"Segregation now, segregation forever” alive in Alabama

We should have seen this coming.  After all, conservatives emboldened by the reelection of George Bush and new additions to their senate power have already moved to revise the sound science behind teaching the theory of evolution and in several states have manipulated textbook publishers to rewrite books to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.

But this particular aberration goes beyond all that, beyond the inequalities of No Child Left Behind and beyond the shortsightedness of replacing sex ed with abstinence only.

In a story that practically nobody’s talking about but everyone should know, the state of Alabama voted to reject an amendment that would eliminate language from the state constitution that separated “white and colored children” in schools.  While a recount is taking place, officials in the Crimson State acknowledged that it is unlikely that the measure will receive the 1,851 it needs to pass.

The failure of Alabama’s voters to pass a largely symbolic amendment conjures recollections of former Governor George Wallace’s pronouncement of “segregation now, segregation forever!”  At the helm of the conservative campaign against equality is Alabama Christian Coalition President John Giles, who artfully used the old Republican fear of new taxes and federal intrusion as prime tactic to defeat the measure.  Giles argued that while he favored removing the phrase “colored” from the constitution, he and other conservatives believed that language guaranteeing all Alabamans the right to public education could pave the way for “rogue” federal judges to raise taxes to pay for school improvements.  It sounds like Giles took this one right out of the Bush playbook.

Just in case fear of taxes and “colored children” weren’t enough, Giles enlisted the help of former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.  You have all heard of Judge Moore whether you recognize the name or not—he’s the activist judge who planted the Ten Commandments in stone in front of the Alabama Supreme Courthouse.  Moore’s successor, Tom Parker, who also helped block the new amendment, distributed Confederate flags and recently attended the induction of the Ku Klux Klan’s new Grand Wizard.  It sure is nice to know that minorities in Alabama are well represented!

Now it would be easy to attribute this behavior as typical in the South.  It would be easy to chalk this amendment’s defeat to southern stereotypes or ignorance, but that would not be fair to all of those who fought for social justice and continue to do so.  It is not fair to those who were denied a vote due to poll taxes or literacy tests.  It is not fair to those who must still today face the indignation of blatant or hidden racism and it is time that we are all aware that we have some serious work to do.  It is imperative that we do all that we can to bring this sort of injustice back into the national debate, so that we can stem this tide against the reversal of progress.  It also highlights a greater need for us to positively educate voters so they can make decisions free of manipulation and fear.

I hope the sponsors of the Alabama amendment do not give up; they deserve this amendment and so much more.

Contibuted by Michael Pond, Chair of the Young Democrats of the 49th Ward

Comments

[Craig Gernhardt]

Segregation isn't just in Alabama, it's here in Chicago, open your eyes and take a look around.

We have serious work to do in Rogers Park and you worry about Segrgation in Alabama?

Come to the affordable housing meeting on the 7th, if you didn't get a flier, ask Joe. Very limited copies were provided in our neighborhood, it's called segregation.