Throughout the history of African American presence in America, the most influential organization hands down has been the (NAACP) or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Historically, the NAACP has been instrumental in working for African American people, by fulfilling their goals in the American legal system and also working for full suffrage and other civil rights.. Prominent figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Fredrick Douglas, and Booker T. Washington have all been members of the NAACP and helped to essentially put an end to segregation, and racial violence.
The Oklahoma section of the NAACP has also been very influential in African American society. Most of the influence came through the American legal system, and the winning of cases based on civil rights. One case was Allen v. Oklahoma City (1935), in which the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Oklahoma's attempt to create what was called a "segregation zone" in the city.
My feelings after listening to the two speakers are mixed and filled with emotion. On the one hand, I am extremely proud of all the accomplishments of the African American people. To have such tremendous opposition from a majority of the people in the United States, and still come together to form organizations in the pursuit of equality is amazing. But on the other hand, I am ashamed that my ethnic group was responsible for all the suffering and racial injustice. I will never forget the first time I heard about the Emmitt Till case. Emmitt Till was an African American boy probably fifteen years old, and while walking into a store he said, "Hey baby!" to a Caucasian girl. Now Emmitt was from the north and at this time in the fifties, it might have been acceptable to greet white women, but in Mississippi where Emmitt was visiting it most defiantly was not. Emmitt was lynched and killed that same afternoon, the police found his body in the river, beaten beyond recognition and tied to a cotton wheel. The men that had committed the crime went to trial and of course like many other cases in the south, were found innocent. This incident has always hurt my heart and it shows the true nature of southern hatred towards African Americans.
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ReplyDeleteIts a shame what happen to that little boy . Thats just the world back in that time . People where just so evil to anything different . Some are still this way to day . Are justice system is in some ways still like that . In some cases involved people of different races doing the same crimes . But it always seemed the minorities would get punished more even if it was only there first offense . Which things have improved over time the are starting to crack down and give anyone a fiar trail . Its usually in smaller towns that have there own court system these types of acts occur . Hopefully its not as bad as the past . But who really true knows ?
ReplyDeleteHey, I was browsing through some of the blogs and came across yours and saw that you mentioned Emmitt Till. I first heard this story last year. I could not believe it.
ReplyDeleteI want to give you some more background information on Emmitt Till from what I was taught.
Emmitt Till, a fourteen your old boy, from Chicago was visiting Money Mississippi. There he was hanging around some kids he met and became friends with. He shared with them about how back home, in Chicago, he could talk to white people. They did not believe Emmitt, and thought he was ling. So to prove he was tell the truth he went into the store and said either "Hey Baby" or "Thanks Baby" to the white girl working behind the counter.
A couple of white men have found out what happened and they wanted to track down this boy. After doing some searching they found where he lived.
That night they took him from his house, then beat him to death. They murdered that little boy.
The two white men went to trial. There the jury were all white people. With all of the evidence against the men, they were found innocent.
I too heard the story of Emmitt Till recently. I had heard about him, but never heard the story, and needless to say, I was both horrified and angered. Even though this event happened years ago, it was painful to hear that. What bothers me the most about it wasn't even the fact that he was killed. It wasn't like they had to serve only 2 years, or X hours of community service. It was the fact that they were INNOCENT that ticked me off the most. Not even guilty of a crime...
ReplyDeleteI first heard about Emmitt Till in my US History class by an instructor who was also the instructor for African American studies at Rose State College. Let me add he is Caucasian too, teaching your job Ms. Flippin. Anyways, JM’s blogpost, is also what I was taught in my history class. I know he was beaten so badly he was unrecognizable, but I have not seen a picture of this incident. The photo you have on page is very disturbing. And even to think those men got away with this after everything they knew. If something like that happened now, there would definitely be justice in some way no matter the race.
ReplyDeleteEquitable teaching is the reality we all hope for, Mr. Son.
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