I was 13 years old, living in a small Mississippi town, when

we finally integrated our schools. There was some tension for a few months, but we managed it with some strong leadership by well meaning people who were determined to make it work. After a period of time, there was a feeling that it was actually kind of nice to get this burden off of us in Mississippi, or that was the feeling among the more progressive folks. In other parts of Mississippi, particularly in the Delta, there was a great effort to establish segregation academies, some which exist to this day. Haley Barbour's children graduated from one of those academies, Manchester Academy in Yazoo City.

In some ways, things were progressing as well as could be expected in Mississippi, especially in a state that was the least prepared for such a step. In 1976 or 77, Jimmy Carter held a town meeting in Yazoo City where he focused on the success of the public school integration which was then roughly half black, half white.

Things changed. In 1980, Ronald Reagan showed up at the Neshoba County Fair, a traditional political gathering spot, and made a speech where he invoked the words "states rights." Of course, Neshoba county was where the three civil rights workers were murdered just 17 years earlier.

But Reagan and his handlers knew what they were doing. They were sending out the message to all disaffected white Southerners that he really was with them. They could trust him. The Republicans made their deal with the devil to get Reagan elected. REmember; Mississippi went for Carter in 1976.

Although there have been pockets of excellence in public schools, the Republicans have kept up their racial drumbeat through the years, and have sought to undercut public education.

It is a common understanding that the Republican Party in the South is the club for the disaffected racists of yore who grew disenchanted with the Democratic Party when it finally began the open party.

The Republicans are only doing what the Vardamans and Bilbos and Tom Watsons of Georgia and George Wallace did all those years: they divide and conquer the body politic over race. They tell the poor white folks and the good ole boys that they have more in common with the rich white folks than they do the "niggers," except they never, ever use the word "nigger" openly. They know that they can't do that.

But they speak the code just the same. Ronnie Musgrove took on the issue of the rebel flag and supported the decision of the commission in Mississippi to have a new flag. He was excoriated and during this election, yard signs popped up around the state: "Keep the Flag, but Change the Governor."

Of course, the same old race baiting.

It never seems to stop. Sorry for the rant, but I am tired. I didn't proof this either, so excuse the errors.

And the sucky part was you wrote better tired than I do wide awake.

Excellent post.

fob

Are they all white? Is that legal? Were they set up to be a refuge from integration? Do they have to pay taxes?

They lost their federal funding for being racist. Of course it's still legal to run this and other white supremacist camps.

the more they stay the same.

That's a great post.

there was great efforts to establish segregation academies, some which exist to this day. Haley Barbour's children graduated from one of those acadmies, Manchester Academy in Yazoo City.


Segregation academies? Are you saying they have White ONLY Academies in Mississippi? Please tell me that in 2003, that is not true. Please?

We lived in Yazoo County when I was in the 3rd and 4th grades. My dad was a minister and he became the pastor of a small country church up there. Some of the church members asked where they were going to send me to school, and my father replied that they would send me to the public school. They were horrified at that and said that they would pay for my tuition at the academy because they couldn't have their pastor's son going to school with niggers.

that is so sad. :( If there's one thing I can't stand, it's racism.





and men telling women they can't have an abortion. ;)

please remove the word "damn" in your thread title or they will remove your wonderful post because of the swear word in the title...not allowed. You can swear all you want after the initial post. :)

I was in the 6th grade when they began bussing us to a non-segregated school, Laurel MS

**

I know nothing of her family and she has been gone for years but I was surprised to see the family name. Were they notorious for bigotry?

A horrible racist.

http://www.ehistory.com/world/amit/display.cfm?amit_id=2015

What a hateful piece of shit. I thought THIS was interesting.

He just too much even for his relatively tolerant Southern allies who controlled Congress during much of the century, but his fall came less from racism than corruption. A Senate committee found him guilty of accepting bribes from military contractors during World War II and he was denied his seat in 1947.

WOW! You mean there use to be principled politicians? Does that scenario sound a tad familiar?

edited for a missing tag

:)

this is a great piece

That's how it is.

For a while there, it was two steps forward, one step back.

Lately its more like one step forward, two steps back.

Play the race card right, and a creep who laundered Red Chinese commie money for politicians can win a Southern governorship. Reality can beggar fantasy.

Very well articulated.

I'm 26 and grew up and currently attend graduate school in Mississippi. We had a small private school in my town which, to my understanding was opened so rich white kids didn't have to go to school with black kids.

I had a friend in her 40's from the Jackson area who tells a similar story about how she was immediately yanked from her public school and bussed to one of these academies as soon as the schools were intergrated. She held bitterness about it toward her parents to the day of her death.

But, I have hope, even though Barbour was elected. I know people who grew up in the Delta, and other racist environments, who in their adult years have turned their back on that racism. And kids in high school with racist parents who do not accept their parents' beliefs. Someday, things will improve.

The reason poor white Southerners vote with Republicans is totally based on social issues: affirmative action, gun control, abortion, gay rights, death penalty etc. are all issue on which Southerners are very conservative. I don't think the economy can get bad enough for many of these people to compromise these social beliefs to vote for a Democrat in a national election.

If the Democrats are going to win the south, they are going to have to get to the pulpits. Until Southerners become more open to these social issues, the Democratic Party doesn't stand a chance down here.

Too much truth!

:toast:

no point...

That was a good post Billy, I don't know why you deleted it. Segregation has caused a lot of people pain.

I actually didn't support changing the Mississippi state flag initially. I don't believe in trying to change history. But when I heard my boss, a man whom I respect very very much, who happens to be black and grew up in Mississippi, talk about some of the experiences he had with people flying that flag in the 1960's, I realized, that no matter why you support the flag, if it causes people that much pain and discomfort, it should be removed. Which is why it is unfortunate Dean chose that example. The mere reference to the CF brings bad connotations to many people's minds.

I should clarify, though I am against the CF, I am a Dean supporter, and think his comments were taken out of context. He had the right idea, he just said it in a stupid way.

places his cards face up and says 'ya'll are voting for the guys screwing you'...

Dean '04...

Wonder if MS has a provision to recall a governor?

:evilgrin:

But even if we did, Barbour won fair and square. No reason to sink to the level of the likes of Issa. :)

nt

are using the old tried and true method of avoiding taking positions on those issues.

Just wanted to congratulate (sp?) you on a post well done. Cheers! :toast:

They started busing kids in from the "Inner City" of Chicago when I was in Grade School and it's the best thing that could have ever happened.

But, I felt sorry for some of my friends that had to travel two hours back and fourth each day to School.

Now, it seems like the Republicans are turning the clock back in time and they want to take us back.

The race issue is, IMO, at the core of the devisiveness in this country today.

I agree with Dean in bringing this issue "out of the closet" and into the public forum. It needs to be talked about especially the fact that working-class Southern whites will forever vote against their own self-interests because of their rascism.

then we are screwed. In my view Howard Dean just made it HARDER for Dems to MAKE that distinction.