A month ago, I traveled to Oak Alley Plantation about an hour outside of New Orleans. Lined with carefully planted oak trees and anchored by a classic Greek Revival mansion, this old plantation constructed in the 1830s did not only rely on the wealth of its sugarcane harvest. Over 200 enslaved people lived on that property, laboring and serving as financial assets when the owner went to the bank to secure a line of credit.
I spent several grim hours there to visit the home built by slaves, witness the reconstructed slave shacks and learn about the area’s history. A chart from the Census of 1860 recalled the depth and breadth of this darkest stain on the American story: South Carolina and Mississippi had larger slave than free populations (Louisiana and Alabama nearly did) and 15 Southern states combined for a total of 3,950,343 enslaved people, a third of the region’s total population. That’s nearly 4 million lives, literally or figuratively shackled and chained.
Yesterday, April 8, 2022, Ketanji Jackson Brown—the newly confirmed Justice and a proud, profoundly capable African American woman born in Washington, DC—stood next to the President and Vice President of the United States and quoted poet Maya Angelou: "I am the dream and the hope of the slave." She also said: "It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we've made it! We've made it—all of us.” This was a historic day. A day to celebrate. A day to recognize the distance the country has traveled, reflect on the painful journey that led to this beautiful moment, and savor the possibilities of her inclusion on the highest court.
What does Ketanji Brown Jackson’s arrival on the Supreme Court mean to you? What do you think her impact can be in the coming years and decades? Does it cause you to look more to the past or to the future? Have you taken a moment to celebrate yet? As always, I look forward to hearing from you all.
it is an honor to have mss jackson on our supreme court what a beautiful strong woman she is i only wish we could put more decent human being in our supreme court
I was greatly pleased to see the appointment of an obviously qualified jurist to the supreme bench. I would celebrate, but my joy is tempered because in the rural area where I reside, I guarantee you that the n-word was the word of the night in every bar, including the veterans' social bars, whenever the subject was raised.
My younger brother, who lives nearby and is Trumpian, informed me that the entire neighborhood hates our family because I put a Biden sign in my yard for the election.
I and a retired buddy have breakfast on occasion and subsequently cruise (slowly) the back roads to puff on a cigar. It is so disheartening to see so many ramshackle residences with junk and trash littered all about and a Trump sign STILL in their yard. They actually believe that Trump is one of them and that he LOVES them. My God, such disillusion! And, the root of it all?? - RACISM!
Growing up in a small northern PA city, I really had no contact with people of color. There was one black boy in high school & one black policeman who didn't last long as drunk on duty, he ran the police car into a tree and blamed it on seeing an alien space craft in the sky. That was it.The division was between Protestant & Catholic. Looking over my old yearbook, there are names like Smith, Jones,Shultz, Sidwell, Miller, Lyons,me-Richards. There are fewer names like Razzano, Talerico, Colosimo, Pascarello, & I had to leaf through many pages to find even those, Italian. Catholics had "regular" names or went to the Catholic high school. One was an outstanding math genius, Anthony Polucci. He would have gone places, but he was killed in a car accident. There was prejudice. I have to ashamedly say my own parents were. A date with the last name of Mongillo came to pick me up, and my parents stayed in the kitchen and wouldn't come out to meet him. Such feelings were common in those days. I let them know later how wrong/hurtful they were. Did no good. We had much parent/child love but differences. Family was Republican, but from an early age, I was a Democrat. (They wouldn't be now !) Some times I asked myself, where did I come from??
So it was no bigger deal to meet black girls at college than white ones. Two shared a room in the dorm across from mine, & I got the biggest kick out of them. At the time, white people used a product called "ManTan" to look , well, tan. They borrowed it; wanted to see what it would do to their skin. They had some different customs than I was used to, talked a little jive, but I love jazz.
I cannot remember one black professor in college.Even the football team was,at that time, primarily white. (Not now. Even Coach Franklin is black.)
I lived in a brand new house in NC that needed some attending, A black man was sent. He was so hesitant to come in , amazed I talked with him, gave him a Coke. It was like nobody ever treated him like a person.
I had, as a teacher, a job for a few months, scoring standardized public school tests from several states. Two black women sat beside me. We had a great time. Lots of laughs, hugs when job over.
And how thrilling it was when Obama was elected. I was living in Florida. I watched kids walking home from the school bus. The black children walked with heads high, smiles on their faces, proud as peacocks. Practically danced down the sidewalk, their spirits lifted.
I do find reverse prejudice. With a part time job in retail, even though I smile and say hello, often, and mostly women, never look at me or reply. And I want to tell them my great whatever grandfathers fought to free theirs. But, I let it pass.
It was appalling to see all but 3 Republican senators vote no for Judge Jackson. Pictures of Senator Graham spouting off diatribes with his eyes squinting, his mouth open showing his teeth look exactly like some mad dog like the one in Ferris Beuller that chases the principal. Everything the same except no spit running down his chin.
They are all disgusting. So is trump for allowing one lone black woman protestor once at a rally to be dragged out bodily. So are all those "pastors" who support his racism.I can think of no group more religious, learning of a kind God during slavery and carrying through today in black church services with arms swaying and gospel singing in praise.
It means to me that what so many people are calling racism writ large is not actually true. How many more black people have to reach the pinnacle of success in their respective fields of endeavor before we put this lie to bed? Presidency? Check. Academia? Check. Congress and the Courts? Check. Entertainment? Check. Sports? Check. Life, love and friendship? Check. Interracial marriage - gay and straight? Check. Everyday American Life? Check. Individual racists exist. I lived with them in prison. As a white man, I was expected to defend the white race against other races during racial conflicts. I had to support a 22 year old murderer with a swastika tattoo between his eyebrows. Was he a racist? Hell yes. Am I? Hell no. so I understand the politics of personal racism. If there was a cabal of white supremacists controlling all aspects of life in the US, would all of those success stories noted above have occurred? No. What we have is tribal warfare. Ask yourself this question: Why does Joy Reid not like Clarence Thomas? Because he is black? Hardly. He is in a different tribe. With different view points. When will we stop labeling people in other tribes as evil instead of just different? If these questions interest you, i write about them over on my platform. I would be honored if any readers here checked it out.
One president, one judge, one QB, one singer does not put the lie to racism writ large. It permeates the culture. Its stain casts a dark shadow across centuries. The fact that a plantation is now a tourist attraction instead of being dismantled brick by brick and thrown into the ocean is racism writ large. Today, TODAY, many African Americans are denied the opportunity to apply for rental housing because of the color of their skin. Racism writ large. Thousands rot in jail awaiting trial because of the color of their skin. Racism writ large. Were George Floyd white we can all agree the cops would’ve let him off with a warning. Racism writ large. Your white privilege is blinding. Your self pity is sickening. Racism writ large.
I'll grant you one president, but it's now more than one judge, in fact it's two at the same time. and one QB? Have you seen the NFL roster lately? Mostly black dudes, even at all the skill positions. Do you consider The Holocaust Museum to be a tourist attraction? Auschwitz? As for your contention about the George Floyd situation, I am not sure I have seen any facts that would support that view. I have read this study, published in the WaPo, though, that is a bit more nuanced, and actually touches on the root causes. Hmmm where have I heard that term before? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/13/why-a-massive-new-study-on-police-shootings-of-whites-and-blacks-is-so-controversial/
Sadly, the solutions we all seek require a lot more honest and civil discourse. That discourse just might be easier to have if we stopped thinking the person we disagree with politically is an evil racist.
Lastly, the fact that you end your "argument" with ad hominem attacks instead of actually refuting my points, it makes me wonder if you are interested in civic discourse.
I write here on Substack and am always looking for someone to invite to enter into such a discussion with me on the differences as we see them. I'm neither blinded by white privilege nor engaged in self-pity. If you spent just 10 minutes reading any two random posts of mine, your would discover that for yourself. The fact that you don't seek out differing opinions than your own makes me wonder if you're truly comfortable with those viewpoints.
Thanks for commenting, my invitation is always open,
I believe racism and tribalism are different things. Used to be the same, as most tribes were of the same skin color. However, now we see people of different skin colors in the same tribe, and same skin-colored people in different tribes. What explains white admiration of KBJ and black disagreement? Racism? So if Clarence Thomas, who is black, disagrees with KBJ who is black, it is because he is a racist? and because of systemic racism, said system just so happened to elevate now two black people on the court at the same time? do you consider anyone who disagrees with your political views to be part of an "evil orthodoxy?"
I’m taking the weekend to celebrate! Champaign and caviar!
It means.....pure joy. Such a beautiful soul.
KBJ’s presence gives me hope. So delighted to have this magnificent woman on the SCOUS. Stay strong.🥰
it is an honor to have mss jackson on our supreme court what a beautiful strong woman she is i only wish we could put more decent human being in our supreme court
do you consider people you disagree with politically to be not "decent"?
I was greatly pleased to see the appointment of an obviously qualified jurist to the supreme bench. I would celebrate, but my joy is tempered because in the rural area where I reside, I guarantee you that the n-word was the word of the night in every bar, including the veterans' social bars, whenever the subject was raised.
My younger brother, who lives nearby and is Trumpian, informed me that the entire neighborhood hates our family because I put a Biden sign in my yard for the election.
I and a retired buddy have breakfast on occasion and subsequently cruise (slowly) the back roads to puff on a cigar. It is so disheartening to see so many ramshackle residences with junk and trash littered all about and a Trump sign STILL in their yard. They actually believe that Trump is one of them and that he LOVES them. My God, such disillusion! And, the root of it all?? - RACISM!
Absolutely. Overjoyed.
There may be some hope for America after all. This is a remarkable, historic, meaningful milestone, even to this old white guy.
Growing up in a small northern PA city, I really had no contact with people of color. There was one black boy in high school & one black policeman who didn't last long as drunk on duty, he ran the police car into a tree and blamed it on seeing an alien space craft in the sky. That was it.The division was between Protestant & Catholic. Looking over my old yearbook, there are names like Smith, Jones,Shultz, Sidwell, Miller, Lyons,me-Richards. There are fewer names like Razzano, Talerico, Colosimo, Pascarello, & I had to leaf through many pages to find even those, Italian. Catholics had "regular" names or went to the Catholic high school. One was an outstanding math genius, Anthony Polucci. He would have gone places, but he was killed in a car accident. There was prejudice. I have to ashamedly say my own parents were. A date with the last name of Mongillo came to pick me up, and my parents stayed in the kitchen and wouldn't come out to meet him. Such feelings were common in those days. I let them know later how wrong/hurtful they were. Did no good. We had much parent/child love but differences. Family was Republican, but from an early age, I was a Democrat. (They wouldn't be now !) Some times I asked myself, where did I come from??
So it was no bigger deal to meet black girls at college than white ones. Two shared a room in the dorm across from mine, & I got the biggest kick out of them. At the time, white people used a product called "ManTan" to look , well, tan. They borrowed it; wanted to see what it would do to their skin. They had some different customs than I was used to, talked a little jive, but I love jazz.
I cannot remember one black professor in college.Even the football team was,at that time, primarily white. (Not now. Even Coach Franklin is black.)
I lived in a brand new house in NC that needed some attending, A black man was sent. He was so hesitant to come in , amazed I talked with him, gave him a Coke. It was like nobody ever treated him like a person.
I had, as a teacher, a job for a few months, scoring standardized public school tests from several states. Two black women sat beside me. We had a great time. Lots of laughs, hugs when job over.
And how thrilling it was when Obama was elected. I was living in Florida. I watched kids walking home from the school bus. The black children walked with heads high, smiles on their faces, proud as peacocks. Practically danced down the sidewalk, their spirits lifted.
I do find reverse prejudice. With a part time job in retail, even though I smile and say hello, often, and mostly women, never look at me or reply. And I want to tell them my great whatever grandfathers fought to free theirs. But, I let it pass.
It was appalling to see all but 3 Republican senators vote no for Judge Jackson. Pictures of Senator Graham spouting off diatribes with his eyes squinting, his mouth open showing his teeth look exactly like some mad dog like the one in Ferris Beuller that chases the principal. Everything the same except no spit running down his chin.
They are all disgusting. So is trump for allowing one lone black woman protestor once at a rally to be dragged out bodily. So are all those "pastors" who support his racism.I can think of no group more religious, learning of a kind God during slavery and carrying through today in black church services with arms swaying and gospel singing in praise.
President Biden: You done good !!
It means to me that what so many people are calling racism writ large is not actually true. How many more black people have to reach the pinnacle of success in their respective fields of endeavor before we put this lie to bed? Presidency? Check. Academia? Check. Congress and the Courts? Check. Entertainment? Check. Sports? Check. Life, love and friendship? Check. Interracial marriage - gay and straight? Check. Everyday American Life? Check. Individual racists exist. I lived with them in prison. As a white man, I was expected to defend the white race against other races during racial conflicts. I had to support a 22 year old murderer with a swastika tattoo between his eyebrows. Was he a racist? Hell yes. Am I? Hell no. so I understand the politics of personal racism. If there was a cabal of white supremacists controlling all aspects of life in the US, would all of those success stories noted above have occurred? No. What we have is tribal warfare. Ask yourself this question: Why does Joy Reid not like Clarence Thomas? Because he is black? Hardly. He is in a different tribe. With different view points. When will we stop labeling people in other tribes as evil instead of just different? If these questions interest you, i write about them over on my platform. I would be honored if any readers here checked it out.
Thanks
Ric
One president, one judge, one QB, one singer does not put the lie to racism writ large. It permeates the culture. Its stain casts a dark shadow across centuries. The fact that a plantation is now a tourist attraction instead of being dismantled brick by brick and thrown into the ocean is racism writ large. Today, TODAY, many African Americans are denied the opportunity to apply for rental housing because of the color of their skin. Racism writ large. Thousands rot in jail awaiting trial because of the color of their skin. Racism writ large. Were George Floyd white we can all agree the cops would’ve let him off with a warning. Racism writ large. Your white privilege is blinding. Your self pity is sickening. Racism writ large.
I'll grant you one president, but it's now more than one judge, in fact it's two at the same time. and one QB? Have you seen the NFL roster lately? Mostly black dudes, even at all the skill positions. Do you consider The Holocaust Museum to be a tourist attraction? Auschwitz? As for your contention about the George Floyd situation, I am not sure I have seen any facts that would support that view. I have read this study, published in the WaPo, though, that is a bit more nuanced, and actually touches on the root causes. Hmmm where have I heard that term before? https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/07/13/why-a-massive-new-study-on-police-shootings-of-whites-and-blacks-is-so-controversial/
Sadly, the solutions we all seek require a lot more honest and civil discourse. That discourse just might be easier to have if we stopped thinking the person we disagree with politically is an evil racist.
Lastly, the fact that you end your "argument" with ad hominem attacks instead of actually refuting my points, it makes me wonder if you are interested in civic discourse.
I write here on Substack and am always looking for someone to invite to enter into such a discussion with me on the differences as we see them. I'm neither blinded by white privilege nor engaged in self-pity. If you spent just 10 minutes reading any two random posts of mine, your would discover that for yourself. The fact that you don't seek out differing opinions than your own makes me wonder if you're truly comfortable with those viewpoints.
Thanks for commenting, my invitation is always open,
Ric
Nicely said.
I believe racism and tribalism are different things. Used to be the same, as most tribes were of the same skin color. However, now we see people of different skin colors in the same tribe, and same skin-colored people in different tribes. What explains white admiration of KBJ and black disagreement? Racism? So if Clarence Thomas, who is black, disagrees with KBJ who is black, it is because he is a racist? and because of systemic racism, said system just so happened to elevate now two black people on the court at the same time? do you consider anyone who disagrees with your political views to be part of an "evil orthodoxy?"