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But this is the difference. In the 1950s, Black people could be murdered and law enforcement would often look the other way, as what happened in Emmitt Till's death. This isn't about victim status. This is about historical facts. It is a historical fact that if I were living in 1955, I would be expected to "know my place".
In 2000, I wouldn't have to know my place. I have more freedom. And as for the Carr brothers, they are on death row at this point. And ask yourself this. Why are the Carr brothers sitting on death row and not Dennis Rader(the BTK killer)? Last time I checked, Black men are still more likely to be put on death row than Whites, and most of the time, a White person was the victim of the crime.
Looked the other way in the 1950...heck, they look the other way today!!!!
Michael Donald Lynching
The police tried to wrap up the case saying this killing was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. The mother of the deceased, Beulah Donald vehemently denied this theory saying her son was not involved with drugs and was a clean boy. She contacted Jesse Jackson and organized a protest march in the city. This activated the police and later FBI got involved with the case. Two years later, both Henry and James were arrested on charges of killing Michael. Benny was also charged, but he died before the trial began. Hays (Henry) was convicted and finally executed on an electric chair in 1997. His execution is believed to be the first in Alabama in the 20th century where a white was sent to death row for killing a black.
In a reply to an earlier post of mine, a reference was made to Mississippi Burning.
I originally replied that a work of fiction had no place in the discussion, but maybe it does.
I read up on the film, and found that it was involved in a court case known as Wisconsin v. Mitchell.
It seems that a group of blacks (excuse me, African Americans) were in an apartment complex drinking and discussing the film, particularly a scene where a white man beat a black boy. The group then moved outside, and discussion of the film continued. According to a source (link below), one of the gentlemen stated "Do you all feel hyped up to move on some white peoples?"
A 14-year old white boy happened to be walking on the other side of the street. The gentleman pointed to him and said "You all want to **** somebody up? There goes a white boy; go get him."
The group kicked, stomped, and punch the victim for more than five minutes, and was left unconscious.
Looked the other way in the 1950...heck, they look the other way today!!!!
Michael Donald Lynching
The police tried to wrap up the case saying this killing was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. The mother of the deceased, Beulah Donald vehemently denied this theory saying her son was not involved with drugs and was a clean boy. She contacted Jesse Jackson and organized a protest march in the city. This activated the police and later FBI got involved with the case. Two years later, both Henry and James were arrested on charges of killing Michael. Benny was also charged, but he died before the trial began. Hays (Henry) was convicted and finally executed on an electric chair in 1997. His execution is believed to be the first in Alabama in the 20th century where a white was sent to death row for killing a black.
I didn't know that the police were looking at it as a drug deal gone wrong. All I know of the Michael Donald case was the Morris Dees got involved, sued the UKA, and the guys who lynched Donald were imprisoned, and one was later put to death.
I've listened to stories from the elderly, and believe me, some have some horrifying stories about what it was to be Black in the old days. There was a reason my grandparents left Mississippi. Just because you don't hear old people talk about it, doesn't mean it didn't happen. I've got plenty of historical evidence to prove it, and I've heard stories from the elderly about it.
There is a difference between personal upbringing, and the world around you.
As I mentioned before, based on where you may have resided, I'm sure the circumstances were different. While your relatives may have grown up in rural Mississippi; my parents, grandparents, and great grandparents grew up in NJ, PA and NY. Sure they experienced racism, and they spoke about it to some extent if you brought up racial issues; but just on my observation there wasn't necessarily any "anger." If you were to ask them about their upbringing, the idea of "racism" being at the forefront probably wouldn't have entered the conversation, whereas the stories of walking "50 miles to school" talk would have just as they would with any kid who grew up back then. Ask a black kid today of what it was like in the 50s, and you're more than likely to get answers referring to Jim crow South, segregation, firehoses, and "whites only fountains" (regardless of where you're from). It's odd to say the least, especially coming from a generation that grew up on Nintendo and frozen pizza.
But on another note, I don't honestly think anyone really thought that the OP was referring to the desire to bring back Jim Crow south but more so about the Norman Rockwell image of everyone at the dinner table, that prayed before a meal. I personally think that some people who harbor issues with his political affiliations, have just found a way to disagree with him by bringing this stuff up.
Thanks to my parents of the 1950's, I can now laugh at theese kooks...
The KKK is still the same organization with the same goals, but now it's just a bunch of old men in the backwoods. Now the Neo-Nazis are to be feared. They're younger, more violent, and don't care if they live or die.
But on another note, I don't honeslty think anyone really thought that the OP was referring to the desire to bring back Jim Crow south but more so about the Norman Rockwell imgage of everyone at the dinner table, that prayed before a meal. I personally think some people have just found a way to disagree with him by bringing this stuff up
Perhaps not. However, I look at it this way. I have to think about how I would have fared in those days. I can't separate the 50s from what my life would have been like in those days, because I know it would be different. I can and do pray before partaking in my meals, and I know people who do this. I have to think about my life and what it would have been like. I can have that Norman Rockwell image that you're speaking of in my home in this era.
The KKK is still the same organization with the same goals, but now it's just a bunch of old men in the backwoods. Now the Neo-Nazis are to be feared. They're younger, more violent, and don't care if they live or die.
, needed the military escort to attend school in some places, women were essentially viewed as maids...Ahh, yes, the loving myth of the 1950s that RWNJs will always reside in. .
Really? Maybe in some areas of the south, but not where I come from, in fact this did not happen in most of the country.We as white folks were not woried about what the average black guy was or wasn't doing, we were busy raising families and working.
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stated "Do you all feel hyped up to move on some white peoples?"
