Remembering The Election of 1964

The election of 1964 impacted blacks unlike any before as it set the stage for how African Americans would vote for generations to come.

It placed Civil Rights at the forefront, with people of color making gains that had not been seen since Reconstruction. Congress passed the historic Civil Rights Act as the election went into high gear, ending a century of Jim Crow throughout the land. The new law sought to put blacks and whites on an even playing field with equal access to goods and services in the South and the North. 

Although spearheaded by President Lyndon Johnson, a Democrat from Texas, and the Northern wing of his party, it was pushed over the finish line by Republicans. The bill was signed during an elaborate ceremony in the East Room attended by Martin Luther King and other dignitaries.

With the help of Northern college students during Freedom Summer 1964, blacks across the South geared up to take advantage of their newfound freedom.  Voter registration projects, literacy training, and economic empowerment seminars were held, especially in Mississippi, which crossed over into neighboring States as blacks tested the limit of the new law.

However, efforts to help blacks in Mississippi become first-class citizens did not come without a cost.  African Americans accused of aiding the so-called outside agitators were beaten, their churches burned to the ground or murdered in a hate-filled environment by suspected Klan members that included the high-profile murders of civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, a white organizer from New York, Michael Schwerner, a white protester also from New York, and James Chaney, a black Mississippian who knew the lay of the land. They traveled the backroads together to register voters and investigated a church burning in Neshoba County as a final act of courage.

After going to the church, the men were arrested for an alleged traffic violation and taken to the Neshoba County Jail. Upon their release, the trio went Missing and organizers feared the worst. They pressured the federal government to get involved, knowing they were on the Klan's radar. Their burnt-out vehicle was discovered a few weeks afterward, hidden in the brush near an Indian Reservation. Searches of nearby woods and rivers turned up bodies of at least eight black men who had recently vanished, not surprising to blacks who lived the daily trauma of life in Mississippi. 

The FBI infiltrated the Klan, which they suspected was involved, to get to the bottom of the case. After intense interrogations, Klan informants cracked under pressure.  They admitted to ambushing the three Civil Rights workers on a country road, luring them to an isolated location,  shooting them, and burying their bodies near a dam site, where their remains were unearthed. Against this backdrop occurred one of the most crucial elections in American history.

As the election progressed, it became evident who embraced the Civil Rights Act students and others fought for.  The Republican nominee for president, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona, voted against the Civil Rights bill on the grounds civil rights should be left to the States to decide.  Blacks picked heavily outside the Republican Convention as black delegates suffered the wrath of the most hostile GOP gathering in history.  As a result, King, Abernathy, and other prominent Civil Rights leaders defected from the Republicans and advised other blacks to do the same. 

Also, at the convention, liberal Republicans like Nelson Rockefeller and George W. Romney pushed for Civil Rights. Former Vice President Richard Nixon also favored a middle-of-the-road approach. However, they were shouted down by hardline conservatives who saw Goldwater as a once-in-a-lifetime candidate.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Convention suffered setbacks of its own.  Blacks in Mississippi, who still faced challenges at the polls like poll taxes and literacy tests, decided to form the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party along with others, who selected delegates of their own in opposition to the all-white Democratic Party.  

A showdown ensued at the convention over which delegates should represent the State.  The Mississippi Freedom Party argued its delegates should be seated since they were democratically elected and represented a cross-section of citizens as demonstrations took place on the floor on their behalf.  The request reportedly angered Johnson, who believed it would cause him the South, as Southerners planned to walk out if the matter was not decided in their favor.  The issue was referred to the Credentials Committee.

The committee convened live hearings on network television to determine the outcome.  It allowed Americans to hear an impassioned plea from Fannie Lou Hamer, one of the founding members of the MFDP, who detailed the dangers faced by her and others in the State for simply trying to vote or register others.

She shared how she and others in 1963, while on their way home from a voter registration project, were pulled over on a back road by law enforcement who had been tipped off by local officials.  After being questioned concerning their whereabouts, they were loaded into vehicles and hauled off to the county jail without probable cause, which was customary for Civil Rights workers of the era.

Behind bars, she recounted the torture they received for not staying in their place or toeing the line of racial segregation.  According to Hamer, jailers ordered two Negro male inmates to restrain her as she lay face down. Then they were instructed to take turns striking her with batons while one held her legs to keep her feet from moving. She added the beatings continued until the men were exhausted, resulting in lifelong injuries, including to her kidneys. She also could hear screams from MFDP members in nearby cells. She indicated, "All of this was on account we wanted to register to become first-class citizens."

She concluded her dramatic testimony by stating, "...if the Freedom Democratic Party is not seated now, I question America. Is this America, the land of the free and home of the brave where we have to sleep with our telephone off the hooks because our lives be threatened daily because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?"

President Johnson preempted the proceedings with an announcement in the East Room. However, the networks carried it in its entirety later. Her words sent shockwaves across America as the Whitehouse was inundated with phone calls demanding blacks be given their full rights.

As a compromise, Johnson directed his lieutenants to draft a plan that short-changed the MFDP.  They were offered two at-large seats with no decision-making privileges on the floor. It was swiftly voted down, prompting Hamer to utter her famous words, "...we didn't come all this way for no two seats." They went back to their home State empty-handed.

Even though things didn't go as planned at the convention, Blacks voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in the Fall because Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law, which the Republican nominee rejected.  As a result of Hamer's speech, President Johnson introduced the Voting Rights Act a year later and persuaded Congress to pass it. It revolutionized African American participation in the political process, which benefited Democrats for generations to come.

Sources:

Britannica

Learning for Justice

Time Magazine

Zinn Education Project

 

Right On!, Jet and Others: A time to Remember

As a kid in the Seventies, I enjoyed Right On!, Jet, and other black magazines that were the gateway to the African American Community.  

I was thrilled to see my favorite stars grace the pages of these beloved publications, including the iconic Top Twenty Countdown of Soul, Funk, and Jazz artists that caught the eye of music lovers everywhere, and articles on politics, healthcare, and other events that impacted the black community.

Over time, they would fade into the background or cease to exist, like the memorable Right On! magazine that black teens loved. It depicted top musicians and entertainers with stories about their lives. I remember Switch, a popular RNB/Funk group, making the cover in 1978, which I looked at daily.  We lived vicariously through them or copied their style to seem cool. 

Like many other African American youth, my wall was filled with pictures from Right On!, such as the Jackson 5, Earth, Wind and Fire, and others too numerous to mention. Seeing them on Soul Train and American Bandstand was the icing on the cake.

I also enjoyed their coverage of acclaimed black actors from television and the big screen. They received the notoriety they richly deserved.

Unfortunately, Right On! ceased publication in 2014 and exists in digital format for future generations.

Jet Magazine, another African-American publication, focused mainly on current events. It was Launched in 1951 by the late John H. Johnson, who created the Johnson Publishing Company in 1942, which included other well-known black magazines. It was published weekly in digest form.

Billed as the news magazine for Black America, it delved into the Civil Rights Movement from start to finish, paying special tribute to the Emmitt Till Murder of 1955, and covered everyday black citizens. 

Men looked forward to the legendary Jet "Centerfold." Likewise, the infamous Top Twenty countdown of singles and albums of black musicians during the Soul and Funk era excited many. 

As of 2014, Jet Magazine, after sixty years of service, can no longer be found on magazine stands but has amassed a loyal internet of music lovers and those who care about the world around them.

In 1948, Johnson Publishing debuted Ebony Magazine, its flagship publication, as the motherload of all things black. It specializes in politics, fashion, and lifestyle. It also reports on campus life, Hollywood celebrities, and other issues of importance to black Americans. During its heyday, Ebony could be found in black homes everywhere. Despite experiencing hard times, it's still around today, although published by a different owner.

Decades later in the 1990s, the company followed up with Ebony Man Magazine. It was considered the male version of Essence Magazine for Black women and debuted during a renaissance in black popular culture. EM portrayed black men's relationships, fashion, and sports. In addition, it portrayed black men in business, music, and Hollywood at the height of the Hip-hop era.

Although short-lived, it garnered a loyal following of African American men from all backgrounds, including myself. A favorite issue of mine featured Rapper LLCool J on the cover as he embarked on an acting career. 

Unlike Ebony Man, Essence has survived decades as a voice for black women. Since 1970, it has provided fashion, business, and beauty tips for women of color and covered entertainment and culture from an African American perspective. It was introduced during the black power/women movement of the late sixties and early seventies.  With more than 2,000,000 current subscribers, their thought-provoking articles have even caught the attention of men. I have enjoyed Essence for many years, as it ranks as one of the best publications in circulation.

Essence also sponsors the annual Essence Awards Show for influential African Americans and other cultural events to enjoy.  Needless to say, Essence is going strong with no end in sight.

Similarly, Black Enterprise Magazine caught my eye at a young age. I bought a year's subscription in high school and have always admired African Americans who own businesses or have succeeded in the private sector. Despite what some may say, it is the bedrock of the black community.

Created by Earl Graves Sr. in 1970, it dominates the market for African Americans on how to succeed in corporate America or start a business in any climate. Moreover, it analyzes jobs, housing starts, and inflation. It also provides tips on stocks and bonds and the best time to adjust a 401k or retire with a company pension. It can still be found in print and digital form for business-minded and financial enthusiasts.

Georgia Southern recognizes integration of the University with commemorative marker | Newsroom

Georgia Southern recognizes integration of the University with commemorative marker | Newsroom: A new commemorative marker on Georgia Southern University’s campus pays tribute to a special part of Georgia Southern’s history and the University’s first African-American students who courageously paved the way and provided hope for a better way of life for students who followed. The Integration of Georgia Southern marker, prominently placed on Sweetheart Circle in

The Strength of Southwest Georgia

Southwest Georgia is a predominantly African American part of the State. It includes communities like Dawson, Moultrie, Thomasville, Leesburg, and Cuthbert, with  Albany being its flagship city. It has an abundance of African American farms, landowners, and a beautiful historically black college.  SOWEGA made a name for itself during the Civil Rights Movement as it was thrust into the national spotlight. Although beset by poverty and neglected by those in leadership positions, the area survives and holds its head high.

Yesteryear

Had we been adults in the fifties and sixties, we would have fought in the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia, joined SNCC in college, and participated in the Albany Movement.

We would have ventured into the outlying areas to register voters or get them involved in the Great Society.  Our lives would have been threatened as we attended mass meetings in area churches in search of converts. We would not have feared anybody or anything because the mission was too great.  

I greatly admire what they accomplished during those days. Civil Rights workers, ranging from national figures to everyday citizens, changed the future for those like me who followed in their footsteps.

Mamie Till receives closed casket with Emmett’s body | Let the World See...

Something to Think About: President Ford and the Black Community

President Ford is remembered for his pardon of President Nixon following Watergate, which he called a national nightmare that brought down a U.S. president. He did it to heal wounds and to bring the country together during a critical time in our history.

However, what most people do not know is that President Ford forged a longstanding relationship with African Americans that often goes overlooked.

In 1976, two years after being elevated to the presidency following  President Nixon's resignation, Ford recognized February as Black History Month during the country's Bicentennial. He called upon Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."  President Carter and Reagan followed his lead, while in 1986, Congress passed a law making it official.

Earlier in 1975, he issued a statement in support of Black History Week, becoming the first president to do so.  It underscored a lifelong commitment to human rights.  

 

Before becoming president, Ford compiled an impressive record on civil rights while serving in Congress for nearly three decades.  He voted against the Poll Tax (1949, 1962), opposed literacy tests for those with a sixth-grade education (1963), and supported "Court-appointed referees to guarantee voting rights (1962). (1) Ford also"... favored additional enforcement powers against those trying to deprive others of their voting rights (1956, 1957, 1963, 1964," according to the Ford Presidential Library. (2)  

Also, as a young Congressman, Ford "...supported efforts to provide Federal assistance to aid in school desegregation (1956, 1963, 1964), and consistently favored the establishment, continuance, and broadening of the Commission on Civil Rights (1956, 1957, 1963, 1964)." (3) Ford also cast a vote in favor of the hotly debated Civil Rights Act of 1964, helping to push it over the finish line along with other G.O.P.

Following his election as House Minority Leader in 1965, Ford broadened his support for Civil rights. (4)  He  "Took an active part in the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965... and led Republicans in pushing for a bill that would send Federal examiners to voting districts in the country where 25 or more persons complained they had been denied the right to register or vote because of race or color...." (5) Ford also backed a fair housing policy and blocked attempts to weaken it.

Long before he went to Washington, the seeds of racial justice were planted in the future president.  While a football standout at the University of Michigan, Ford threatened not to take the field against Georgia Tech had an African American teammate and friend been barred from the game at the behest of the Yellow Jackets.  His buddy talked him out of it and encouraged the future commander-in-chief to express his hate for economic, racial, and social injustice differently.  

Sources:  The Ford Presidential Library,  The Library of Congress