my case, not sufficiently, not at all well enough figured out yet.
That's why these comments (from so many) on Heather's site help so much to nudge, take new perspective, quit tiresome repetition, grab another angle.
Sorry, an obscure but current reference, SOL = Standards of Learning testing which is administered in some public schools in Spring. Students are expected to at least meet the “Norm”. I guess failing that one also may be SOL, shit outta luck. Sounds to me like something out of Huxley’s “Brave New World”.
Teachers must teach to the test. Teachers are also evaluated according to the curve of their students’ performance. It’s not called SOL for nothing.
See, another thing I’ve overlooked, poets as one specific example. In the vast majority of cases, they do not make any living from their effort. If one does, it’s remarkable.
It seems that outright racists and those just socially ignorant and morally challenged can change their spots. Blinding someone got Truman’s attention when lynchings apparently did not. Reminds me of my daddy. As a young teen around 1954, I heard daddy say that equal was good enough. Such a flimsy excuse. We both knew, on some level, that equal was a mirage, not based in reality in NC, USA. We were poor, but blacks were dirt poor. I learned quickly, Daddy took a while. We were not a klan-inspired family, just too poor to worry about any but our large family of hungry mouths. We fight unnecessary but important battles. Jesus never taught hatred, nor did my parents, but we learned it. A little Golden Rule morality would suffice, but people mouth without conviction. Hence the important battles. America has, and has had, the opportunity to show the world how living up to our promise of equality under the law, negates the necessity for constant battles. Our founders knew that. What a different world if Hitler’s minions had stumbled across those fighting for equality instead of Jim Crow. Our actions reverberate. I fear that the jealously, greed and hatred reverberating now will destroy our beautiful Earth. Opposition can make a difference, but at a snails pace unless “Ike” has to be called in…
Wake up Dems, and become the “woke” you are accused of being.
Jesus never taught hatred, but in the teaching of his story, he has been depicted as a white man.
Last year I read the student handbook of a Baptist university. The men are required to have hair no longer than collar lenght, I think no beard (or perhaps neatly trimmed) and there are specifications to their attire as well. I looked into it after reading a hilarious meme pointing out Jesus's long hair, lengthy beard, and "wearing a dress".
In my childhood, I recall homes with portraits of Jesus who not only was white, apparently also had blonde hair and bright blue eyes.
you are SO RIGHT! nOW IS TIME! I WILL NOT LET THEM STEAL MY COUNTRY!
A little good news on this front; here on the ground in the Former Capitol of The Lost Cause, we’re getting along pretty well with each other. A lot of young folks with no use for racist idiocy have moved in, revitalizing the city. The statues that once lined Monument Avenue exalting those who commanded Confederate forces are gone and for the most part forgotten, city government is representative of the general population, and despite the usual dysfunction coming out of City Hall, the overall vibe is that Richmond is moving in the right direction. We’re not without our problems, the poverty rate is still too high and our public schools continue to face challenges, but all in all given our past, Richmond right now is a good place to be and there’s no love here for the current regime’s racist bullshit.
My UDC relatives helped erect those statues, and I lived on Monument in the early ‘80’s. It’s more beautiful now than when the statues were in place. I agree, Richmond is awesome, though to hear some more suburban residents (Hanover, Goochland) it’s a hellhole. Richmond has made some whopping big mistakes but truly is set on a path to finally become a world class community.
Thanks for the history. I didn't know the history of the NAACP or even Mr. Marshall.
Speaking of losing our rights - corporate media is burying this story from today. When the Supreme Court destroyed women's reproductive rights a lot of people assumed the foam-at-the-mouth Forced Birth movement would simmer down. But those familiar with those fanatics knew better. Sure enough they've just engaged in terroristic violence against an IVF clinic. These crazies need to be shut down hard.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/17/car-explosion-ivf-facility-palm-springs
The NAACP is stii here and still doing good work. They won't be going away until the job is done.
See: https://naacp.org/
See also: https://naacp.org/find-resources/history-explained
Based on a previous post by Heather, I have started giving $ when I can to the NAACP. I encourage HCR readers to do the same. They have done and are doing good work.
Senseless. 15 minutes of fame.
🤔
Keep our voices loud and proud....one day at time.....on all our civil rights.
https://www.dailyhaikuforyou.com
Loud, proud, together.
Loud and proud! Yes that's right, that is who we are.Thank you Heather for your discussion of Brown vs Board of Education! Please Please do not give up on Public Education! Another one of our Civil rights being abandoned! Brown facillitated many of the public laws that enable EVERY child in our Country the opportunity to receive free public education. EVERY CHILD, NO MATTER RACE ,RELIGION, ECONOMIC LEVEL, ABILITY OR DISABILITY. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS A DISIRE TO LEARN. Our teachers are many of our lowest paid professionals and yet many spend hundreds of dollars to supplement what state and federal dollars can't provide to give their students the best possible education. Yes. we like to BASH Public Education but many of our brightest, most creative and most dedicated educators seek the opportunity to teach there. If we lose our Public Schools we deprive our children, who are our future, of access to education being provided in a diverse environment where all students are represented.
Monica, Your daily haiku's are a perfectly delightful way to calm the daily crazies. I'm so very grateful for your daily gift. Blessings always....
My great-grandfather was William English Walling. My great-grandmother, Anna Strunsky Walling was also deeply involved. According to family lore they were both asked to speak on the Bolshevik revolution at Cooper Union. They were Socialists, had been to Russia and seen the revolution. W.E. Walling spoke of the revolution, Anna was to follow and talk of the women's condition. But her heart was so full of what they had seen in Springfield that she talked about that. After the speech Ida B. Wells approached them and said, "What are we going to do?" which is how that first meeting in their apartment happened. That's our story.
The road to world where the values of fairness and equality have been recognized is and has been a long one. What we are seeing now is a movement to move back to place where fairness and equality are no longer seen as a right but one that is to be parceled out to those who have power. The struggle is still there and we need to realize that those now in power represent the forces of inequality that we have been fighting for so many years. We are now seeing what progress that we have made being in danger and those who we have fought for so many years at the levers of power. We need to realize how dangerous are the times we are now living.
Timely comment considering Oklahoma's decision to teach 2020 election conspiracy theories as fact.
What?!
The road downhill is swift and easy; but then you are in a rut. Maybe even a form of hell.
I wonder. Is there a road to any of these places, heaven or hell? If so, it must be a very short one. Since both lie within us, there is no destination.
This one paragraph says so much, Fred. I hope that we are able to reverse this trend that we are in as a people.
This concept of how there is never enough vengeance for people who ostensibly have beaten down the opposition already, but they still have a pulse, so the beating down must continue, became apparent to me today in a much smaller, hardly comparable way. I belong to one of the many grassroots groups who continue to protest trump and his cohorts and his cruel actions week after week. We have a certain intersection on our one main street in our small rural community in AZ where we protest...The Trump supporters have been there with their gigantic Trump flags every time we are there. They never labor over signs with pithy protest sayings like we do, cuz I guess, like Trump himself, they feel the name trump is enough said.
They scream and swear at us every week, calling us losers among other things...But we also have people cheering us on...The Trumpers have won everything, congress, supreme court, etc., but because we are protesting and accusing their idol or deity of bad things, they are just livid...they feel like they are being attacked or that we feel we are better than them or something else, I don't know
Hate is hard to kill. Trumpers have been brainwashed. Most are racist and are afraid. They feel small, so puff themselves up. They feel alone, and being a Trumper makes them feel like they aren’t alone but part of something bigger. This goes for the White Christian Nationalists too. These are the minions being manipulated by the rich in power who know that these ignorant and easily deceived individuals will be their foot soldiers that can keep them in power and dominating the economy.
Most folk like to echo and mirror their neighbors, friends. Others are into networking. Those join a lot of organizations where, insofar as is possible, they echo and mirror in a larger group.
When I hear the birds twitter near dawn or the treetops whispering in the night, I try to imagine what they must be saying.
Keep up the good fight. MAGA is a cult and apparently willing to violate their own rights to punish Americans who don’t want what Trump and the GOP are selling.
I have friends/family who heavily rely on the social safety networks. I will do what I am able to support them when the sh!t hits the fan. I hate that they will be impacted, but if that is what FINALLY wakes up some people, I guess so be it.
Thank you for what you are doing.
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I always learn so much from your brilliant essays and today you helped me understand both the Plessy V Ferguson and the 1954 Brown V Board of Education cases. I always read your posts first thing in the morning!