It's that time of the year again- Black History Month. We get to reflect on our nation's (not so great) history of racism! Woo-hoo. As a white person (and former ditto head myself) I didn't care and thought it was for nothing. Then as a nice sweet white liberal I thought it was cool but not neccessary. But now I know better! Progressives must fight for a proper account of racism. Here's why (as I try to chanel Howard Zinn...)...
I found this generally-wonderful black history month timeline by the
Denver Post. While it has a lot of great things in it, it repeats some common historical myths that we hold onto- but shouldn't. In fact, our fight as progressives depends on the correcting the Post!
The big theme of the Post (and most mainstream histories) is the notion of progress in ending racism. The Post's photo gallery ends with MLK proudly saying that- yes - we are free at last. So this is really saying "All the work is done. Blacks are free. No more racism towards any brown or black people. Look the other way". But that's not true- racism is still kicking and we have to fight it! It's essential for progressives to maintain that racism still exists because: if racism still exists and progress isn't automatic then we need good government programs that are supported by people of color not just millionaire white boys!!
Anyway, here is my history lesson action...
Let's look at Jackie Robinson and Woodrow Wilson.
First Woodrow! The Denver Post timeline goes from 1914 to 1936-WW2 without a mention of Woodrow! As you read this- I hope you shout: "WHY DID THEY NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ON HIM?" The answer is that he proves that progress is not automatic and depends on common struggle.
True he was a Democrat and some of the folks at Free Republic really like that he was a horrible racist. But his story is important to us!
Conservatives love to point out that he say that because he said things like "segregation is not a humiliation but a benefit, and ought to be so regarded by you gentlemen." But his story is important to us!
To further kick Woodrow, here is a nice little ditty from our libertarian friends on how he segregated the federal government
reason.com :
Wilson allowed various officials to segregate the toilets, cafeterias, and work areas of their departments. One justification involved health: White government workers had to be protected from contagious diseases, especially venereal diseases, that racists imagined were being spread by blacks. In extreme cases, federal officials built separate structures to house black workers. Most black diplomats were replaced by whites; numerous black federal officials in the South were removed from their posts; the local Washington police force and fire department stopped hiring blacks.
Our boy also engaged in his share of Emprie Building and War Mongering.
But fear not!!! Woodrow's past is our friend- because Bush is closer to Woodrow than the Freepers would care to admit. So says the Christian Science Monitor.
Christian Science Monitor :
Bush echoed Wilsonian themes in an address that linked US security to the global spread of freedom.
WHAT'S MY POINT?- That Woodrow sent us back! Progress isn't automatic! It takes good policy.
So here is where Jackie Robinson comes in:
The Post notes (like most people) that Jackie broke the color barrier and was the "first black baseball player in the major leagues." NOT TRUE!
www.fcps.k12.va.us :
The first professional Negro player was actually John "Bud" Fowler in 1878 for the Lynn Live Oaks of the International League.
www.infoplease.com :
The first all-black team was put together in 1885 and was for a short time known as the "Argyle Athletics." They toured the Northeast, often playing the best white teams in the area, but were usually met with resistance from white fans. With hopes of attracting more white fans to the games, team owner Walter Cook attempted to fool them by changing the name of the team to the Cuban Giants. Players were even instructed to avoid speaking English while in public and on the field. The scheme worked for a while but by the turn of the century, no black players or teams were allowed to play with whites.
WHY DID BASEBALL SEGREGATE??
Because racism exists!! Because the forces working against racism during reconstruction were beaten back by people like Woodrow Wilson and other white supremacists.
So if it existed then- it may exist now!! And if it exists now then we certainly can't let business regulate itself without proper government influence. If it exists now, then maybe one of the reasons we can kill 100,000 Iraqi's and no one cares is because of racism. If it exists now, maybe there is a reason Bush won based on the support of white people (in fact, 10 of the 20 blue states would be red if up to white people). Maybe GWB is on the side of Woodrow and all the racists! Maybe Rush Limbaugh is not simply standing up to political correctness run amok but standing up for racism.
Why am I saying maybe so much? Of course they are!! So let's get our history straight and keep setting it straight! Progress is up to us!!