Don't Stand in the Doorway
Don't Stand in the Doorway
Where do you see us repeating destructive actions as we did in our past? What do you think we can do to prevent it from happening in the future?
Segregation Now, Segregation Tomorrow, Segregation until June 11, 1963!
These are the paraphrased remarks of former Alabama Governor George Wallace.
The first five words from this part of his famous speech, given in the prevailing gubernatorial election year of 1962, are correct. They are featured at the end of this frightening one-minute video.
Of course, I removed the word forever and replaced it with the reality that segregation ended in the state of Alabama when Vivian Malone and James Hood successfully enrolled in classes at the University of Alabama on June 11, 1963.
Alabama – 100 years Later
The first part of that clip tells you all you need to know about the state of mind of Alabama one hundred and one years after it became the fourth state to secede from the Union. In January 1861, the constitutional convention of Alabama declared by a 2-1 vote that the Yellowhammer State, home to the original capital of the Confederacy, planned on being all confederate-like to black people. Just like South Carolina, Mississippi, and Florida. SEC! SEC! SEC!
Wallace delivered a passionate speech in defense of the fairytale freedom of Bama’s past. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown vs. Board of Education that “separate but equal” was stupid. Alabama, not known for its overall high standard of intelligence, wanted to live under the white freedom that the Dread Scott case provided.
George flames the fire of bigotry with that address. Just like today, backers of progress were slandered by accusing them of being communists. To wit:
It would seem that not being able to attend the state’s flagship institution of higher learning is anything but a false theory of a bad idea. Hundreds of black Alabamians applied from ’54 to ’63 and were all denied.
Ole Miss Beats Tide
The year before, the University of Mississippi desegregated. When Malone and Hood applied, a judge told Bama not to interfere. The situation escalated to the White House, where Bobby Kennedy and his brother got involved.
Bobby’s brother ended up federalizing Alabama’s National Guard under the Insurrection Act of 1807, which was created from another president’s actions. From there, the famous picture of Wallace standing in the doorway was rendered.
Eventually, Wallace stepped aside. Malone and Wood become students. The Crimson Tide would go on to win about 800 national championships in football.
History Repeats Itself
The South has an interesting way of interpreting its history. In his segregation speech, Wallace points out the Southern domination of the Founding Fathers, all patriots fighting for freedom, who also happen to be slave owners. Wallace, and therefore Alabama itself, is simply the next iteration of America.
The ideology of 1963 Alabama is unfortunately still played out today.
Don’t believe me?
Alabama is the only state that celebrates the birthday of Jefferson Davis.
The governor signed into law protection of Confederate statues from meddling Washington and “out-of-state liberals.”
The new Lost Cause is the Big Lie, and the Congressman from Alabama’s 5th district is a fervent apostle. The new Insurrection Act of 1807 is the Insurrection Act of 2021.
Bama Hi(Story) Passed Down
I point all of this out because we are braided with our history. If you grew up in Alabama, you were taught Alabama values. You pass down those beliefs.
You teach your children that Jefferson Davis is a compatriot for freedom.
You get upset that black athletes peacefully protest police brutality at the beginning of games. You create an environment where the president of the United States finds a palatable audience. Then calls professional athletes who do the same sons of bitches that should forfeit their livelihoods. You choose flags over people—particular flags over others.
That is the Alabama refrain – racism then, racism now, and probably racism forever.
Okay…Let’s Sum it Up
How we move forward today and every day will determine what will be the outcome decades from now.
Remember, Jackson told Jefferson that Burr was leading an insurrection. So Jefferson gets a law passed to federalize state militias to put down rebellions.
The South repeats rebellion to suppress the lives of black people. First, the Supreme Court rules that it's okay. Then the Supreme Court says, that's not okay.
Wallace wins office by saying black people will never be integrated, and the Supreme Court reversal can be ignored. The Lost Cause is real. Kennedy uses a law passed by Jefferson to force black people to be integrated.
50 years later, Trump claims he lost an election, so Brooks encourages the next generation of white rebels. I wonder where Brooks, born the same year of that Supreme Court decision Wallace defied, gets his thinking from.
This is why I began this project – to provide, hopefully, an easy-to-understand look at historical events and people.
This isn’t the best explanation. It’s okay. But more than that, I hope to encourage you to read further.
Just don’t stand in the doorway.
Where do you see us repeating destructive actions as we did in our past? What do you think we can do to prevent it from happening in the future?