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I've done some further research and found that it was Black's resignation from the Klan in 1925 in which he used the term, "Yours ITSUB", not his resignation from the Supreme Court, as was stated by the OP.
Keep in mind that this was Alabama in the early part of this century, in which bigotry and prejudice was taught to young people. Being a member of the KKK in that place, at that time, was like belonging to the Elks Club, today. Many other leading citizens of both parties, like Strom Thurmond and Senator Byrd of West Virginia were members. Based on the bigotry which was commonly accepted, to them there was nothing wrong with belonging to a group like that.
In fact, based on the statements of some of the ultra-right-wing posters on this forum, many of them would be right at home in a modern-day version of the KKK; they're just as ignorant of the real world.
Keep in mind, also, that he was resigning from the KKK to run for the US Senate. It was a delicate balancing act, in which he had to resign the KKK to become elected, but in which he also wanted to retain the votes of his former colleagues. Thus, the signature with "ITSUB" was expedient. His subsequent acts and behavior as a Justice prove that his "unfailing bond" was hardly that.
I've done some further research and found that it was Black's resignation from the Klan in 1925 in which he used the term, "Yours ITSUB", not his resignation from the Supreme Court, as was stated by the OP.
Keep in mind that this was Alabama in the early part of this century, in which bigotry and prejudice was taught to young people. Being a member of the KKK in that place, at that time, was like belonging to the Elks Club, today. Many other leading citizens of both parties, like Strom Thurmond and Senator Byrd of West Virginia were members. Based on the bigotry which was commonly accepted, to them there was nothing wrong with belonging to a group like that.
In fact, based on the statements of some of the ultra-right-wing posters on this forum, many of them would be right at home in a modern-day version of the KKK; they're just as ignorant of the real world.
Keep in mind, also, that he was resigning from the KKK to run for the US Senate. It was a delicate balancing act, in which he had to resign the KKK to become elected, but in which he also wanted to retain the votes of his former colleagues. Thus, the signature with "ITSUB" was expedient. His subsequent acts and behavior as a Justice prove that his "unfailing bond" was hardly that.
Yes, of course. I don't think we have much to disagree about, really. I do believe that the formal resignation came before his appointment to the Court, but I may be mistaken.
I think that perhaps he did the community a service by doing as his friend Beck suggested. And I never thought, or meant to say, that he was any kind of typical KKK type. His career speaks for itself.
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