Turbulent Freedom

Since the country's founding, African Americans have endured the ups and downs of freedom. When one period ends, another takes its place, either extending the rights of people of color or severely restricting them. This is a history, unlike any other racial or ethnic group in the country.

The different periods of black sacrifice can be broken down into the following categories:  Slavery,  Reconstruction,  Jim Crow,  The Second Reconstruction, and The New Jim Crow.

Slavery: 
1619-1865

Slavery, in America, was the ownership of one race of people by another, lasting more than 200 years. It originated in the Thirteen Colonies as hundreds of thousands of blacks were shipped from Africa against their will to the New World. By 1804, slavery had been abolished in the northern states and left to fester in the South on plantations and small farms, where former Africans harvested rice,  cotton, and other crops from sunrise to sunset without compensation six days a week.  Others labored as skilled artisans,  cooks, or caretakers for their masters with little hope for a brighter tomorrow. 

Slaveholders,  most of whom were vicious,  imposed harsh penalties for slaves who dared escape or defy the system,  including flogging,  maiming, and even death. Family members were often sold downriver or split up as another means of keeping slaves in check, resulting in desperate attempts to reunite with lost loved ones after emancipation.

Many leaders emerged during this period to help eliminate involuntary servitude, such as Sojourner Truth,  an ex-slave who made anti-slavery speeches in the North, and Frederick Douglass, also a former slave, who protested the enslavement of his people in the North Star,  a paper he founded,  and Harriet Tubman,  who after escaping to freedom herself,  returned as many as nineteen times to Southern and border States to free other men, women, and children.  The long-awaited end to human captivity in America in 1865, due to the Civil War, thrust the freedmen into a world of unforeseen possibilities.

Reconstruction:
1865-1877

A brief period of reconciliation followed slavery,  where attempts were made to rebuild the South along just lines or integrate the ex-slave into society. Congress established The Freedmen's Bureau to help build schools and other institutions for African Americans and to assist with job training and land ownership.  Efforts were also made to protect the economic and political rights of the Freedmen with the help of a contingent of Union Soldiers left behind after the war.  Congress later passed, and the States ratified the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that barred slavery,  the 14th Amendment that extended citizenship rights to former slaves,  and the 15th Amendment,  which granted the right to vote to black men.  African Americans gained considerable ground in education,  economics, and politics during this time,  especially in South Carolina,  where black politicians reportedly outnumbered whites in the Statehouse.  Sadly,  equality in the ex-Confederacy ended as abruptly as it started when the Northern Army sworn to protect blacks was pulled out due to the Compromise of 1876 when the Republican candidate for president pledged to end Federal involvement in the region in exchange for disputed electoral votes.

Jim Crow:
1876-1965

A tragic era of racism and discrimination occurred in the aftermath of Reconstruction due to a loosening of Northern support for African Americans in the South and deep resentment of the gains made by blacks during the years following slavery. It involved Jim Crow laws being passed in the South that prevented blacks from having equal access to goods and services, covert racism in the North such as redlining, and widespread lynching and false imprisonment of thousands of black men in work camps, which negatively impacted African American families.  Southern and border states also set up separate and unequal systems of public education for blacks and whites that spun deep-seated poverty in the black community for generations to come.  Additionally,  the right to vote and other liberties bestowed upon all Americans in the Constitution were restricted or terminated altogether for nonwhites, especially in the old Confederacy until Congress passed the Civil Rights Act at the height of the Civil Rights Movement or what some call the second Civil War.

The Second Reconstruction:
1965-2008

From 1954 to 1968,  America fought a battle for justice and peace known as the Civil Rights Movement.  As a result, programs and laws were enacted to remedy nearly 100 years of Jim Crow-style discrimination against  African Americans.  For example,  Congress passed the Civil Rights Act,  the Voting Rights Act, and fair housing legislation, among countless other measures, to give blacks and other disenfranchised groups an equal shot at living the American dream.  Affirmative Action policies also went into effect to make up for injustices in employment, business ownership,  and college enrollment for people of color.  Due to federal efforts to combat racism in the 1960s,  job opportunities and homeownership among African Americans increased dramatically in the seventies and beyond. In addition, black enrollment in predominantly white colleges boomed in the 1980s and nineties,  especially in Georgia and Mississippi. Lastly,  the number of minority elected officials skyrocketed between 1968 and 2008,  culminating in the election of the nation's first black president.

The New Jim Crow:
2009-Present

The election of Barack Obama President in 2008, ushered in the Second Jim Crow, according to historians.  As in the 1870s,  there is a backlash in America regarding the progress that has been made by African Americans since the Civil Rights Movement or a widely held belief that the chaos inflicted upon people of color during slavery or otherwise has been dealt with successfully by the white power structure. This resulted in unemployment in the black community of more than 14 percent during the Great Recession, which remains the highest of all ethnic groups in the country. Additionally,  several states passed voter ID laws after the 2008 election,  while the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. To add insult to injury,  the Republican majority in Congress has blocked many of the president's initiatives and refused to bring many of his judicial nominees to a vote in the Senate amid a sharp increase in the number of African American men incarcerated since Obama's election and a noticeable uptick in incidents of police brutality in the black community and elsewhere.

The whitewashing of history is another tactic of The New Jim Crow, which aims to omit the accomplishments of back people in Science, Technology, and other endeavors. It also seeks to rewrite the past in favor of whites by downplaying the effects of Slavery, Jim Crow, and racism by banning the teaching of subjects in school that shed light on what people of color have endured in this country at the hand of the oppressor, and their endurance as a people. It is up to blacks and like-minded individuals to reveal the truth.

America needs to acknowledge the dilemma of race relations today.  It involves mistreating a minority population by the majority which could spell disaster.

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Sensible Politics

Donald Watson

▶ 2016 Elections  -  Sep 19, 2015

A strong woman is running for president.  She served as first lady of Arkansas and the United States for nineteen years.  She also won a seat in the U.S. Senate and was appointed secretary of state during Obama's first term.

She is Hillary Clinton,  and with the top resume of any candidate seeking the White House,  she should be an odds-on favorite to win.  Nevertheless,  her critics,  many of whom don't want to see her or any woman commander-in-chief,  have devised a sinister plan to keep her out.

The right-wing harps on her use of a private email account while secretary of state.  Others in high government positions have reportedly done the same,  including former Secretary of State Colin Powell and even Jeb Bush while governor of Florida.  In addition, releasing those emails could damage national security,  something Republicans supposedly cherish.  But in the case of Hillary Clinton, the opposite is true.

Other critics of the former first lady cite her unfavorable poll numbers with voters.  However, once the campaign is off- and- running,  Mrs. Clinton will put forth her timeless message of middle-class prosperity,  climate change, and college affordability with widespread acceptance among the American people.  She will also stress the need to be tough on Russia,  Iran,  and China and end the bloodshed in Syria once in office with bipartisan support in Congress.

So what will the right will do next?  They will likely rehash Clinton's blunders from the past, like White Water,  Benghazi, or her husband's charming effect on the opposite sex to derail her campaign.  But without history or other scare tactics,  the GOP has no hope of beating her.  Not only does the electoral map work in Clinton's favor but her positions on the issues.

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Donald Watson

People in History  -  1:55 PM

Civil Rights leader Malcolm  X  was assassinated fifty years ago.

 As Minister of Communication for the Nation of Islam,  he encouraged African American men,  who had been passive on the issue of race,  to confront racism and discrimination head-on, even if it meant putting their lives on the line like revolutionaries in other countries.  He believed all men, regardless of color, had the right to fight for Civil Rights and protect their communities.  He also pressured black men to strike out on their own in business,  politics, or other endeavors, like at the turn of the 20th Century,  when black-owned institutions flourished despite harsh opposition from the dominant society.

 Malcolm X challenged African American women in this country as well.   He advised them not to indulge in excesses of the world as mothers or daughters and that it is not a sign of weakness to submit to one's husband or family to build a better community.  He even welcomed a woman's right to work outside the home to become nurses,  doctors, and leaders in business and government.  He believed everyone played a vital role not just in the uplifting of Islam but black America as a whole.

Malcolm X rallied African Americans by making a 180-degree turn in his life like Lincoln on the issue of Slavery. He went from being a petty thief,  drug user, and inmate to a renowned leader dedicated to racial and economic justice.  After a crucial split with the Nation of Islam in 1965  and a lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca,  he formed an organization that embraced people of different races and backgrounds. 

Shortly after striking out on his own,  Malcolm X's life was tragically cut short by an assassin's bullet but not before convincing men and women everywhere to take stock of their surroundings.

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National African American History Examiner

Donald Watson

Civil War  -  3:34 PM One hundred fifty years ago,  the U.S. fought a bitter conflict over Slavery known as the Civil War. In places like Bull Run,  Gettysburg, and during  Sherman's March to the Sea, Confederate and Union soldiers battled to maintain a way of life deemed superior to the other.

Most of the fighting occurred in the South.  Thousands lost their lives at Kennesaw  Mountain,  Ocmulgee, or during the battle of Vicksburg, which was described as a Confederate stronghold.  Many of the soldiers died not due to musket or cannon fire but from unsanitary conditions on the battlefield.

 A Union victory at Gettysburg and other locations turned the war around for the North and led to Lincoln's reelection in 1864.

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation of 1862 halfway through the war. Slaves saw a chance for freedom as many would leave their plantations to become contraband behind Union lines.

At the end of the bloodiest war in the country's short history, the South lay in ruin.  The Southern economy was virtually destroyed as Slavery came to an abrupt end.  In addition,  Union soldiers uprooted railroads, destroyed bridges, burned entire communities, and decimated livestock.

Reconstruction occurred in the war's aftermath, as well as Lincoln's cruel death.  It sought to create a new society in the South that upheld the rights of the newly freed slaves through the Freedmen's Bureau,  which built schools and other institutions for African Americans. Congress also passed the 13th, 14, and 15th Amendments that ended slavery, made African Americans citizens of the United States, and granted the right to vote to black men. Union Soldiers were also stationed there to protect the political and economic endeavors of the former slaves, as seen in the North. Sadly, the sixteenth president of the United Staff didn't live to reap the rewards of victory as he was assassinated by John Wilks Booth, a Southern sympathizer while enjoying a night out with the First Lady at Ford's Theater.

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The Native American: The Forgotten Ethnic Group

What about the Native Americans?  What about their status in society? A History professor of mine once called America's indigenous people the most forgotten ethnic group in America, which gets very little recognition or support in today's world.

Many live in utter poverty on reservations out West and other parts of the country.  Alcoholism is reportedly widespread, not to mention unemployment and limited access to social services and other resources. However,  they don't complain or riot when things do not go their way.

Native Americans also lack proper representation in Congress and State legislatures.  As a result,  many of the issues facing this marginalized class, such as education,  jobs, or housing, go unheard,  which is a sad commentary on a minority of Americans who were nearly exterminated when Europeans arrived in the Americas.

Native Americans should go to the front of the line, not for handouts but for a helping hand. They deserve it after laying down their lives like no other race on American soil.

Historic African American Culture in Rural Georgia

When we think of African-American culture in Georgia,  Atlanta usually comes to mind with its beaming skyline and dynamic Hip Hop scene. 

It is also the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King,  Jr.,  the charismatic leader of the Civil Rights Movement,  who fought for freedom everywhere, the Atlanta University Center, and historic Auburn Avenue, where black businesses thrived.

However, thriving black communities exist in rural areas like Southwest Georgia,  where many people of color call home.

Known for its flat terrain and high humidity, Southwest Georgia prospered during Slavery,  as slaveholders moved their slaves westward in search of fertile soil.  Over time,  the black population began to overtake that of whites in many counties,  which continues to this day. African-American communities soon developed around churches,  schools, and businesses. African Americans have also farmed the land for generations, with a record number of black-owned farms.

Growing up in Southwest Georgia,  I experienced African American culture firsthand or what it's like to be black in a small Georgia town. African Americans crowded downtown on weekends and holidays,  spending hard-earned wages from textile plants, peanut mills, and the auto industry on groceries,  clothing, and other necessities after putting some aside for a rainy day.  Others mingled with friends or greeted customers in businesses they owned.

Downtown also hosted the homecoming parade on chilly Fall evenings. Thanks to the local majority black high school, black and white citizens lined Main Street in the '60s, '70s, and '80s to get a glimpse of the funkiest marching band for miles around. It was something we all looked forward to.

 Lastly, it was the perfect place to get a nice high-top fade haircut in the 1980s and '90s on Thursday evenings at the celebrated African-American barbershop. Yo! MTV Raps or Rap City played in the background as country boys got stylish for the weekend.

Like most small towns, life centered around the church on Sunday.  Many African Americans worshiped at a different congregation each week, likely due to the large number of black houses of worship in the community and the chance to experience a new pastor or choir.

A week-long revival dominated religious service during Summer. Powerful preaching and soul-stirring singing took place to bring out the Holy Ghost and win over new converts. A baptism followed the following Sunday.

When someone black died,  the church that he or she joined or got baptized in was proudly mentioned in the obituary,  which still happens today.

We not only revered God but also education.  Young people were pressured to complete high school by their parents and others and enroll in college,  preferably near historically black Albany State College.  Many adults even enrolled in adult education to get the high school diploma that eluded them in their youth.

The blacks in my hometown also exhibited a strong ethic.  Virtually everyone of color who desired a job had one, even if it meant working on a farm.  Most,  however,  worked in the peanut, poultry, textile, or auto industry. Many others sought better-paying jobs in the nearby larger city.  A professional class of black teachers,  doctors,  and business owners lived alongside their working-class neighbors.

Nothing could beat being a kid where I grew up.  We seldom skipped school because it was where we interacted with friends and participated in sports while getting a good education, something our parents insisted upon.  Also, at least ninety-eight percent of us lived in two-parent households and did not do drugs or drink alcohol except for the occasional joint or shot of liquor at the prom or other once-in-a-lifetime events.

During the Summer,  youngsters played in open fields, walked barefoot down hot dirt roads, and were kept abreast of the latest Soul or Funk like the Temptations,  Al Green,  Earth Wind And Fire, and  The Ohio Players that no teen or adult could resist.

My hometown today is at a crossroads.  Although African Americans control the local government and school board, have built new schools, enticed new businesses, and improved infrastructure,  the city has still witnessed a flurry of jobs going abroad with a steep population decline.  Despite such setbacks, the place where I was raised and inspired to dream and similar communities in Southwest Georgia, with overwhelming black populations, are striving toward the future with an eye on progress.

Anthony Hamilton - Comin' From Where I'm From

Once Upon A Time When We Were Republicans

African Americans once voted Republican in large numbers.  We rallied behind Lincoln, who ended slavery,   Teddy Roosevelt, who invited Booker T. Washington to the White House, and Eisenhower for sending Federal troops to integrate Little Rock High School in Arkansas when many Democrats fought against equal rights for people of color.

We even carried ourselves in a much different light in those days.  We championed education as millions of  African Americans completed high school and college. We started scores of businesses in a segregated society and backed the institution of marriage to the fullest.

However, the Civil Rights Movement changed the course of history in the black community as African Americans looked desperately for a way out of Jim Crow throughout the land.

 Ironically, the Democratic Party answered the call or picked up where the Republicans left off.  At the historic Democratic National Convention of 1948,  President Truman staked the outcome of his presidency on the right of all Americans to live in peace without regard to race,  creed, or color.  It may have made a difference for Democrats in northern cities.

Later in the 1960s,  President Lyndon B. Johnson, a Democrat from Texas,  pushed for the Voting Rights Act of 1965,  The War On Poverty, and a host of other social programs in what was called the Great Society that became law.  Johnson also forced Congress to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964,  which barred discrimination in employment and public places in an attempt to integrate African Americans into the rest of America.

Sadly,  too many African Americans misunderstood integration.  Its purpose was to uphold the Constitution.  We instead saw it as a chance to abandon most black institutions or a competitive two-party system.  As a result, black people are left, at least for the moment,  with rising crime, high unemployment, and single-parent households that cut to the very core of our existence.  

In politics,  African Americans are caught between a rock and a hard place today.  Democrats placate us, while Republicans ignore our vote altogether.  It's a far cry from a generation ago.