This week in southern history, we go all the way back to July 11, 1960, and here’s what the world looked like then!: The lunch counter at a Greensboro Woolworth’s becomes the center of controversy when four Black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University stage a sit-in to protest segregation. In the event that there are any right-wing fundamentalists reading this story, THAT is what persecution ACTUALLY looks like. Just thought you’d wanna know since you seem to be confused on the subject:)
I was born and raised on the north side of Houston, Tx (1952), Talk about racist... My Mother though didn't care if you were red, yellow, black, green, gay, or straight. You were a human being that deserved love and respect. My Father, though pretty close, when being cut off in the car by a person of color, might use the n-word, but you could tell he didn't mean it. When I was about 10 or so, playing in the front yard one day a black friend of his from work came over to talk to him. The whole time he was there the neighbor across the street stood on the porch watching with his arms folded across his chest. probably had a pistol in his pocket. we all assumed he had a white hood hanging in his closet.. He confronted my Dad a day or two later. He was almost twice as big as my Father. When he came inside my mother asked him what Travis had to say. Dad said "Oh, we just came to a mutual understanding". Never heard another word !
Also: in re prejudice being limited to certain "geographies" -- my parents moved to northern Maryland (just below the Mason Dixon line) from St. Mary's County which is as Southern as Maryland gets. I don't know the percentage numbers, but there was about an equal number of black and white people.
So there they were, newcomers in northern Harford County just south of York County and they later told me that they had never witnessed such virulent racism. (It seems our back field had once been used for Klan meetings and no, I am NOT bragging about it.) Some York county towns had "sundown" laws.
What's crazy about this is that there were so few black citizens in that locale.
I do have to admit that my parents used the N word. But when I was a kid, I was rebuked for using that word myself. Being a logical tot (and a nuisance) I pointed out to my mother that she and Daddy used that word themselves, from time to time.
My mother looked thoughtful for a minute and said "Well. It's a hurtful word and you shouldn't use it. But your daddy and I were raised at a time and in place where we didn't think it was any harm. We know better now, but since we heard and used that word from the time we were children -- well, now it's just a stupid habit and we're trying to break it -- and sometimes we forget. We don't want YOU to get in the habit of using that word, because you have a chance to be better than us... and we want you to be."
I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" when I was in the eighth grade -- carried it around in school one day, and a girl from the senior class said (her forehead all pleated in concern lines) "Do your parents know you're reading THAT BOOK???" I was puzzled, but said yes, they did.
(The problem wasn't rape or racism -- my father turned red when I asked him what a "morphodite" was.)
Of course, when I first read the book, I saw myself as a version of Scout (and I was a tomboy/bookworm). What happened was that I grew into a version of Miss Maudie Atkinson, the friendly, rational neighbor lady who sort of acted as a Greek chorus (commentary/back stories provided on demand, etc.)
I am now a single lady of seven decades, I grow flowers in the front yard, let the neighbor children pick them for bouquets (with my supervision, just so they don't accidentally rip them up by the roots) and listen when they want to talk or ask questions.
I could say a lot more, but I'm SUPPOSED to be working from home. Thank you, Corey.
Raised in Wisconsin, raised our family in Iowa, retired to Minnesota, so, yeah, I’m totally a midwesterner. I so appreciate your Southern history lessons and your tongue-in-cheek versions.
Corey, TKAM is literally my favorite book of all time. I, too, first read it in school, in the 8th grade no less, and I was blown away. I still reread it every year or two, and I'm 52 years old. Your summary made me LOL because for all the pleasant silliness, it's spot-on. As Kentuckian living in Philadelphia, I strive every single day to show that geography and racism are not as closely correlated as some might think. I've run into some of the nastiest, most racist, bigoted misogynists you'd ever want to meet, right here in Eastern PA. And some of the most open-minded and compassionate people I've ever met in the Deep South. PREACH!
I was born and raised on the north side of Houston, Tx (1952), Talk about racist... My Mother though didn't care if you were red, yellow, black, green, gay, or straight. You were a human being that deserved love and respect. My Father, though pretty close, when being cut off in the car by a person of color, might use the n-word, but you could tell he didn't mean it. When I was about 10 or so, playing in the front yard one day a black friend of his from work came over to talk to him. The whole time he was there the neighbor across the street stood on the porch watching with his arms folded across his chest. probably had a pistol in his pocket. we all assumed he had a white hood hanging in his closet.. He confronted my Dad a day or two later. He was almost twice as big as my Father. When he came inside my mother asked him what Travis had to say. Dad said "Oh, we just came to a mutual understanding". Never heard another word !
My favorite book of all time. I love the movie, too, which is unusual for me. I want to join your book club, but it won’t let me 💜 those comments.
Also: in re prejudice being limited to certain "geographies" -- my parents moved to northern Maryland (just below the Mason Dixon line) from St. Mary's County which is as Southern as Maryland gets. I don't know the percentage numbers, but there was about an equal number of black and white people.
So there they were, newcomers in northern Harford County just south of York County and they later told me that they had never witnessed such virulent racism. (It seems our back field had once been used for Klan meetings and no, I am NOT bragging about it.) Some York county towns had "sundown" laws.
What's crazy about this is that there were so few black citizens in that locale.
I do have to admit that my parents used the N word. But when I was a kid, I was rebuked for using that word myself. Being a logical tot (and a nuisance) I pointed out to my mother that she and Daddy used that word themselves, from time to time.
My mother looked thoughtful for a minute and said "Well. It's a hurtful word and you shouldn't use it. But your daddy and I were raised at a time and in place where we didn't think it was any harm. We know better now, but since we heard and used that word from the time we were children -- well, now it's just a stupid habit and we're trying to break it -- and sometimes we forget. We don't want YOU to get in the habit of using that word, because you have a chance to be better than us... and we want you to be."
I read "To Kill A Mockingbird" when I was in the eighth grade -- carried it around in school one day, and a girl from the senior class said (her forehead all pleated in concern lines) "Do your parents know you're reading THAT BOOK???" I was puzzled, but said yes, they did.
(The problem wasn't rape or racism -- my father turned red when I asked him what a "morphodite" was.)
Of course, when I first read the book, I saw myself as a version of Scout (and I was a tomboy/bookworm). What happened was that I grew into a version of Miss Maudie Atkinson, the friendly, rational neighbor lady who sort of acted as a Greek chorus (commentary/back stories provided on demand, etc.)
I am now a single lady of seven decades, I grow flowers in the front yard, let the neighbor children pick them for bouquets (with my supervision, just so they don't accidentally rip them up by the roots) and listen when they want to talk or ask questions.
I could say a lot more, but I'm SUPPOSED to be working from home. Thank you, Corey.
(you sure are a purty thang)
Raised in Wisconsin, raised our family in Iowa, retired to Minnesota, so, yeah, I’m totally a midwesterner. I so appreciate your Southern history lessons and your tongue-in-cheek versions.
I have seen the movie more times than I can count. I eventually read the book. It was as if I never saw the movie as the written word is so powerful
Corey, TKAM is literally my favorite book of all time. I, too, first read it in school, in the 8th grade no less, and I was blown away. I still reread it every year or two, and I'm 52 years old. Your summary made me LOL because for all the pleasant silliness, it's spot-on. As Kentuckian living in Philadelphia, I strive every single day to show that geography and racism are not as closely correlated as some might think. I've run into some of the nastiest, most racist, bigoted misogynists you'd ever want to meet, right here in Eastern PA. And some of the most open-minded and compassionate people I've ever met in the Deep South. PREACH!
Awesome summary. I'm a liberal Democrat from Missouri so I know how you feel about people thinking you're backwards. Love what you do.
I’ve read the book and seen the movie SO many times and every so often I feel it’s time to read/watch again. I think it’s time. Thanks, Bud!